Richard 'Dick' Frank Wollin, 82

Richard "Dick" Frank Wollin, 82, beloved husband, father, retired educator and former Polson businessman, died Nov. 3, 2007, in Tucson, Ariz., as a result of complications after recent surgery.

Dick was born Oct. 4, 1925, in Miles City, the son of Richard Henry and Helen Fleming Wollin. After graduating as co-valedictorian from Flathead County High School in 1943, he attended Montana State University in Bozeman and subsequently graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., after serving as the youngest first lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers in Japan during World War II.

He played basketball and baseball at Carleton, graduating with a degree in mathematics. He earned his master's degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in guidance and counseling from the University of Wisconsin.

At Carleton, Dick met and married Sarah Anderson (Wollin) of Wyoming, Ohio, his wife of 57 years. They were married June 21, 1950. Their honeymoon was spent at Two Medicine Entrance Station in Glacier Park for the summer. Dick had been appointed as a seasonal ranger with Mike Mansfield's letter of recommendation for the summer of 1949, then returned the next summer with his new bride. Their home was a hard-sided tent; the refrigerator was a small stream nearby.

Dick had a lengthy career in education, primarily in Wisconsin and Minnesota, serving as a high-school teacher, basketball coach, a high-school principal, and college professor. He was hired at Southwest Minnesota State College in Marshall, Minn., to develop and oversee the Division of Education as its first chairman. He hired his staff based on their imaginative and innovative ideas, and when the college enrollment declined, he took a leave of absence rather than having to let go of his entrusted colleagues and friends. It was then that he saw to the creation of the first Minnesota Educational Cooperative Services Unit, becoming its regional director. After successfully expanding the Regional ESCU to a statewide service, Dick left to return to Montana.

After a stint as a co-owner of a commercial fish farm near Bozeman, Dick and Sarah moved to Polson in 1981. They were partners in The Flagship (now First Resort) clothing store until their retirement in 1990.

During their time in Polson, Dick was active in the Chamber of Commerce (where he twice received the Citizen of the Year award), the Rotary Club, Mission Valley Leaders in Action, as president and supporter of the Flathead Lakers, and the Salish and Kootenai Development Council. Dick met with several Salish-Kootenai tribal leaders and another Polson businessman as a group to discuss ways to bring about what is now KwaTaqNuk Resort in Polson. He was also instrumental in bringing the Port Polson Princess into Polson as part of its initial ownership group.

Dick was passionate about Flathead Lake and maintaining its pristine water quality. Having worked with local, state, and national leaders to bring attention to water issues, he was awarded the first Flathead Basin Stewardship Award, and former Gov. Stan Stephens proclaimed May 4, 1992, "Richard 'Dick' F. Wollin Day, in recognition of outstanding service and unselfish devotion to the people of Montana and protection of our environment."

Dick was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and friend. His kindness, caring, generosity and sense of humor will be greatly missed by all who knew him. The Polson community has lost a leader and ardent supporter in his passing. The Green Bay Packers football team has also lost a lifelong and avid fan.

His influence on all of us is summarized by one of his favorite passages: "The Teacher gives not of his wisdom, but rather of his faith and his lovingness" - Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet."

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Joyce McCown, of San Jose, Calif.

Dick is survived by his wife, Sarah, of Polson and Green Valley, Ariz.; his son, Rick, of Colleyville, Texas; daughters, Ann of Kalispell and Cathy Christopherson of Sioux Falls, S.D.; six grandchildren; sister, Jean Wickersham, of San Jose; and by numerous nephews and nieces in Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Virginia and California.

Cremation was arranged in Arizona, and a memorial service will be held in Polson in the summer to commemorate his life.

Memorials may be directed to the Glacier National Park Fund, P.O. Box 5600, Whitefish, MT 59937; the Flathead Lakers, P.O. Box 70, Polson, MT 59860; or to the charity of one's choice.