Richard Wesley Eddy, 93, born Dec. 29, 1919 in St. Paul, Neb., to Earl Dawes Eddy and Minnie Belle (Wolf) Eddy, passed away unexpectedly at Mission Ridge on Sunday, July 14, 2013.
Richard grew up in the Spokane, Wash., area and attended Whitworth College in Spokane, where he met the love of his life: Margaret Lindau. They were married on Jan 10, 1941. In 1943, they moved with their baby daughter, Wilma, to Alaska, where both Margaret and Richard worked as aircraft communicators.
From Alaska, they were transferred to the Panama Canal Zone, where another daughter, Celia, and a son, Richard Jr., were born. In 1951, there was another transfer to Great Falls, where another son, Timothy, was born in 1958. In 1960, the family moved to the Ashuelot Bench, north of Ft. Shaw, where Richard became a rancher, as well as continuing his career with the FAA until he retired in 1974. He was active in the Sun River Valley Lions Club, Simms UMC and the Soil Conservation Service until moving to Billings. After Richard and Margaret retired from ranching, they lived in Great Falls and, in 2006, moved to Mission Ridge in Billings.
Richard needed all 93 years of his life to fit in all his interests and activities. He and Margaret enjoyed traveling, and among the places they visited are the Philippines, Hong Kong, Europe, Puerto Rico and Mexico, where they could practice their Spanish. He made many friends while tutoring English as a second language in Great Falls. His favorite place in the world was the Eddy Cabin on Flathead Lake. He enjoyed working and improving the cabin and grounds, and especially liked tending to the landscaping. His love for the Eddy cabin was only surpassed by the love he had for his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and entire extended family. He thoroughly enjoyed his last vacation at the lake in mid-June.
Mission Ridge provided him with gardens and flowers that always truly amazed him. He enjoyed all of the gardens as he took his daily walks. Singing with the Missionaires, attending daily devotions and socializing with the many friends he met gave him the best quality of life.
He and Margaret were true friends of Rocky Mountain College. Because of their service and commitment to Rocky, an endowment scholarship has been established in their honor. He was especially proud of his church’s (Evangelical United Methodist Church on Broadwater) involvement in supporting the children of Broadwater School. Richard was a true gentleman. He was a generous, loving and intelligent man who lived a full interesting life.
He will be missed greatly by all those who knew and loved him. No day will go untouched by the memory of him as he is lovingly survived by his children, Wilma (Jack) Tokarczyk, of Yelm, Wash., Celia (Dan) Scheihing, of Billings, Timothy (Joyce) Eddy, of Portland, Ore., daughter-in-law, Annie Eddy, of Centreville, Va.; sister-in-law, Jean (John) Stephenson, of Yelm; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his son, Lt. Commander Richard W. Eddy Jr. (Annie); his brothers, John (Katie), and Earl (Carol); and his sister, Catherine Campbell (Arthur).
Although our hearts are aching, the memories of the past will always be sweet.
A memorial service will be held Friday, July 26, at 2 p.m., at the Lillis Chapel in Mission Ridge, 3840 Rimrock Road, Billings. Memorials may be sent to the Rocky Mountain College, Richard and Margaret Eddy Scholarship fund, c/o Obert Undem, Development Office, 1500 Poly Drive, Billings, MT 59102.
Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements and remembrances may be shared with the family at www.michelottisawyers.com.
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