Sutton resident Richard James Drudik, 83, passed away Friday, March 13, 2026, at Mary Lanning Health Care in Hastings.

A Rosary was prayed at 10 a.m., Wed., March 18, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sutton. Mass of Christian burial was conducted at 10:30 a.m. following the Rosary, with Father Lee Jirovsky officiating. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery in Sutton. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Condolences may be left at www.suttonemmorial.com. Richard J. Drudik was born Dec. 7, 1942, on a farm south of Deweese, to Anton and Helen (Mazour) Drudik. He attended a small country school and graduated from Nelson High School in 1961. His love for auctioneering started in high school and continued throughout his life. He took a correspondence course in auctioneering and held his first household auction when he was only a junior in high school.

After high school, he served in the Army National Guard. Richard was united in marriage to Bonnie June Alberding on June 25, 1966, at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Deweese. This union was blessed with four children: Paul, Renee, Janelle, and David.

He farmed and managed livestock sale barns for several years in Hastings and Franklin, later purchasing the old sale barn in Sutton in 1969. Richard and his wife, Bonnie, built the new sale barn that is standing today in 1974. He owned and managed the Sutton Livestock Sales Commission for 30 years. During that time, he attended many World Auctioneer contests throughout the United States and Canada. He was most proud of his achievement when he became one of the top 15 finalists in 1985. While farming, Richard also raised cattle and purebred Spotted and Chester White hogs for several years. He would proudly show his livestock at the Nebraska State Fair and won several awards.

Richard was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus in Sutton, and also served as an acolyte for St. Mary’s Catholic Church. He was a member of the Sutton American Legion Post #61 and throughout his many years of farming he was a member of the South-Central Pork Producers and Clay County Feeders Association.

Richard loved his polka music, Czech cooking, and a good kolache. He will always be remembered for his jokes and ornery behavior at family gatherings and Sunday dinners at his parents’ home in Lawrence. He was a family man and loved his grandchildren very much and always made them special pancakes when they came to visit.

Left to treasure his memory are his wife of 59 years, Bonnie, of Sutton; children, Paul (Sheryl) Drudik of Saronville, Renee (Phill) Miller of Nelson, Janelle (Lee) Nuss of Sutton, and David (Shannon) Drudik of Sutton; 18 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; brother, Tom Drudik of Grand Island; sisters, Verena (Robert) Reiman of Hastings, Mary Kendall of Lafayette, IN; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Gladys and Arthur Alberding; sisters-inlaw, Betty Drudik and Darlene Kauk; brother-in-law, Don Kauk; and nephew, Don Darrel Kauk.