Richard Sealy Runge left this life for the next one on May 13, 2026, at the age of 86. The third child of James Forrest Runge and Edith Winslow Runge, he grew up on the family ranch at Christoval, Texas.
At a very early age Dick demonstrated commitment to his lifelong career as a rancher, raising sheep under the Sears program while in elementary school, and winning a grassjudging contest against adult ranchers when he was 11 years old, as well as working alongside his father.
In 1958 he graduated from Eldorado High School, where he was class president all four years and Student Council president his junior and senior years. At Texas A&M he was Outstanding Sophomore in Agriculture, Outstanding Sophomore and Junior in Range and Forestry, graduating in 1962 with a degree in Range Management and a commission as a second lieutenant.
Following a summer working for the Bureau of Land Management in Colorado, he served in the military from September of 1962 through 1964 as Transportation Corps Officer at Camp Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas. He returned to the family ranches in Schleicher and Menard Counties in 1964, where he has been ever since. During his lifetime he accomplished the amazing feat of tripling his land holdings solely with earnings from cattle, sheep and goats, becoming legendary for his frugality in the process.
Dick was an active participant in his community, serving on the Menard ISD school board in the 80’s, as a director of the Menard County Soil and Water Conservation District for 50 years, a director of the Southwest Texas Electric Co-op for 25+ years, and treasurer of St James Episcopal Church at Fort McKavett for over 30 years.
In 1999, he married Caroline Roosevelt Moore, who had been raised on a ranch at Valentine, Texas, and has been a loving partner and a strong supporter of his ranching enterprises.
He was physically tough, hard-working, and really tight with money, while being very generous with his time in helping others, amazingly patient, and had a great sense of humor. He loved family history. He always had something fun out in the pasture in the form of “pasture art”, from a string of Burma Shave signs to antique farm equipment strategically placed along the three-mile road to the house. Above all Dick was a very loving father to his children, his pride and joy, being their mentor and supporter throughout their lives, attending all their school events, teaching them ranching and business survival skills, and implementing their plans on amusing things to do.
He is survived by his wife, Caroline Roosevelt Runge, sons Randy Runge and wife Robyn, Art Runge and wife Shannon, daughter Lisa Runge Brown and husband Michael, grandchildren Jesse Wilson, Ben and Sam Runge, and Chris, Danielle and Roy Brown , five greatgrandchildren, his brother Jim Runge and wife Claryce of Eldorado, Jim’s six children and their spouses, and special niece Edith May Kissko. His sisters, Anita Runge Moore and May Runge Kissko predeceased him.
The family is very grateful to Hilda Hernandez for her care over the past several years, to the wonderful staff at Menard Manor for their kindness and cheerful care during his stay at Menard Manor for physical rehab, and Randy Beckmann and the Mason Funeral home for their help and guidance with final arrangements.
There will be a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at St James Episcopal Church, Fort Mc-Kavett.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Menard County 4-H, St. James Episcopal Church at Fort McKavett, the Menard Public Library or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at masonfuneralhome. net Arrangements were entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.