Richard V. (Dick) Kovash, 76
Richard V. (Dick) Kovash, 76, of Missoula passed away peacefully at home Thursday, March 26, 2009, after a long battle with cancer.
Dick was born Oct. 27, 1932, on his grandparents' farm in the Czechoslovakian community of New Hradec, N.D., the eighth of 10 children of Charles Frank Kovash and Anna (Kostelecky) Kovash.
Dick graduated from high school in Taylor, N.D., in 195l. He was active in wrestling, basketball, football and track. Dick attended Dakota Business College in Fargo, N.D., before enlisting in the U. S. Army during the Korean War, with active duty in Korea 1952-1954 as Sgt. First Class and an honorable discharge from the Army Reserves in 1961.
In 1959, he married Dorothy Tweeten in Fargo, where his children were born - Roxanne in 1960 (delivered at home by Dick) and Richard Dale (Rich) in 1961.
Later, as a single father with two young children in Billings, he balanced home and work responsibilities, and became a great cook. Dick and his children have many comical hunting stories. He was stricken with Guillain-Barr Syndrome, resulting in paralysis of his legs, and relearned to walk. They moved to Missoula in 1976.
Dick married Marlene Wilson Yost on June 8, 1980, gaining four stepdaughters: Sanna, Kelly, Robin and Penny Yost.
Dick and Marlene celebrated 29 years of marriage. His career was in sales, with various positions and self-employment in Billings and Missoula. In 1985, Dick established Uni Chem Inc. as owner/operator, selling and distributing automotive and industrial chemicals. In 1988, son Rich joined Uni Chem in sales, and the small business successfully expanded to cover all of Western Montana. Dick continued in the business until shortly before his death.
Dick was a well-loved fun-loving, hard-working, generous, jovial and loyal family man. The family lake cabin was a favorite place for watching wildlife, pontooning, fishing, relaxing and enjoying the beauty of Flathead Lake. He enjoyed woodworking and annual Kovash reunions, loved sports (especially UM Grizzly football) and took pride in having spotless and shiny vehicles.
Granddaughter Kylene of Helena summed him up pretty well in an early grade school interview report: "My grandpa's name is Dick. He has glasses, gray hair, brown eyes and he is old. He was born in Dickson, N. D. in 1932. Married to Marlene. He likes visiting us on our birthdays. He has four brothers and four sisters. He is a salesman. He lives in Missoula and moved four times. He lives in a brown house. He likes animals, sports, steak, his job and playing computer games."
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Bruno and Victor; and stepgrandson, Samuel Chriske.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marlene; daughter, Roxanne LaRoque (Kurt); son, Rich Kovash (Rochelle Ober); stepchildren, Sanna Yost (Julie Chriske), Kelly Harper, Robin Pederson (Mark) and Penny Yost (Michael Adams); brothers, Laudie and Robert (Bob); sisters, Martha Adcock (Raymond), Lillian Sadowsky (Alfred), Arlene Lee (Russell), Marietta Davis (Clifford); sisters-in-law, Irene Kovash, Blanche Kovash and Lenore Marshall; 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; and one very special dog, Griz.
A celebration of life service, followed by lunch, will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 3, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Missoula. The family will hold an interment gathering at Lakeside Cemetery in Polson at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in Dick's name to Partners Hospice or a charity of the donors' choice.