Richard M. “Rick” Wolff, 61, of Hibbing, died suddenly on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, at Fairview Range Medical Center, Hibbing.

Rick was born in Austin, Minn., on Oct. 23, 1951, to Gordon and Delores (Hofland) Wolff. He grew up on the family farm in Adams, Minn., and graduated from Adams High School and the University of Minnesota — Morris. While working in Hibbing early in his Social Security Administration career, Rick was united in marriage to Sally Meese on July 31, 1976, six weeks after their first meeting. They moved to St. Cloud and later to Mankato before returning to Hibbing in December of 1993, where Rick was a district manager for Social Security. He was the longest tenured district manager in Minnesota, having worked for the Social Security Administration for 40 years. Rick was very community minded and was extremely involved in the communities in which he lived. He was elected to Hibbing City Council Ward D seat in 2000, and went on to become mayor in 2002. He served two terms as mayor. In 2008, he was named second vice president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities (CGMC) and elected president in 2010.

Among his many awards and accolades, Rick was the inaugural recipient of the Outstanding Federal Civil Servant of the Year award for Leadership in 2012. He was active in a variety of organizations including the United Way of Hibbing, Community Development Block Grant, Range Transitional Housing, Elders Services Network of Northern St. Louis County, Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, Hibbing Salvation Army, Kiwanis and served on a number of leadership committees with the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce. He also co-found the local Groceries to Go Program, participated in mentoring programs and was recently working toward becoming a mediator.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sally Wolff, Hibbing; a son, Tim Wolff, Hibbing; two daughters, Sherry (Aaron) Miller, Mankato and Suzanna (Lane Sowers) Wolff, Hibbing; grandchildren: Lauren, Alex, and Andrew Miller, Kelsey and Mallory Greenwood, Atreyu Jones, Odessa Wolff, Zach Fearing, Brooklyn and Kaylee Sowers, and baby boy Sowers, due in December 2013; two brothers, Ron (Kathie) Wolff, Minnetonka; and Brad (Teresa) Wolff, Grand Meadow; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and by a nephew, Jason Wolff.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, in Dougherty Funeral Home, Hibbing and Saturday, Sept. 28, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.doughertyofhibbing.com. Memorials are preferred to the Salvation Army or to Habitat For Humanity.