Charles R. 'Dick' Irvin, 89
Charles R. “Dick” Irvin, 89, of Columbia Falls, passed away on March 14, 2022, of natural causes.
Dick was born on July 2, 1932, in Conrad to Joe and Marge Irvin. He was later joined by siblings Nancy, Dwayne and Janice.
Dick graduated from Shelby High School in 1950. He married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Joanne White, on July 12, 1950. In 1951 they had their son, Mike, and in 1955 daughter Connie joined the family.
In 1951 Dick and Pat started a trucking business in Shelby with a $3,000 loan from his parents. Dick was always thankful for his father’s optimistic outlook and the faith he had in him. He purchased a one-and-a-half ton International truck and Dick’s dream of a trucking business began. The first office was located in their home and Pat answered the phone and dispatched trucks. The trucking business grew to cover the Northwest United States, Alaska and western Canada. In 1964 he purchased his first pneumatic trailer, which led the company to become one of the largest pneumatic carriers in the Northwest. Dick’s brother Dwayne and Lester Nevins were recruited to help drive truck even while in high school. Mark Cole joined the company in 1973 and performed many different roles. All three stayed with the company for many years. Dick was very fortunate to have good people to help his business grow over the years along with son Mike who joined the company in 1983. This gave Dick and Pat the freedom to retire from the day-to-day operations. Mike continues to run the company and has kept the philosophy of the family business.
Dick and Pat enjoyed traveling and visiting many different places around the world. They moved to the Flathead Valley in early 1984 and Pat passed away suddenly that summer. Dick married his second wife, Carol Chenoweth, in October 1992. They enjoyed many motor coach adventures and traveling to California for the winters. Later they purchased a home in Palm Desert. Carol passed away in 2016.
Dick was very active in the communities where he lived. He served on the council at St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Shelby for many years and served on many boards, including Toole County State Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and D.A. Davidson Trust Company. Dick also served as president and chairman of the Montana Motor Carriers Association in the ‘70s. He enjoyed working with friends and family in many business adventures over the years.
Dick never met a stranger. Every person in the world, to him, was just a friend he hadn’t met yet. Dick’s hobby and interest was following the stock market.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Marge, his first wife Pat, second wife Carol, and stepdaughter, Dawn.
He is survived by son Mike (Marlea) and daughter Connie Kasper (Greg), stepdaughter Dionetta Cossin (Lance); siblings, Nancy Irvin, Dwayne Irvin (Jan) and Janice Edmister; grandchildren, David Irvin, Greg Z. Kasper (Kellie), Tiffany Stores (Jeff), Sarah Sampson (Pat), P.J. McCracken (Scott), Megan Irvin, Kayleigh Kasper (Tony Traina) and 11 great-grandsons, four great-granddaughters and one great-great-grandson. Dick was affectionately known as “Baumpa” to his grandchildren. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as many wonderful and special friends including Billie Jean Bloxham.
A celebration of life will be held at Northridge Lutheran Church in Kalispell on Saturday, March 19, at 11 a.m., with a lunch to follow. The service can be live streamed from Northridge Lutheran’s website, www.northridgelutheran.org.
Memorials may be given to the MSU-Northern Foundation, P.O. Box 1691, Havre, MT 59501 in support of a diesel technician student or a charity of your choice.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Dick and his family.