Donald Richard

After a long hard fought battle with Cortico Basal Ganglian Degeneration (CBGD) Don stepped into the loving arms of Jesus on January 16, 2019. He was born July 26, 1945 in Wolf Point, Mt to Armand and Antoinette Richard. Don grew up on the family farm at the Riverside Community near Vida, Mt. and attended school there and in the Wolf Point area. He went on to private school at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, ND. Don was a good athlete in high school, placing 2nd at state in wrestling his junior year. The football team did well also, having gone one year without a team scoring against them he told how the worst team in the division came within 6” of scoring against them. As the captain of the defense Don called a timeout but did not go to the sidelines; he told his team to hold their ground and told his best friend, Mike Nathe, to hit the running back, which he did, causing a fumble which Don recovered. He attended Carroll College in Helena, it was there he met his lifelong friend Jim Ries; they would stay in touch with each other to the end. The stories they told were the stuff of legends. Don transferred to the College of Great Falls, it was there he met and married Kathleen Malby on Dec. 22, 1966. They had four children. Don joined the Army in 1966 as a payroll clerk. He served in Fort Polk, LA, and Fort Sill, OK. After the Army they returned to Montana. He was employed by Mountain Bell, working all over the state. The family settled in Poplar, MT and in 1985 they moved from Poplar to South Wolf Point, MT. Don began his own business in 1992 contracting back to AT&T; this was a successful business even without advertising. In 1994, Don and Kathy lost their daughter, Jacque, in a car accident in Minnesota. He missed his daughter every day of his life. She shared his passion for horses. Don was known to be a very good horseman; he started riding as a young child and never gave up his love for horses. He would break horses for others, training them so that a child could ride any he trained. Stepson, Rob Oelkers, referred to Don as being like a horse whisperer. Later, along with good friend Paul Sievers, they worked team horses. Don taught himself to braid leather harnesses and woodworking. Don married Jean McKenzie Oelkers on Feb 14, 1999 in Wolf Point. They lived south of Wolf Point and shared a blended family. In 2004, before Don retired, they purchased a home in Billings on a golf course. Golfing became a big part of his life, as well as wood carving. He began carving wooden crosses for friends and family and would pray for those who received them; this was his way of sharing his faith with others. In all he made 59 crosses for friends and family. It was hard for him when he could no longer do the things he loved. In 2017 Don and Jean moved to Wyndstone Senior Housing. It was there Don continued his friendship with Buck McClellan, who gave his time so freely to Don, helping him in the gym, dining room and making nightly visits to him in Novak. Don was proud of his family, and enjoyed time with all of his grandkids. Anyone who knew Don found he was friendly and liked to visit. Don leaves behind His wife, Jean; sons, Jerome (Lisa), Shawn (Delia) and Chris (Gloria); step children, Tammie (Doug) McCormick, Laurie (Lee) Averill and Rob (Shanonne) Oelkers; ten grandchildren; five, step grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Cliff (Loretta), LeRoy (Kathy), Bernard (Leslie), Dennis (Carrie), Irene (Barry) and Ellen. He was preceded in death by parents, Armand and Antoinette; daughter, Jacque; grandson, Eric; brother, Ray; and sister, Patsy. Though we will miss him, he is now reunited with daughter as well as other family members; doing all those things he loved. He was a Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle and Friend. His memory will live on among the multitude of people he touched. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Atonement Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Family Promise of Billings, 10 S. 26th St, Billings, MT 59101.