Obituary - Richard Dean Stremcha

Richard Dean Stremcha, 77, passed away on January 16, 2019, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls with his wife, son and daughter by his side. On January 12, 2019, he suffered a massive stroke and was hospitalized at Benefis Hospital and was moved to Peace Hospice on January 15, 2019.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, January 24, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel.

A graveside service will be held in Havre on Friday, January 25, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at Highland Cemetery, followed by a luncheon and reception at the Havre Eagles Lodge, 202 1St St. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Richard was born in Great Falls, Montana on December 26, 1941 to Joseph and Grace Stremcha. He attended public schools in Great Falls, Hogeland, and Havre. Richard enlisted in the Navy in 1959 and was honorably discharged in 1962. He attended college part time at Northern Montana College also in Havre.

He married Carolyn Patera on January 7, 1963, of Havre, and to this union they had one son Anthony Ernest and one daughter Tami Lin.

Richard went to work at Northern Tire Company in Havre and joined the Havre Police Department in 1964 while continuing to work part time at Northern Tire Co. Climbing the ranks at the Havre Police Department he became chief of police in 1983. He served as chief until his retirement in 1987. Upon retirement, Richard and Carolyn moved to the Missouri River Canyon south of Cascade where he owned and operated his own business, Canyon Repair. After 31 years of living in this scenic canyon they purchased and moved into a new home on the outskirts of Great Falls in 2018.

He is survived by Carolyn, his wife of 56 years; children, Anthony (Kathy) Stremcha of Helena and daughter Tami (Shawn) Big Knife of Madras, OR; grandchildren Nicholas Stremcha and Katherine (Nick) Daniel both of Havre, Carson Big Knife and Quinton Big Knife both of Madras, OR; great-grandchildren Vivian Big Knife of Madras, OR and Jayson Stremcha of Havre; brother Lawrence Stremcha of Mount Aukum, CA; sister Mary Ann (Pat) Trumpour of Havre; and nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Stremcha and Grace (Stremcha) Williams; grandparents Stremcha and Miller; brother Vern Stremcha; uncles Mike Miller, Ronald (Verna) Miller; and aunt June (Bill) Stremcha.

Richard was a hard-working man who took pride in whatever projects he took on. There was nothing he couldn’t do. He will be deeply missed.

Memorials in Richard’s name can be sent to Peace Hospice of Montana Benefis Foundation, PO Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406 or the Havre Police Protective Assn Scholarship Fund, 520 4th St, Havre, MT 59501.

Condolences for the family may be posted online at http://www.schniderfuneralhome.com/.