Timothy A. Rinke

Timothy Arthur Rinke, 67, of Dilworth, MN, died December 17, 2019 at home under the care of his wife and Hospice after a brief battle with cancer.  Tim was born on August 12, 1952 in Fargo, ND to Verle and Signe (Giere) Rinke.  Tim graduated from Glyndon-Felton High School and attended NDSU.  In July 1982, he married Pauline Hauger and together they raised their three children, Stacie, Brady and Logan.  After being raised on the family farm outside Glyndon with his brother and sister, he farmed with his Dad for a few years.  After that, he went to work for a Hazardous Material Transport Company.  He then became a partner in a company doing hazardous waste cleanup.  After several years, he started his own company, TRS (Tim Rinke Services).  He took care of hazardous medical, laboratory and industrial waste throughout the tri-state area.  He also owned a vac-truck service for household and industrial waste locally.  His most unique job was cleaning up meth labs for the DEA.  He had cleaned up 450 of them by the time he retired.  Tim was also an EMT for FM Ambulance and a volunteer Firefighter in Glyndon.  He recently drove truck for H & H Contracting. He loved working and had many stories about his jobs.  He made friends wherever he went.  He is a member of Dilworth Lutheran Church where he served on committees, taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and was a Confirmation Mentor.  When he could help anyone in need, he did.  He was content with what he had and felt the need to “fix” everything, regardless of the cost to replace it.  Tim was a member of the Dilworth Lions for many years.  He enjoyed helping others and was blessed to be helped by them in return.  Deer camp, fishing and time at Lake Lida with neighbors and friends were his favorite things.  Many laughs were shared around the campfire because of his endless humor.  His eyes lit up whenever his grandchildren came around and he was blessed to spend a lot of time with them since they all live so close.

Tim is survived by his wife of 37 years, Pauline; his children, Stacie (Joe) Sauvageau, Fargo, and Brady (Nicole) Rinke, Georgetown, MN; his four grandchildren, Anna, Signe and Patrick Sauvageau and Emilynn Rinke.  Also surviving him are his father, Verle (JoAnn) Rinke; brother, Mark (Eileen) Rinke; mother and father-in-law, Phyllis (Stan) Morrill; brothers-in-law Daryl (Donna) Hauger, Terry (Connie) Hauger, Jeff (Lauren) Hauger and Philip (Cindy) Hauger; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Logan; mother, Signe Rinke; sister, Janel Rinke; father-in-law, Gerald Hauger; brother-in-law, Dayle Hauger; sister-in-law, Susan Hauger; niece, Heidie Hauger and his grandparents.

Per Tim’s request, no funeral service will be held.  A private graveside service will be held at a later date at Riverside Cemetery in Glyndon, MN.  In lieu of flowers, gifts or food, memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley, the Dilworth Lions Club, or Dilworth Lutheran Church.  We encourage anyone to share their stories or memories of Tim with the family.  We continue to be amazed at all the lives he’s touched.