Wallace Millard Riley, 90
Wallace Millard Riley passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, at the family home in Columbia Falls of natural causes. "Wally," as he was known to family, friends and acquaintances, was 90 years old.
He was born in Castleton, North Dakota, Oct. 14, 1925, to Millard Fillmore Riley and Alma A. Lambrecht, the fourth son in the family of nine Riley brothers and sisters: Herb, Harry, Ken, Wally, Dorothy, Lila, Don, Jim and Paul. Working in the woods of Minnesota and serving his country with military service in the U.S. Army, Wally developed the knowledge and skills which would serve him, his family and his community well the rest of his life.
He married Dorothy Ann Nelson Jan. 21, 1950, in Bemidji, Minnesota, and soon moved his new wife to Montana where he found steady work at the Plum Creek Mill in Columbia Falls. Several years later he and Dotty bought land a few miles from town where they built a permanent home for their growing family of three sons, Jim R., Ronald W., and Leslie B. Riley.
After long service to Plum Creek, Wally retired from mill work to dive full time into construction with multiple homes and buildings standing today with his distinctive mark of design and craftsmanship. Along with strong work skills, he enjoyed hunting and fishing from the hills of Montana to the waters of Alaska, providing family and friends many a feast of wild game, trout, salmon and halibut. He was also a mentor and teacher to young men helping to build a community of competence for those who wanted to learn. Even in retirement he was quick to offer a hand with plowing snow and repairing or constructing a new building. Always a lover of nature, in his last years he enjoyed sitting by the big window in his house watching wildlife, the birds, squirrels, deer and an occasional moose, move through the yard.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Herb, Harry, Don and Paul.
Surviving him are his wife of 66 years, Dotty, at the family home; sons, Jim in Hawaii, Ron in Columbia Falls, and Les in Alaska; brothers, Ken (Dixie) and Jim (Alice) of Columbia Falls; sisters, Dorothy and Lila of Minnesota; grandchildren Tyler, Desiree, Jamie and Josh, several great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Wally was a leader and teacher, a skilled craftsman, an intelligent and loyal friend, a good neighbor, and a great storyteller with interesting stories to tell. He lived a life and left a legacy to be proud of. Wally was beloved of many and will be sorely missed.
A visitation is planned for 4 to 6 p.m. Friday evening, Aug. 12, at the Columbia Mortuary, 1010 4th Ave West in Columbia Falls. The family will greet guests from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, at the Columbia Mortuary with services to begin at 1 p.m. in the mortuary chapel. A luncheon will follow at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Colombia Falls.
The Columbia Mortuary is caring for the family.