Obituary of Ricky Lee Walberg

Rick Lee Walberg

Ricky Lee Walberg was born in Fargo, North Dakota on April 23, 1958 (it was a cold day in Fargo brought into this world with such a warm heart) and passed peacefully on January 2, 2024, at his home in Fort Collins, Colorado with family and friends at his side.  Rick passed shortly after suddenly losing his beloved mother, Pat Jacob, and older brother, Wally Walberg in May 2023.  His family and friends find great comfort in knowing that he has joined them and his father, Marlen Walberg, in his passing.

Rick moved to Fort Collins, Colorado with his family in 1962 - a destination picked from the family’s camping travels.  Rick attended Washington Elementary, O’Dea Elementary, Blevins Junior High and graduated from Rocky Mountain High School, where he was on the school’s diving team.  His teen years were filled with mischievous shenanigans with his older brother Wally and best friend Neil Beck, rock and roll music, driving cars too fast and off-road, playing a lot of pinball (which nearly kept him from graduating high school) and befriending everyone he met with his outgoing personality - to know Rick was to adore him.

His father, Marlen, opened a Texaco Gas Station and Auto Repair Shop.  It was there that Rick learned all about cars and developed a lifelong love of all the ins and outs of automobiles.  Rick worked for his father from a young age, first pumping gas at the gas station and later at his tire retread shop. When his father opened Marlen’s Tire Service Rick continued working in the family business and quickly became a tire guru.  He worked at the front desk at M&O Tire, Sam’s Club Tire and Marlen’s Tire for decades.  There, it seems, he met darn near everyone in Fort Collins.  In his final work years, he worked as a greeter at Sam’s Club (where he met darn near everyone else).

When Rick was 21 years-old he was diagnosed with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy and while this disorder eventually robbed him of his ability to walk and severely hampered the use of his arms, he never let it stop him from living his life on his own terms and conquered every challenge with an admirable and unbelievable spirit and a smile on his face.

Rick was a devout Lutheran/Christian.  He was a life-long member of Trinity Lutheran Church and was also very close with Pastor Jen at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.  Rick was so moved by his faith that he spent many years working in Prison Ministry where he met many friends.

Rick loved so many things in life – friends, family, fishing, shooting, playing pool, gardening flowers, playing pinball, his faith, his dog and his army of friends and family.  He adored his only child, Brenda Jean, who helped care for him his entire life and helped him to remain independently living.  They shared a close, indescribable bond, they were more than father and daughter, they were the very best of friends.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Marlen Walberg and Pat Jacob and his older brother Wally Walberg.  He is survived by his daughter, Brenda (aka Flip, Flipper or Blonde-one) and Matt, stepfather Reid Jacob (aka Papa Reid), his younger brother David (aka Ying-Yang) and Anita, and his two grandsons Hunter (aka Grunt man) and David (aka Wowser), his furry friend Po, his nephew Joshua and his darling nieces Amanda and Misty as well as by numerous aunts, cousins and friends that he was so close with that they were family.

Rick will be missed by all who knew him, but they will always remember his contagious smile, quick wit, and twinkle in his eyes.

 Please feel free to wear your favorite Broncos gear to Rick's service