Richard William Kunkel

Richard Kunkel, PhD of Education, of Grand Forks, formerly of Devils Lake ND passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at Woodside Village in Grand Forks, at the age of 91.

Funeral Services for Dr. Kunkel will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with burial in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the church. 

Richard William Kunkel was born August 7, 1934, in Southam, North Dakota to Reinhard H. and Recca (Klick) Kunke. He was raised in Southam and attended Southam School through the tenth grade, eleventh grade and some high school in Devils Lake. He graduated from high school while recovering from the City of Hope Hospital in California. Richard graduated from Minot State College in 1959 with a major in Business Administration.

Age the age of 21, before receiving his degree, he received an emergency certificate to teach for one year at Southam School. After receiving his degree, he joined the teaching staff at the Edmore (ND) Public School and later became Principal and then Superintendent. During this time, he completed his Master’s Degree and was later awarded a fellowship to complete his Doctorate of Education Degree at the University of North Dakota. He was a professor at UND for two years before accepting the position of Superintendent of Schools in Devils Lake. ND in 1970 for 20 years. For one year during this time, Dr. Kunkel was also acting President at Lake Region Community College. Dr. Kunkel was elected by District 15 as an ND District Representative for four terms, 1991-1998.

Richard has been involved in various educational leadership boards and organizations including: NDUS Activities Association (Past President), American Association of School Administrators, ND School Administration, Phi Delta Kappa, Association of School Business Officials, Jaycees (Outstanding Young Educator), Lake Region Special Education Board, North Central Accreditation Advisory Board, Board of Higher Education for 6 years, and ND Study Council.

Dr. Kunkel was selected to attend a Superintendents’ Leadership session at Columbia University. He was a member of a Summer Study Mission on Education to Europe and Asia. He was selected as one of eight ND Administrators to attend President Regan’s Study Forum on Excellence in Education. He was also a representative of the State Teachers Center and Executive Teacher Planning Board to a National Conference in San Francisco.

Richard has been in numerous clubs and organizations including: Elks, Eagles, Rotary (Past President), Community Concert Association (President for 30 years), United Way (Past President), Executive Council for Boy Scouts of America, Tau Kappa Epsilon Social Fraternity (Officer), Arts Council of the Lake Region (Officer), Devils Lake Centennial (Division Chairman), Young Republicans (Past President), Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Ambassador and Delta Gamma (Religious Fraternity Officer).

Richard was a member and former council president at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and was on the Education Advisory Board of the American Lutheran Church International.

Richard enjoyed gardening, canning, entertaining, decorating, curling, playing bridge and baking, especially his famous German Chocolate Cake.

Family remaining include nieces and nephews: Dixie (Larry) McGillis, Portland ND, Vicki (Don) Logan, Devils Lake, Kristy Hoime, Edmore ND, Lori (Kerwin) Pankratz, Devils Lake, Rick (Sandy) Lind, Grand Forks, Garry (Eileen) Kunkel, Eugene OR, Lorna (Jim) Harbert, also Eugene OR, Dennis (Jan) Kunkel, LaPine OR, and Marcella (Bob) Hurley also Eugene and several great nieces and great nephews.

He is reunited with his parents, siblings Gerald (Georgina) Kunkel, Loren (Mabel) Kunkel, Bonny (Edwin Hoime and Laurence Dykhoff, Donna (John) Lind, Bruce Kunkel (Barbara), nephew Bryce Hoime, nieces Geralyn (Bill) Sheppard and Misty Lind.

Honorary Bearers will be Senator John Hoeven, Gene Nicholas, Larry Liere, Allan Thompson and Jim Cox.

Casket Bearers will be Kevin Vistad, Dennis Johnson, Roger Wheeler, Ronnie Wheeler, Allan Hanson, Renard Bergstrom, Kevin Davidson. 

Music will be provided by Richard’s great niece Kelsey Joy, and friends Donovan Foughty, soloist and Jean Aardahl, accompanist.