Rep. Richard Vasgaard, R-Centerville, speaks to lawmakers on the South Dakota House floor in Pierre on Feb. 25, 2025. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)
Republican leaders in the South Dakota House of Representatives are honoring the memory of Rep. Richard Vasgaard, R-Centerville.
Vasgaard died this week at age 75 in a farm accident, according to multiple media reports. Republican House leaders issued a statement Wednesday evening.
Speaker of the House Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, said Vasgaard brought “humility, wisdom, and a steady voice” to the House chamber.
“His service was marked by an unwavering dedication to the citizens he represented,” Hansen said, “and to the agriculture industry he and his family worked in.”
House Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems, R-Canton, served alongside Vasgaard in District 16, which includes land in Lincoln, Turner and Union counties.
“While the experience and steady perspective he brought to Pierre will be missed, it is an irreplaceable loss to District 16 and his Turner County community,” Lems said.
House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, added that Vasgaard was “liked and respected by everybody.”
“His love for farming and for South Dakota was as strong as anybody I’ve ever seen,” Odenbach said. “He will truly be missed.”