Richard Douglas Hecock

Dick Hecock died unexpectedly on Friday the 8th of November doing what he loved, clearing trails on a beautiful fall day out at Pickerel Lake. He leaves behind an immense hole in the lives of his beloved wife and partner of 57 years, Georgia, his children, their partners, grandchildren, and his Detroit Lakes community.

Dick was born in 1939 in Detroit, Michigan where he lived until he graduated from high school, and he spent every summer on the North Shore of Detroit Lakes. After graduating from Albion College in 1960, he bought an around-the-world plane ticket and spent months traveling solo in Europe and South and East Asia, driven by a deep curiosity and a love of adventure. He returned to the US and quickly completed his PhD in Geography at Clark University in Massachusetts before accepting a job as a professor at Eastern Michigan University. Between busy semesters and leading group trips to Europe, he continued to spend as much time as he could on the lake in Detroit Lakes. One of those visits led to a “set-up” with Georgia Ingalls, home in DL from her job in Chicago. She promptly quit her job and followed Dick on one of his tours to Europe, and they were married at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on December 23rd, 1967, on a magnificent 40-below day.

In 1969, Dick took a job at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater where he served for many years as the Head of the Geography Department. He was esteemed by his colleagues and students, and he made sure there were plenty of social events on their back patio. Dick and Georgia raised their two children Bess and Doug in Stillwater, spending every summer in the cabin they built on the east side of Pickerel Lake in 1972. After a 23-year career at OSU, and sabbaticals in Mexico, Scotland, Japan, and Scandinavia, Dick took an early retirement in 1992, and he and Georgia moved to Detroit Lakes permanently.

In DL, Dick began his second act, working for many years as the administrator of the Pelican River Watershed District. After a decade out at Pickerel Lake, in 2003 Dick and Georgia built a new home on North Shore Drive on the site of the cottage his grandparents bought in 1917, ceding the Pickerel cabin to his kids. In addition to becoming the-guy-who-knew-everything about the ecology of Detroit Lake, Dick was deeply involved in the community through his dedication to St. Luke’s, the Breakfast Rotary Club, and the Becker County Historical Society, among many other groups and organizations.

Dick loved people and he cared greatly for his many communities, neighbors, and friends. Detroit Lakes was especially important to him, and he reveled in his family’s long connection to this beautiful place. He cherished the lakes and the woods and the seasons and the people. He played the organ at St. Luke’s, battled invasive species in the lakes, and kept people warm with his good cheer at the Poles ‘N Holes ice-fishing derby. Dick and Georgia continued to travel the world, from Patagonia, to the Middle East, to Russia, and beyond.

Dick believed in a world that could be better than it is and that it was his responsibility to work towards that end. He saw it as his obligation to learn about far-off places, to bring that home, and to act locally. It was his heart-felt honor to do that in Detroit Lakes where he touched many people. He helped neighbors, mentored colleagues and students, and stimulated them to learn and to care, all while raising a glass to our shared humanity. At times he was less than optimistic about the direction of the world, but he never lost his purpose or his joy.

In addition to his treasured Detroit Lakes community and friends from all over the world, he will be profoundly missed by Georgia, Doug, Bess, their spouses Andrea and Andrew, and his grandkids Gus and Georgia. Please remember him clearing trails and looking for a good party. And honor him by serving your community.

Memorial services will be held Saturday November 16th at 11am at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. A light lunch and a celebration will follow.

In lieu of flowers, please give to the Detroit Lakes Breakfast Rotary Club, the Becker County Historical Society, or to any organization doing good work in your community.

We would love to have you share your stories about Dick. Please email them to Pawpacton@gmail.com.