Rickie graduated from Waldorf-Pemberton High School with the class of 1970. Following graduation he hauled milk and worked for Ed Bluhm Livestock. He worked for the Waldorf Municipal Liquor Store, then managed the Ellendale Municipal Liquor Store for many years, and most recently had been working at Gopher Stop in Ellendale.

He had been a member of the First Lutheran Church in Waldorf, but transferred his membership and was a current member of First Lutheran Church in Ellendale.

He had a great passion for helping on the farm, and had helped area farmer Mark Hanson with field work for several years.

Rickie had volunteered on the Ellendale Fire Department for more than 28 years.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and gardening on his hobby farm.

Rickie’s greatest joy came from being surrounded by his family, especially his grandkids.

Rickie is survived by his wife Sally of Ellendale, mother Doris Waknitz of Waldorf; sons: Jeremy Waknitz and his wife Melissa and children Courtney, Brianna, Brooklyn, Benjamin, Carter and Caitlyn of Wabasso, MN, Justin “Jay” Waknitz and Gwyn Quiram and children Whitney, Bethany, and Annabelle Waknitz of Wabasso; sisters: Cheryl and husband Ralph Dobberstein of New Richland, Brenda and her husband Paul Carey of Mapleton; sister’s-in-law Beckie and  her husband Rick Johnson of Ellendale, Vickie and her husband Bruce Knudson of Ellendale, Trace Utpadel of Texas, stepmother-in-law Karen Utpadel of Owatonna, and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Rickie was preceded in death by his father Benjamin Waknitz, father-in-law and mother-in-law Darold and Nancy Utpadel.