Richard Lee Stricker
Life began for Richard Lee Stricker as the second son and third child of second generation VolgaGerman Robert Stricker Senior, and Annabelle Hert Stricker in Hardin, Montana on August 25, 1956. Life ended for Richard due to lung cancer in St Joseph, Missouri on November 14, 2022.
Known as Dick or Dickie by most family, Richard was nicknamed Beaver by his elementary school friends. This was due to his resemblance of the star of the show “Leave It to Beaver.” The nickname moved with the family to Great Falls, Montana.
As a teen, Beav lived with the large Native American family of Carl and Marjory Gladue, instantly gaining six more brothers and four sisters. One of their daughters, Thelma, became extra close as his sister-in-law. Before finishing school, Richard and their son, Bruce Gladue volunteered for the Army. They trained as infantry expecting to go to Vietnam. Neither served in combat.
Sometime after Richard left the Army, he wed Kathy Hill on December 2, 1977 just shy of 45 years ago. They were blessed with four amazing children: Zachariah, Mariah, Jesse, and Melinda. Richard was injured in an industrial accident at a sugar beet factory requiring several surgeries. Over time Richard worked as an armored car guard, delivery driver, an IBEW grounds-man, youth counselor, and Teamster driver only home on weekends. Beav and Kat left Montana and bought a home in Craig to be near her family. There, Richard joined the Presbyterian Church.
Richard served as a youth Sunday school teacher until spiritual need prompted him to instead attend the sermon. Richard said one of his most rewarding life experiences was volunteering for vacation Bible school with Reverend Richter.
Beaver's passions were his large extended family, trips to Montana for Hert and Stricker family reunions, playing guitar, listening to music, watching most sports, especially high school football, cooking, astronomy, liberal politics, swearing, morel mushroom hunting, exceeding the speed limit, and his Presbyterian faith. Beav could have used more patience behind the wheel, he often suffered the affliction of slow drivers in front of him. He strongly disliked having to work on cars, yet did quite a bit of it.
Richard (Dick) (Beaver) was the first sibling loss for his sister, Cindy (Jim) Ellingson of Great Falls, Montana, Robert Stricker Jr. of Billings, Montana and younger sister, Lori (Gary) Boone of Unadilla, Nebraska. Richard was preceded in death by his nephews, Robbie Stampka and Phillip Gladue both of Great Falls, Montana,
all three of Cindy's children, Matthew, Jimmy, and Shanna Ellingson of Great Falls, Montana. Several of his Gladue family, including Thelma Matt, numerous aunts and uncles, his parents, and his immigrant grandparents.
Dick is survived by his aunts; Alice (Howard) Malone, Wichita, Kansas, Clara (Art) Gilreath of Helena, Montana, Delilah (Elmer) Hert of Billings, Montana, and his uncle Harold Hert of Billings along with many cousins.
Richard's wife Kathy and their children, Zachariah (Mary Kohl), Mariah, Jesse (Kristi), and Melinda (Curtis) Williams survive him. He is also survived by six grandchildren Devin and Whittney Williams, Gannon and Gunner Stricker, Wilder and Cydney Kohl-Stricker who will truly miss their "Papa"!
The loss of Uncle Beav will leave a wound in the hearts of his nieces, nephews, and their children. Beaver will also be missed by several he treated like sons as well as many kith and kin.
Beaver had a special bond with all his family. Many occasionally lived under his roofs in Montana or Craig when need demanded. Large gatherings of family and friends were a frequent event at his home. John Jason (Pam) Hill was only four years and three days old when Beav became his brother-in-law. At times Beaver was a father figure for many of Kathy's siblings. David (Bibiana) Hill was barely nine and Sherry (Gary) Price just ten.
Beaver took great pride in participating in his mother-law's burial from start to finish. Richard purchased the stone, helped to hand dig the grave, etch the lettering, and set the stone at Tharp Cemetery. He included Winona's two half-siblings and all her children's names on the obelisk memorial. The names Ruth (Dan) Schmidt, Rebecca (Donnie) Neemann, Valerie (Ron) Avent along with his and Kathy's, join those of Winona’s younger children carved on the memorial.
Beaver liked nothing more than being at home with family surrounded by happy noisy children playing board games, engaging in spirited debate, cooking, and baking heirloom dishes while music or the television blared in the background.
Beav would have been pleased that he passed before the first snow but would have been disappointed to miss the annual migration of birds. Richard's soul left his body while listening to his favorite Jimmy Buffet song, HE WENT TO PARIS, whose lyrics include: "Some of it's magic, some of it's tragic, but I had a good life all the way. "