Richard was born March 4, 1940, to Floyd and Louise (Haskell) Sweet in Marshalltown. He attended Ferguson Schools. Dick served his country from 1959 to 1962 in the US Navy aboard the USS Henry W. Tucker and the USS Porterfield. He was united in marriage to Linda Butler in 1972. They later divorced. In his early years, Dick worked at Lennox Industries. He relocated to Des Moines and was employed with the Des Moines Register as a mailer until retirement in 2004. Dick was a proud member of the American Legion. He loved hunting and fishing. Dick was very handy, he built two boats and many remote-control airplanes.

Dick will be missed by a daughter, Dawn (Doug) Farrell of Clive, IA, a son, David (Angela) Sweet of Des Moines, IA, a step daughter, Gabrielle Sweet of Altoona, IA, one granddaughter, Alyssa Farrell, a sister, Lavonne Parks of Marshalltown, a brother, Norman (Darlene) Sweet of Roland, IA, a niece, Heather (Jeff) Oelklause, and a nephew, Shannon (Darcy) Parks. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Larry Parks.