DERBY — Paul Richard (Dick) Runquist, 89, passed away on July 12, 2025, in Derby, Kan. Dick was born on Jan. 1, 1936, in Lindsborg, Kan., to Paul Albert and Agnes Violet (Lindholm) Runquist. He was raised on a farm near Falun, Kan., that was homesteaded by his Swedish-immigrant great-grandparents in the 1800s. He attended elementary grades in a one-room school across the road from the Runquist farm.
He graduated from Lindsborg High School in 1953. After serving in the U.S. Army, Dick attended Bethany College in Lindsborg before earning a degree in sociology from the University of Kansas in Lawrence in 1963. In 1969 he received a master’s degree from Wichita State University.
Dick married Dolores White in 1965 in Coldwater, Kan., and they had three sons.
He worked for the Kansas Job Service, Wichita, Kan.; Missouri Western State College, St. Joseph, Mo.; Wayne State College, Wayne, Neb.; Barton County Community College, Great Bend, Kan.; and Emporia State University, Emporia, Kan. He retired from the Kansas Job Service and Development Center in Hutchinson, Kan.
He married Joy Duncan in Derby in 2001. Dick was an active bicyclist, hiker, and square dancer. He was a member of Woodlawn Methodist Church and volunteered with several community organizations.
Dick is survived by his wife, Joy Runquist of Derby; sister Glennys McPhilimy of Boulder, Colo.; sons Randall Runquist of Lubbock, Texas, Eric Runquist and his wife Steffen of Hopkins, Min., and Shane Runquist of Denver, Colo.; step-daughters Mellisa Duncan of Paducah, Kent., and Kyong Duncan of Mulvane, Kan.; and grandchildren Anna Runquist, Ryan Runquist, Parker Runquist; step-granddaughters Sierra Wilson, and Savannah Wilson; and step-great-grandson Clayton Wilson.
Smith Family Mortuary in Derby will handle cremation, and a private family service will be held at the Falun Cemetery near Falun, Kan. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Woodlawn United Methodist Church, 431 S. Woodlawn Blvd., Derby, KS, 67037, and Derby Senior Services, 611 N. Mulberry Rd., Derby, KS, 67037.
Funeral arrangements provided by
Smith Mortuary - Derby Chapel
1415 North Rock Rd.
Derby, KS 67037
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 17, 2025
