Russell E. “Dickie” Lewis, 84, of De Soto died March 6, 2026. Mr. Lewis graduated from De Soto High School, where he made many lifelong friends. He was a retired carpenter with local 2214, an active member of the Knights of Columbus Council 1185 and a lifelong member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, where he attended grade school. He enjoyed Boy Scouts, listening to music, dancing, especially the jitterbug, gardening, watching the St. Louis Cardinals and the Green Bay Packers and spending time with family and friends. Born Feb. 1, 1942, in De Soto, he was the son of the late Effie Katherine (Villmere) and Lester Walter Lewis.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years: Barbara Ann (Whitter) Lewis, whom he married on Sept. 22, 1962, in De Soto.
He is survived by four children: Don (Dawn) Lewis of Antigo, Wis., Denise (Shawn) McCarty of De Soto, Charlene (Kevin) DeClue of Hillsboro and Katherine (Chris) Meyer of De Soto; a sister: Faye (the late Maurice) Pashia of Maryland Heights; a sister-in-law: Dorothy Lewis of Highland, Ill.; a brother-in-law: Jim Tidwell of Bonne Terre; six grandchildren: Amanda (Noah DeRousse) Bachmeyer, Josh (Stephanie) Lewis, Aaron (Alicia) Meyer, Tyler (Valeria) Lewis, Kirsten (Taylor) Hassell and Rachel McCarty; seven great-grandchildren: Allana Bachmeyer, Logan Lewis Bachmeyer, Bennett Tolsma, Eleanor Meyer, Josiah Meyer, Otto Lewis and Ayliana Hassell; and two more great-grandchildren on the way.
He was preceded in death by five siblings: Norma (James) Marsden, Donald (Loraine) Lewis, Dolores (Archie) Richardson, Kenneth Lewis and Glenn Lewis.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., in De Soto. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 13, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 504 S. Third St., in De Soto. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in De Soto. Memorials may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital, 4400 Clayton Road, St. Louis, 63110. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.