RICHARD COLE obituary

Richard Joseph "Dick" Cole was born April 2, 1925, in Havre, Mont. He passed away on Jan. 29, 2010, in the presence and comfort of family. He left this world the same way he lived in it — with humor, wisdom and resolve. He attended St. Jude Thaddeus Elementary, junior high and high school in his youth. Residing on 5th Avenue in Havre in the center of town, allowed for easy travel to school, although, some days he thought it better to "educate" himself with the nearby fishing, hunting and "field" learning in the nearby creeks, lakes and countryside. In 1941, Dick along with his older brother, Bill, were members of the Class A football state champion Havre Blue Ponies. Dick was drafted into the armed forces in June 1943, at 18 years of age, before he graduated from high school. He attended 16 months of training in places such as Salt Lake City, Utah, Panama City, Fla., Apalachicola, Fla., Lincoln, Neb., Kessler Field in Biloxi, Miss., Amarillo, Texas, and El Paso, Texas. Cole graduated from two schools as an aerial gunner and an airplane mechanic/engineer on a B-24 Liberator. As an avid hunter growing up, Cole was a natural on the skeet range and hit 24 of 25 clay targets his first time under the watchful eye of the instructors. The crew's first scheduled mission was Oct. 23, 1944. Cole ended up flying on bombing missions with targets such as wartime factories, ammo depots and railroad bridges in Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Getting off the plane on April 15, 1945, was the best feeling Dick recalled of his experiences during his participation in the war. Not by coincidence, it was his final act of his last combat mission. He was the happiest guy in the world to have done his duty to serve his country and had to have survived the enemy, the weather, the equipment and the fear in the process. During his military service with the 459th Bomber Group, 759th Bomber Squadron, Cole was awarded five bronze stars, three battle stars, the a medal with three oak leaf clusters and also received a valor commendation from Army Air Forces Mediterranean Theatre of Operation Commander Lt. General John K. Carman. Prior to leaving for World War II, Cole worked for Great Northern Railroad while in high school. Upon his return stateside, Dick worked at a dry cleaning business in Havre before returning to Great Northern/Burlington Northern railroad for a 37-year career. His posts were switchman, yard master and brakeman. His numerous trips to Glasgow and Whitefish made the Hi-Line landscape a part of his "office" for several years. In October, 1983 Dick radioed back to Dispatch that there was a rail maintenance issue on one section of track. Turns out, a three-foot section of rail was missing. The next scheduled train was Amtrak. Cole received a letter of commendation from senior management at Burlington Northern for his actions which most likely prevented derailment of a passenger train causing injury or worse. Clearly, family was something that ranked highest in Dick's life. He enjoyed each and every one of those who he visited with. Travel and recreation with family and friends were full of memories to smile about and laugh at. Dick and Louise spent a few weeks each winter in Las Vegas for the past 20-plus years. Those trips were full of great memories and well deserved R&R. Overheating and blown engines, wheels falling off, getting stuck and the famous van all were a part of the fun. Camping trips in the Bear's Paw Mountains, Apgar in Glacier National Park and trips to Flathead Lake reflected Dick's upbringing and connection to the treasures of Montana. Kids had no problem crawling onto Dick's lap for a nap, hug or quick story. His humorous songs seemed to pick everyone up and he always seemed to belt one out that hadn't been heard before. He'd love to engage in a tussle related to politics and seemed to take the opposite side of any conversation just to get things started. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Louise of Missoula, Mont.; his son, Rick Cole (Linda) of Concord, Calif., and their children Laura (Randy) and Christopher; daughter, Kathy (Bob) Slonaker of Lakeside, Mont., and their children, Melissa (Bacillo), Natasha (Dan), Joe (Amber) and Matt; his daughter, Nancy Peterson (Jim) of Missoula, Mont., along with Nancy's children, Jason (Michelle) and Jessica (Joe); his son, Perry (Mary Jo) Cole of San Diego, Calif., and their children, Kelly, Marc and Lisa, and his son, Shawn (Michelle) Cole of Bozeman, Mont,. Along with their children, Skyler, Cerissa and Camber. Dick leaves 17 great-grandchildren and two great-greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by brothers, Jim Cole and Tom Cole; and his sisters, Thelma McLean, Dorothy Solomon, Ann LaCroix, Jean Stengem and Lois Waller. Brother, Bill Cole and sister, Della Pimley, preceded Dick in death. A private ceremony later this year will be held to reflect and celebrate on Dick's life. If desired, donations may be made to: Partners In Home Care, 2687 Palmer St. #B, Missoula, MT, 59808.Richard Joseph "Dick" Cole was born April 2, 1925, in Havre, Mont. He passed away on Jan. 29, 2010, in the presence and comfort of family. He left this world the same way he lived in it — with humor, wisdom and resolve. He attended St. Jude Thaddeus Elementary, junior high and high school in his youth. Residing on 5th Avenue in Havre in the center of town, allowed for easy travel to school, although, some days he thought it better to "educate" himself with the nearby fishing, hunting and "field" learning in the nearby creeks, lakes and countryside. In 1941, Dick along with his older brother, Bill, were members of the Class A football state champion Havre Blue Ponies. Dick was drafted into the armed forces in June 1943, at 18 years of age, before he graduated from high school. He attended 16 months of training in places such as Salt Lake City, Utah, Panama City, Fla., Apalachicola, Fla., Lincoln, Neb., Kessler Field in Biloxi, Miss., Amarillo, Texas, and El Paso, Texas. Cole graduated from two schools as an aerial gunner and an airplane mechanic/engineer on a B-24 Liberator. As an avid hunter growing up, Cole was a natural on the skeet range and hit 24 of 25 clay targets his first time under the watchful eye of the instructors. The crew's first scheduled mission was Oct. 23, 1944. Cole ended up flying on bombing missions with targets such as wartime factories, ammo depots and railroad bridges in Italy, Austria, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. Getting off the plane on April 15, 1945, was the best feeling Dick recalled of his experiences during his participation in the war. Not by coincidence, it was his final act of his last combat mission. He was the happiest guy in the world to have done his duty to serve his country and had to have survived the enemy, the weather, the equipment and the fear in the process. During his military service with the 459th Bomber Group, 759th Bomber Squadron, Cole was awarded five bronze stars, three battle stars, the a medal with three oak leaf clusters and also received a valor commendation from Army Air Forces Mediterranean Theatre of Operation Commander Lt. General John K. Carman. Prior to leaving for World War II, Cole worked for Great Northern Railroad while in high school. Upon his return stateside, Dick worked at a dry cleaning business in Havre before returning to Great Northern/Burlington Northern railroad for a 37-year career. His posts were switchman, yard master and brakeman. His numerous trips to Glasgow and Whitefish made the Hi-Line landscape a part of his "office" for several years. In October, 1983 Dick radioed back to Dispatch that there was a rail maintenance issue on one section of track. Turns out, a three-foot section of rail was missing. The next scheduled train was Amtrak. Cole received a letter of commendation from senior management at Burlington Northern for his actions which most likely prevented derailment of a passenger train causing injury or worse. Clearly, family was something that ranked highest in Dick's life. He enjoyed each and every one of those who he visited with. Travel and recreation with family and friends were full of memories to smile about and laugh at. Dick and Louise spent a few weeks each winter in Las Vegas for the past 20-plus years. Those trips were full of great memories and well deserved R&R. Overheating and blown engines, wheels falling off, getting stuck and the famous van all were a part of the fun. Camping trips in the Bear's Paw Mountains, Apgar in Glacier National Park and trips to Flathead Lake reflected Dick's upbringing and connection to the treasures of Montana. Kids had no problem crawling onto Dick's lap for a nap, hug or quick story. His humorous songs seemed to pick everyone up and he always seemed to belt one out that hadn't been heard before. He'd love to engage in a tussle related to politics and seemed to take the opposite side of any conversation just to get things started. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Louise of Missoula, Mont.; his son, Rick Cole (Linda) of Concord, Calif., and their children Laura (Randy) and Christopher; daughter, Kathy (Bob) Slonaker of Lakeside, Mont., and their children, Melissa (Bacillo), Natasha (Dan), Joe (Amber) and Matt; his daughter, Nancy Peterson (Jim) of Missoula, Mont., along with Nancy's children, Jason (Michelle) and Jessica (Joe); his son, Perry (Mary Jo) Cole of San Diego, Calif., and their children, Kelly, Marc and Lisa, and his son, Shawn (Michelle) Cole of Bozeman, Mont,. Along with their children, Skyler, Cerissa and Camber. Dick leaves 17 great-grandchildren and two great-greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by brothers, Jim Cole and Tom Cole; and his sisters, Thelma McLean, Dorothy Solomon, Ann LaCroix, Jean Stengem and Lois Waller. Brother, Bill Cole and sister, Della Pimley, preceded Dick in death. A private ceremony later this year will be held to reflect and celebrate on Dick's life. If desired, donations may be made to: Partners In Home Care, 2687 Palmer St. #B, Missoula, MT, 59808.