ESTHERVILLE — Dr. Richard Neil Lepird, 96, of Estherville, died Friday, August 14, 2026, at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 20, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel, 401 North Seventh Street in Estherville. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Friday, August 21, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 317 South Main Street in Sherburn, Minnesota. Burial information was not announced.
Richard was born May 21, 1930, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, to Willis Keith and Cora A. Spangelo Lepird. He was baptized at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert Lea and later confirmed. He spent much of his childhood on his grandparents’ farm in rural Albert Lea and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1948.
He completed his undergraduate premedical education at Waldorf College in Forest City before attending the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine. He graduated as a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine in 1954 and received the John Collet Award for Surgical Excellence.
Dr. Lepird opened his Estherville podiatric medicine and surgery practice in November 1954. During his distinguished career, he became board-certified and served on the medical staffs of Holy Family Hospital, Dickinson County Memorial Hospital and Spencer Hospital. He also directed an externship program at Holy Family Hospital, helping train students entering the profession.
In 1981, Dr. Lepird developed a surgical technique that became known as the Lepird Procedure. Designed to correct a deformity affecting children and adults, the procedure appeared in surgical textbooks and became widely accepted within the podiatric profession. He lectured about foot surgery at scientific conferences across the country.
Dr. Lepird served the Iowa Podiatric Medical Society in several leadership roles, including as president. He also spent 13 years as a delegate to the American Podiatric Medical Association and contributed to national committees involving professional and continuing education.
His commitment to Estherville extended far beyond his medical practice. Dr. Lepird served nine years on the Estherville Board of Education and belonged to the community’s noon Kiwanis Club for more than 42 years. He was also a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn.
Dr. Lepird was well known for his love of Belgian draft horses. He and his son, Richard, exhibited a six-horse Belgian hitch at events throughout the Midwest, traveling from Chicago to Denver. Their horses were featured in two national magazine stories.
He married Janet Hoppe Moeller on August 6, 1994. The couple enjoyed trips throughout the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico and spent winters in Surprise, Arizona, for more than 20 years.
An accomplished woodworker, Dr. Lepird built fine furniture, grandfather and parlor clocks, cedar chests and children’s rocking chairs. He even constructed his own casket.
Survivors include his wife, Janet; five children, Yvonne Beenken and Arlin of Lake Mills, Sharon and David Schock of Chandler, Arizona, Pam Lepird of Gainesville, Florida, Richard and Valerie Lepird of Ankeny, and Jennifer and Tim Cahill of Englewood, Colorado; two stepchildren, Doyle and Sharon Moeller of Dunnell, Minnesota, and Darla and Tom Lytle of Fairmont, Minnesota; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a nephew, Tim Lepird; and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Robert Lepird; a son-in-law, Darrel Beenken; and two nieces, Marcia and Kim.
Rather than flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions to LIGA International, also known as Flying Doctors of Mercy, or St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sherburn.
HENRY-OLSON FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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