Richard D. Idler, 85

Richard "Dick" Idler "lifted off on his final flight" on the 11th day of 2009. He died at Lake View Care Center with his daughters and wife at his side. He was born Nov. 1, 1923, in Wilmette, Ill.

His father, Percival, was a dentist and his mother, Florentine Schell, a homemaker. A believer in Christian Science, she taught Dick at a very young age about the power of positive thinking. Although the Depression surrounded his childhood, he retained happy memories of this time. His parents and three older siblings ingrained in him the importance of diligence, honesty and integrity.

An early job was lifeguarding on the shores of Lake Michigan. He lettered in swimming at New Trier High School in Chicago and was off to Cornell University in the fall of 1941. While spending a weekend with friends in New York City on Dec. 7, the headlines of Pearl Harbor erupted. Dick left Cornell and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was commissioned and received his treasured Wings of Gold and flew in the Caribbean and Pacific until the war ended.

Dick graduated from Lake Forrest College and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Starr. He began a career with the Aluminum Company of America. They lived in Cincinnati where his four children were born. They moved to the corporate offices in Pittsburgh. Working in sales and development for Alcoa, Dick flew around the country in a specially outfitted DC-3, exhibiting and demonstrating products made from aluminum. In 1972, the family relocated to southern California where he went to work on a new development, Century City, in west Los Angeles. He continued working for Alcoa in Malibu where a residential community was developing adjacent to the new Pepperdine University.

He retired from Alcoa and began a second career in real estate and development, working for Louis Busch Associates. Here he made many, many friends and was sometimes referred to as "the honorary mayor of Malibu." Among others, he represented Dick Clark, Steve McQueen, Dinah Shore and Johnny Carson.

His beloved wife, Dorothy, died unexpectedly in 1982.

In 1985, Dick bought a raffle ticket for the Lions Club Labor Day Chili Cook-off. Ali McGraw drew his number and he won a new Porsche. For weeks, friends and neighbors congratulated him on his good fortune.

In 1987, he married Nancy Denny Regan in Malibu. He was very active in the community and received recognition for his many contributions with a Dolphin Award from the Malibu Times in 1990. Just prior to that, the community of Malibu voted to incorporate. Dick was privileged to participate in the political process firsthand. He ran for City Council and lost. It was a life-changing event.

That August he took Nancy and all of his and her children to Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork for one week. Like so many other visitors to the Lodge, they relocated to Bigfork quickly and spent many happy years creating a new life on the shore of the Flathead Lake.

Dick had great affection for the town and its people. He knew the potential of the valley was unlimited. He served on the board of the Flathead Lakers and was involved with the Chamber of Commerce trying to get trucks off of Highway 35. He was a land-use counselor with great respect for the environment. He knew well the inevitability of change and growth. He sought to channel those elements, resulting in attractive and well-functioning communities.

He jumped at the chance to engage in the early planning efforts in Bigfork and the Flathead Valley. Had he been more aware in recent years, he would have been most appreciative and supportive of all those involved in this process throughout the community.

Dick was a great cook, a most genial host and he loved a good joke. He could recite works like "Face on the Barroom Floor" at the drop of a hat and amazed new acquaintances by singing the fight song of their alma mater the moment they mentioned their affiliation. He loved all teams; Chicago, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, and most any college game.

He loved his cowboy boots and his tuxedo, music and dancing, he loved to fish and he spent many happy hours in his garden. He loved his family and his town. He simply loved his life.

A huge stroke in 1996 changed his world dramatically. Dick won the respect and affection of all who helped him as he fought to regain and retain his independence. The faith of his mother sustained him and he spoke many times of "a conversation with the good Lord." He would nod his head and smile. "Recovery" was his lifestyle and he stayed involved in activities as long as he was able. In 1999, the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce invited Dick to be the Grand Marshall of the Fourth of July Parade.

Dick's children are Rick Idler, a physician; Carolyn Idler, an educator; Beth Ford, a case management specialist; and Susan Kolb, an artist. He leaves them and their spouses and seven beautiful grandchildren, and his wife, Nancy, and her five children. He was so proud of each of them. The end of every single conversation included the words "I love you and I'm proud of you …" He also leaves many friends who have missed his wisdom and the humor that came so easily.

The staff at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork provided loving care and affection for Dick and Nancy the past two years. Thank you so much.

At Dick's request, no service is planned. The family will gather at the lake house this summer to remember him with joy.