Richard Weis
May 31, 1964 - April 11, 2024
Obituary
Richard Carl Weis was born in Billings, Montana on May 31st,1964 to Carl (Gloria) Weis and Julia (Vern) Spackman. He grew up in Billings heights with four sisters and met many lifelong friends along the way.
After graduating from Billings Senior High School, he joined the Navy as an Operations Specialist and proudly served onboard the USS Truxtun CGN-35 from 1983-1987. His shipmates became his brothers, and he felt blessed to stay connected with them until the end. After returning home, he maintained various jobs around the Billings area. He had fond memories of working for Billings Monument Company making headstones and placing them at cemeteries around Montana. In 1997, he joined the Teamsters Union where he quickly gained the nickname “spread master” because of his precision and efficiency when laying gravel seamlessly without a chain! He proudly operated the Safety Committee for 10 years while employed with Empire Sand and Gravel.
In 1995, Rich won over the love of his life, LaDonna, after many years of trying to gain her brother's approval. Rich and LaDonna got married in 1999 and spent 29 adventurous years together. In this time, they raised two beautiful daughters Jacqui (JJ) Morin and Selina (TJ) Schmidt. Rich's family meant everything to him. It was a priority of his to form a relationship with his daughters, to make sure they felt supported throughout life, and to consistently protect them. He was honored to hand off part of those duties to his son in law's who he appreciated, respected, and loved (after some investigation J).
When he wasn't working or chauffeuring his daughters to their activities, he enjoyed woodworking and building bikes in his shop. Weekend trips to the lake, fishing, and sharing stories around the campfire were what he looked forward to the most. When he joined the Galloping Goose Motorcycle Club in 2006, he was welcomed into a brotherhood. During his time as a member, he liked organizing and attending benefits for the community and functions for the Club. Rich and Ladonna loved camping with the family, racing their quads in the mountains (where he always said he let LaDonna win), and cross-country motorcycle trips with the Club. He wrote that one of his favorite memories of riding was “having LaDonna pressed against my back with my hand on her leg” in his notebook of final thoughts and treasured memories.
Rich is survived by his wife LaDonna Weis (Ullom), daughters Jacqui (JJ) Morin, Selina (TJ) Schmidt, his grandchildren Jeidalynn (11), Joey (9) and Jrake (3). His sister Caroline Clark, sister Lea Weis, brother Mike Spackman, and many nephews and nieces. Rich is proceeded in
death by his parents Carl Weis and Julia Spackman, sisters Diania (John) Gibson, Sherry (Bill) Hiett, Michelle (Al) Perry, and son Jimmy Rodriquez.
Rich was a big guy with a big smile, big heart, and a big sense of humor. Here is to Rich Weis: a man who always kept us laughing!
“You die twice, once on this earth and once when your name is last spoken.”
- Rich Weis