Richard 'Dicky' Deats, 66

Richard “Dicky” Deats sadly passed away from heart complications at Kalispell Regional Medical Center late Thursday, July 14, 2011.

Dicky was born in Los Angeles on Feb. 27,1945. He was one of five brothers.

Dicky lived and loved the motion picture business, where he worked as a key grip since 1962.

Throughout Dicky’s life, he accomplished so much in life and in business. He worked on numerous featured films, traveled the world, won an Academy Award in 1985 for technical achievement on designing one of the very first portable camera cranes, built his dream home overlooking the lake, and loved his three children that he leaves behind.

In 1979 Dicky fell in love with Montana’s beautiful scenery and Jessie Harring. Dicky, a father of two children, Danyi and Jerry, married Jessie, and soon after they made Montana their permanent home. Their son Jimmy was born in 1988. In 2004 Jessie passed away. 

In 2006, Dicky retired from the motion picture industry, built his dream home on Skyles Lake, enjoyed the company of Cynnie Troup and increased efforts toward his excavation and sanding business.

Dicky had love for Montana and all it had to offer. It gave him great pleasure to live and work here. He enjoyed riding horses in the mountains and on the new Whitefish trail that runs through a portion of his property. He loved his horses and his best friend Sugar darling, his dog.

The laughs never stopped when he went fishing, hunting or playing golf with his brothers and sons. He had recently joined the trap shooting league, where of course he was a “sure shot.” We will always remember Dicky on his snow plow in the winter and planting in the spring, as he pretended it was work when he really loved it.

Dicky also made sure to visit California to spend time with his family and grandchildren.  

Dicky was passionate about helping out. He held a large part in volunteering for the Whitefish Winter Carnival skijoring event. He enjoyed this event as a worker and as a spectator, watching his sons and horses compete. Being in Montana was one of things he loved the most. He took advantage of everything here; this place and the big sky fit him absolutely perfectly!

Dicky was an incredible father, brother, husband and friend to all who knew him. He had a heart of gold that just kept giving; it gave him great pleasure to help out all who needed it. He was a true humanitarian.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and his wife Jessie.

Dicky is survived by his three children, Danyi, Jerry and Jimmy; his three brothers, Jerry, Floyd and Wayne Deats; along with his 10 grandchildren.

Please direct any contributions or questions to celebratedd@hotmail.com

We invite all to come celebrate Dicky’s life with a potluck at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at 305 Skyles Lake Lane in Whitefish. Then again, in California, on Saturday, Aug. 27, information to be announced.

Arrangements are entrusted to Austin Funeral Home. You are invited to go www.austinfh.com to offer condolences and view Dicky’s tribute wall.