Dick was born in 1947 in Monroe, Michigan, the son of Norman and Phyllis LaFountain. He was raised in Monroe. Following high school, he attended Nyack College in Nyack, New York, earning a bachelor's of science in missions. In May of 1972 he became the pastor of the Alliance Church in Clymer, Pennsylvania. He was ordained in September of 1974 by the Western Pennsylvania District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Subsequently, in 1976 returned to Alliance School of Theology and Missions for graduate studies, from there he and his wife Marilyn and their two children went to Brazil as missionary church planters with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. They served in Brazil until 1984, when they returned home to the USA and began pastoring in Pitman, New Jersey. From there they pastored in Washington, Pennsylvania and served two years at the National Office of the C&MA developing the Alliance Web site.

Pastor LaFountain accepted the call to be the Senior Pastor at Grove City Alliance Church and began his ministry here in July of 1999. In addition to pastoral ministries, he has ministered as evangelist, Bible School teacher, taught Theological Education by Extension (TEE) and has been a speaker at Nyack College. He has written numerous articles for Alliance Life and has been published in The Christian Reader and other mission publications. He is an avid researcher and has written and archived over 2000 profiles of Unreached People Groups.