Richard Dust Obituary (1947 - 2024)

Born Jan 19, 1947, Richard Dust attended Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, IL. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Richard Dust.

Graduation Year	Class of 1965
Date of Birth	Jan 19, 1947
Date of Passing	Jan 26, 2024
About	Rich grew up in Lansing and graduated from T.F. South High School, where he ran cross country and track. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Valparaiso University. He returned to T.F. South High School as a social studies teacher in 1969, where he taught for 37 years and coached boys’ and girls’ cross country and track for many years, as well as girls’ softball for several seasons. He was known for his humor and fun-loving spirit and care for his students and athletes. He is remembered for founding the T.F. South cross country invitational that now bears his name and for being an early advocate for girls’ athletics, coaching girls along with boys before cross country was officially designated as a girls’ high school sport. In 2022, Rich was inducted into the T.F. South Athletic Wall of Fame, and in 2023, it was announced that the new T.F. South track will be named in his honor.
Events	Friends are invited to visit with the family on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 2:00 to 8:00 PM at Schroeder-Lauer Funeral Home, 3227 Ridge Road, Lansing, Illinois. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 10:00 AM at First United Methodist Church, 18420 Burnham Ave, Lansing, Illinois.

Classmate Memories

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Melrea Green '65 said:

I will always remember that I seldom saw Richard without Barbara. They were forever friends even though there were long periods of time when we lost contact. I am so sad to know he has passed, but so happy that I know where he is.
Melrea Green Pierz

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