Frederick C. Markwardt Jr.

Frederick “Rick” Charles Markwardt Jr. entered the world on September 19, 1930, joining his older brother Donald in the family of Mary (Drought) and Frederick “Fred” Markwardt. Rick grew up in Crosby-Ironton, Minnesota, where he enjoyed an active youth. He had hoped to play hockey, but with no high school team available, he turned instead to basketball. Alongside his brother, he spent many hours hunting and fishing with their father. During several summers, Rick worked in the nearby iron mine—where, as he liked to joke, he became very adept with a broom.

After graduating from high school, Rick attended Brainerd Community College for two years before graduating from Carleton College. In 1952, he and several childhood friends were drafted into the Army. Due to a clerical error following basic training, Rick was left without an assignment. Unsure what to do with him, the Army assigned him to work in a psych unit at Fort Riley, Kansas—an experience that sparked his lifelong interest in psychology.

Following his discharge, Rick pursued his PhD at the University of Minnesota, where he met the love of his life, Helen “Pat” Markwardt. As he often told it, Pat took pity on a charming young man on the GI Bill who “couldn’t afford” the textbook and agreed to share hers. He liked to laugh that they spent more time reading Charles Addams cartoons than studying. What began in laughter grew into a deep and lasting partnership. Rick and Pat were married on July 28, 1957, and shared 67 wonderful years together.

After earning his doctorate in psychology, Rick joined the faculty at St. Cloud State University. There, with a colleague, he began developing the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT), published in 1970 and widely used in schools across the country. In 1967, the family moved to Minneapolis, where Rick joined a consulting firm in industrial psychology, working there until his retirement. In 1982 they renovated their family cabin on Square Lake and moved into their dream home on the water.

In retirement, Rick continued to give back. He volunteered with SCORE, mentoring and advising aspiring business owners, and remained active in the Square Lake Association.

Rick was introduced to both downhill skiing and waterskiing shortly after meeting Pat in the 1950s, and these passions stayed with him well into his 80s. He had his children on skis before the age of five, and family vacations were often spent skiing in the Rockies. Rick served on the National Ski Patrol at Welch Village for 50 years and enjoyed many trips with family and friends, including adventures to Alta and snowcat skiing excursions.

An energetic and adventurous spirit, Rick loved to stay active—running, waterskiing, sailing, biking, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, and camping. He and Pat shared a deep love of travel, especially to wild and beautiful places. Their journeys took them to Alaska, the Canadian Rockies, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, England, Mexico, and Hawaii. They also explored many national parks by camper van and created lasting memories by taking each grandchild on a special one-on-one trip.

Rick enjoyed music—from Bruce Springsteen to Mozart— Prairie Home Companion to Opera. He had a great love for people and delighted in arranging and hosting gatherings, especially at their Square Lake home, where the door was always open! Above all, Rick cherished his family and the time they spent together.

Rick remained strong and courageous through his many difficult medical challenges in late life. “Cheer up, it could be worse” he would often say. On April 12 2026, a day after the one year anniversary of his wife’s passing, our hearts were shattered when he left this world.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved wife, Pat. He is survived by his devoted children: Ann (Dave) Enright, Tom (Chris) Markwardt, and Amy (Brett) Edstrom; his beloved grandchildren: Tommy (Heather) Enright, Logan (Courtney) Enright, Alyssa Enright, Caitlyn Enright, Matthew Markwardt, Sarah Markwardt, Stefanie Markwardt, and Amanda Edstrom (Seth Pierre); and his great-grandchildren: Kellie Ann, Titus, Marcus, Taliah, and Hope Enright, a new baby Enright, and Adler Pierre. Beyond his family, he will be missed by his dear friends that meant so much to him.

The family will greet friends from 3:00-5:00 p.m., Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, Minnesota.  Memorials are preferred to the National Park Service www.nationalparks.org