By HDN staff
GERALD JERRY RICHARD
Gerald L. Jerry Richard, 77, died Monday, Oct. 25, 1999, in Great Falls of natural causes.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday in the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery with military honors.
Richard was born Feb. 8, 1922, in Overly, N.D., to Fred and Johanna (Boucher) Richard. The family later moved to a farm in Rolette County, N.D., where he lived for the next 20 years on the family farm raising livestock, poultry, and Shetland ponies. In 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served with the 51st Field Artillery in South Korea. He was honorably discharged as a master sergeant and returned to Dunseith, N.D., where he worked in the family furniture business.
On Dec. 8, 1947, he married Donna Aitchison at Baker, Ore. In early 1948, he enrolled into Boyle College at Omaha, Neb., which was a railroad agent and telegraph school. On Sept. 15, 1949, he commenced his railroad career on the Montana Division of the Great Northern Railroad at Great Falls. In 1952, he was appointed assistant freight agent at Great Falls and managed the railroad operation at the Anaconda Copper Mining Company at Black Eagle. In 1959, he was appointed freight agent at Havre where he was Yard Office supervisor. He retired in 1981. After his retirement he and his wife spent many winters in Mesa, Ariz.
Richard served 12 years on the Salvation Army Board, two years as chairman. He was also a member of the Chamber of Commerce (transportation committee). He had been a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles since 1960 and served as Montana State President for the year 1975-76. In 1971 he was appointed president of a non-profit corporation to construct a home for the elderly in north central Montana. The building was completed and opened as Havre Eagles Manor in 1974. He was elected to the Fraternal Order of Eagles Hall of Fame in 1989 for his participation in the Eagles. He continued as director of the Northern Montana Centennial Foundation, which was organized in Havre in 1989, and remained active in the Havre community. He was also a member of the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church for many years.
He enjoyed spending time with his family, the outdoors, water skiing, motorcycling, snowmobiling and camping.
Survivors include his wife, Donna of Havre; a daughter, Debby Joy of Havre; a son, Mark Richard of Helena; a brother, Virgil Richard of Larimore, N.D.; sisters, Leona Hosmer of Canutillo, Texas, Verdellis Larson of Bottineau, N.D. and Jerrine Larson of Seattle, Wash.; three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the Benefis Foundation (Gift of Life) in Great Falls.
Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.
