MN MN - Richard John ‘Dickie’ Huerkamp, 15, Mapleton, 2 Oct 1965

[Richard]

Here are a few more Surplus Store advertisements from the late 1960's showing items Dickie had (or might have had) along with their prices.

Sorry for the download format. If you click on each file number, you can open it and view the attached photos.

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[Richard]

A few more:

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[Brightchaser47]

I just get an error code when I click on these.

 

[Richard]

I just get an error code when I click on these.

Try clicking on the numbers and then when they come up, click on them again.

They are small picture advertisements for various items listed in a 1960's mail order Military Surplus catalog. I included examples of coveralls, hats, knapsacks, shell belts, etc.

I couldn't find any other way to post them.

 

[GatorsNorth]

@Richard, I appreciate all your updates on Dickie’s case.

There are two things I question, and I’m probably WAY off base with this:

Any thoughts on Dickie being disciplined by his own family and his death being covered up?

And any thoughts on his death being caused accidentally by a hunter?

I’m sorry, but I’m grasping at straws. Dickie reminds me so much of my brother at his age.

 

[Richard]

@Richard, I appreciate all your updates on Dickie’s case.

There are two things I question, and I’m probably WAY off base with this:

Any thoughts on Dickie being disciplined by his own family and his death being covered up?

And any thoughts on his death being caused accidentally by a hunter?

I’m sorry, but I’m grasping at straws. Dickie reminds me so much of my brother at his age.

Either of those scenarios might have occurred. There are a few other possibilities as well, such as abduction (by an acquaintanceor a stranger), an accident not involving others, suicide, or intentional running away. Possibly even others or a combination of factors.

Investigators reportedly considered some of those scenarios, and probably considered them all to some extent.

Unfortunately, there isn't any evidence to support a conclusion at this time. But asking the questions and suggesting possible scenarios might lead to answers.

 

[GatorsNorth]

Either of those scenarios might have occurred. There are a few other possibilities as well, such as abduction (by an acquaintanceor a stranger), an accident not involving others, suicide, or intentional running away. Possibly even others or a combination of factors.

Investigators reportedly considered some of those scenarios, and probably considered them all to some extent.

Unfortunately, there isn't any evidence to support a conclusion at this time. But asking the questions and suggesting possible scenarios might lead to answers.

Thank you for your thoughts, @Richard

 

[GatorsNorth]

I hope this case is solved in my lifetime, but we’re running out of time.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Try clicking on the numbers and then when they come up, click on them again.

RSBM
Tried that, but still getting the error code. Could be something on my end. Oh, well....

They are small picture advertisements for various items listed in a 1960's mail order Military Surplus catalog. I included examples of coveralls, hats, knapsacks, shell belts, etc.

I couldn't find any other way to post them.

Thanks for your efforts. It's nice to have the little reminders of what life was like back then....

 

[snooptroop88]

RSBM
Tried that, but still getting the error code. Could be something on my end. Oh, well....

Thanks for your efforts. It's nice to have the little reminders of what life was like back then....

I got it, too. Can't get them to come up. The first one with the boots is visible, though. This one:

Dickie Huerkamp was described as last seen wearing a suit of gray coveralls, a pair of "Parachute boots", a red shirt, blue jeans, and a hunting cap. All or most of his outfit could have been purchased rather cheaply from an Army Navy surplus store - or via mail.

 

[Richard]

Here is another attempt at showing some of the items available in the 1960's from surplus stores.

 

[Richard]

Here is yet another page showing a fraction of what was available in Army Navy Surplus stores in the 1960's. The US Government had contracted for all sorts of equipment and supplies during World War II, with manufacturers, businesses, and small companies all getting into the effort of war time production.

Typewriter companies made firearms, appliance companies made binoculars, store awning companies made tents and tarps, automobile companies turned out tanks, aircraft, jeeps, and trucks, and musical instrument companies made instruments for aircraft and ships.

After the war, the surplus equipment (clothing, vehicles, etc.) was all sold for pennies on the dollar and resold to the public through hundreds of Surplus Stores and mail order outlets.

The reason I posted this here is that the description of Dickie's hunting outfit (and his finances) seemed to fit with what was widely available in 1965.

 

[Richard]

Photo of memorial cenotaph for Richard "Dickie" Huerkamp...
LINK:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76802803/richard_john-huerkamp

 

[Pressureandheat]

Ugh… another month into 2026 and still no updates and no answers.

 

[Pressureandheat]

@Richard, I appreciate all your updates on Dickie’s case.

There are two things I question, and I’m probably WAY off base with this:

Any thoughts on Dickie being disciplined by his own family and his death being covered up?

And any thoughts on his death being caused accidentally by a hunter?

I’m sorry, but I’m grasping at straws. Dickie reminds me so much of my brother at his age.

You are right in that there seems to only be 4 plausible scenarios:

1. Stranger abduction
2. Runaway
3. Discipline by dad and death covered up
3. Hunting accident and death hidden

Having grown up there, knowing the families, having talked to friends of Dickie’s over the years, and my years of working in child protective services i feel strongly that:

1. Dickie didnt run away. He had limited resources, ie food and/or money. If he had run away, he would certainly have taken the lunch he packed himself over a heavy shotgun w limited shells, leaving the majority of shells in a box along side the road. He also wouldn’t have left Mapleton going that direction. Would have made more sense to head north on Highway 22 towards Mankato or Southeast towards Mn Lake where the train stopped. Running away in that direction is nothing for miles of farm land and dirt roads. And why leave the bike if you’re running away, get further much faster on a bike…

2. Stranger abduction is always possible. Especially given Dickie’s size. He was a very small guy. So it is always possible someone was traveling by and took the opportunity to snatch him. I grew up during the Jacob Wetterling abduction, that’s why I’ll never say it wasn’t a stranger abduction. Highly unlikely, yes. But still possible.

3. A hunting accident and cover up is possible. Mapleton is small. Like not a single stop light small. But people talk. And in my experience something that heavy weighs on the conscience over the years. Maybe easy for one person to cover it up. But for several? Not sure. In walking through that option, if an accident had occurred there would still have been evidence, blood on the ground, dirt disturbed if they buried him, etc. And in having talked to friends that searched for him, there wasn’t any of that.

4. In my opinion, the most likely scenario unfortunately is that something happened between Dickie and his father. It was well known his father had a drinking problem and to be violent when he was drunk. His father also had easy access to digging equipment and private land. And as someone who worked years in child protective services, there are things the parents said to reporters and those involved that seem “off” and contradictory. Also having spoken directly to Dickie’s dear friend he stated even as a teenager he felt strongly that the scene by the road seemed staged when they arrived to join the search party. Dickie would have never left those things there. And that the time line reported from the parents didn’t make sense….

I just wish the current investigators would at the very minimum list Dickie as missing on the MN Missing website. Everyone lost deserves to be found and at the very least, it would keep his name and information out there in the event that if anything ever is found in Mapleton, or anywhere for that matter, that could possibly bring Dickie home and give his sisters some closure.

 

[Richard]

Excellent observations and analysis. With no really solid evidence, all scenarios are possible.

What does seem to be puzzling is any hesitation by LE to list this missing person case in the Minnesota state website and other missing person websites. There is certainly more factual information available on Dickie's case than on many other cases listed.

 

[Pressureandheat]

Excellent observations and analysis. With no really solid evidence, all scenarios are possible.

What does seem to be puzzling is any hesitation by LE to list this missing person case in the Minnesota state website and other missing person websites. There is certainly more factual information available on Dickie's case than on many other cases listed.

Agreed. One would think any information out there after all these years would be better than nothing. Say if he were abducted and remains were found elsewhere in the country, pretty hard to match back to Dickie if no one knows he ever existed. Very frustrating!

 

[GatorsNorth]

You are right in that there seems to only be 4 plausible scenarios:

1. Stranger abduction
2. Runaway
3. Discipline by dad and death covered up
3. Hunting accident and death hidden

Having grown up there, knowing the families, having talked to friends of Dickie’s over the years, and my years of working in child protective services i feel strongly that:

1. Dickie didnt run away. He had limited resources, ie food and/or money. If he had run away, he would certainly have taken the lunch he packed himself over a heavy shotgun w limited shells, leaving the majority of shells in a box along side the road. He also wouldn’t have left Mapleton going that direction. Would have made more sense to head north on Highway 22 towards Mankato or Southeast towards Mn Lake where the train stopped. Running away in that direction is nothing for miles of farm land and dirt roads. And why leave the bike if you’re running away, get further much faster on a bike…

2. Stranger abduction is always possible. Especially given Dickie’s size. He was a very small guy. So it is always possible someone was traveling by and took the opportunity to snatch him. I grew up during the Jacob Wetterling abduction, that’s why I’ll never say it wasn’t a stranger abduction. Highly unlikely, yes. But still possible.

3. A hunting accident and cover up is possible. Mapleton is small. Like not a single stop light small. But people talk. And in my experience something that heavy weighs on the conscience over the years. Maybe easy for one person to cover it up. But for several? Not sure. In walking through that option, if an accident had occurred there would still have been evidence, blood on the ground, dirt disturbed if they buried him, etc. And in having talked to friends that searched for him, there wasn’t any of that.

4. In my opinion, the most likely scenario unfortunately is that something happened between Dickie and his father. It was well known his father had a drinking problem and to be violent when he was drunk. His father also had easy access to digging equipment and private land. And as someone who worked years in child protective services, there are things the parents said to reporters and those involved that seem “off” and contradictory. Also having spoken directly to Dickie’s dear friend he stated even as a teenager he felt strongly that the scene by the road seemed staged when they arrived to join the search party. Dickie would have never left those things there. And that the time line reported from the parents didn’t make sense….

I just wish the current investigators would at the very minimum list Dickie as missing on the MN Missing website. Everyone lost deserves to be found and at the very least, it would keep his name and information out there in the event that if anything ever is found in Mapleton, or anywhere for that matter, that could possibly bring Dickie home and give his sisters some closure.

Wow! Thank you for your insights on this case. I think this case is going to haunt me forever.

#3: This scenario I’ve kind of ruled out. You’re right that there are no secrets in a small town. I don’t remember how many friends Dickie was meeting to hunt with, but they were also kids IIRC, and I don’t think that they could have kept a secret all these years. Kids talk.

#4: I didn’t know that Dickie’s father had a drinking problem. I think I read upthread somewhere that Dickie was disciplined the night before he went missing but “didn’t sulk.” What was he “disciplined” for and can his sisters shed any light on that? I really believe that one of the parents (my guess is Dad) accidentally killed Dickie and it was covered up. I really need to go through this thread again because it’s been a while.

Do you or @Richard know if there have been any books written about this case?

And also, were Dickie’s parents connected to anyone in LE?

 

[Richard]

Wow! Thank you for your insights on this case. I think this case is going to haunt me forever.

#3: This scenario I’ve kind of ruled out. You’re right that there are no secrets in a small town. I don’t remember how many friends Dickie was meeting to hunt with, but they were also kids IIRC, and I don’t think that they could have kept a secret all these years. Kids talk.

#4: I didn’t know that Dickie’s father had a drinking problem. I think I read upthread somewhere that Dickie was disciplined the night before he went missing but “didn’t sulk.” What was he “disciplined” for and can his sisters shed any light on that? I really believe that one of the parents (my guess is Dad) accidentally killed Dickie and it was covered up. I really need to go through this thread again because it’s been a while.

Do you or @Richard know if there have been any books written about this case?

And also, were Dickie’s parents connected to anyone in LE?

There are no books written about Dickie’s case - other than a memoriam page in a 1968 high school yearbook.

The story was covered in newspapers at the time and most of those articles are linked in this thread. However, the last contemporary article was written a year after he went missing.

Unfortunately, the case went cold, and the official case file was misplaced.

In October 2025, reporter Stephen Schute wrote a very comprehensive article published in the Maple River Messenger newspaper (linked up thread here). In his research, he located a partial police file in a museum archive.

 

[Richard]

Besides the four possible scenarios mentioned and discussed in the above recent posts is the one which the Sheriff and other searchers initially focused on:

That Dickie intentially left his bike, lunch, extra shells, and gun case beside the road and took his shotgun to go hunting. And that while hunting, met with some sort of accident - like falling into the river, into a well, getting tangled up in briars, etc.

That possible scenario was pursued exhaustively to the exclusion of the others. With no positive results. There was no sign of Dickie in the woods, fields or river - even after weeks of searching.

In defense of the Sheriff's decision to pursue that line of reasoning, the other scenarios were considered, but were either ruled out or just not deemed to be as compelling and likely. The first and foremost concern was to find Dickie alive if possible.

Because the massive search was unsuccessful, other possible scenarios have to be considered. But the initial one on which the search was conducted remains a valid possibility - however less likely in comparison it might seem in hindsight.