Richard 'Dick' Ervin Grosswiler, 77

Richard “Dick” Ervin Grosswiler passed away Oct. 17, 2012, at Immanuel Lutheran Home.  

Richard was born on Jan. 17, 1935, to Carl F. and Mabel Irene (Johnson) Grosswiler. He grew up in Flathead’s West Valley area on the family farm, attended and graduated from Flathead High School.

On June 15, 1952, Richard married the love of his life, Miss Loretta Claridge, and over the next 10 years they were blessed with four beautiful children. Richard continued working on the farm, while Loretta was a busy stay-at-home mom.  

In 1962, Richard was given and accepted the opportunity to work for Boeing Aerospace in Seattle. After two years in Seattle, away from family and friends, Richard, Loretta and the children returned home to Kalispell, where he joined the Montana Loggers Association, purchased his first Peterbilt logging truck and worked in the Flathead forests until 1973, when he joined the LHC Logging Company as road foreman. Richard’s entrepreneur desire to be his own boss became reality in 1985, when he purchased land in Columbia Falls, and developed Beaver Wood Products, until his retirement in 2007.

Richard was very active in all of his children’s, grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s activities, including baseball, basketball, football, track, volleyball, car racing, dance recitals, band and orchestra concerts; you name it, he was there.

He also enjoyed and was an avid golfer, pilot and loved to read. Richard was a man of few words, but those words were always words of guidance and encouragement, and when he spoke, you listened.  

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mabel Grosswiler; and sister, Ruth McKay; grandson, Kevin Grosswiler; and granddaughter, Melissa Grosswiler.

Richard is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Loretta; son Brian, his wife Micki, and their sons, Cody and Douglas Grosswiler; son Scott, his wife Carol, and their daughters, Stacie and her husband Jason Apple, Sarah and her husband Brent Card, and son Jake and his wife Rebecca Grosswiler; son Joe, his wife Dawn, their sons, Chris and his wife Katrina Arnold, Nolan, Jeremy, and Kevin Grosswiler; and daughter Lonita, her husband Jim Huston, their son, Chris, his wife Desiree Huston, son Jeff, daughter LeighAnn and son Aaron Huston. He is also survived by two brothers, Dave Grosswiler, and Jim and his wife Karen Grosswiler.

In addition to his children and 13 grandchildren, Richard was also blessed with seven great-grandchildren. Richard was liked by everyone who had the pleasure to meet him. He will be missed.  

“He is now flying with our Lord, and will never have to stop to refuel.”

A memorial service for Richard will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory.