Richard Joseph Reynolds

Richard J. Reynolds, age 96 of Glendive, Montana passed away on Friday, September 27, 2024 at his home near Glendive. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 PM on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 4, 2024 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Fr. Francis Schreiber officiating. Rite of Committal with military honors will be in the Dawson County Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Richard Joseph Reynolds was born on April 10, 1928, to Frank and Mary Ottilia (Tillie) Klarmann Reynolds in Glendive, MT. Richard is survived by his wife Rita Mary of 67 years, and three daughters; Sharon Holmes (Johnny) of Cordova, TN, Peggy Reynolds of Glendive, MT, and Mary Sowell (Mark) of Collierville, TN. His grandchildren also survive Richard; Brent (Catherine) Holmes of Huntersville, NC, Catherine Holmes of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Jessica Sowell (Germain Humphrey) of Winfield, AL, Christopher Sowell of Portland, OR, and, James Sowell of Collierville, TN, along with great-grandchild; William Alexander Humphrey. Richard is also survived by his sister Marilyn Hoffman of Billings, MT, along with numerous nieces and nephews and their extended families. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Paul Reynolds, Rita Reynolds McGovern, John (Jack) Reynolds, and Robert (Bobby) Reynolds, along with several in-laws, nephews, and a niece. A solid work ethic was impressed on Richard from an early age by his parents, his uncles, aunts, and his Grandma Catherine Meehan Reynolds. Grandma Catherine and her children (sans husband George Washington Reynolds) came out to Glendive in 1909 from Dubuque, Iowa via train. She had heard about the Homestead Act and settled on a tract of land on the Pleasant View Flats several miles north of exit 206, I 94 off of the Pleasant View Road. With the help of her children, Grandma Catherine was able to successfully farm the land. Grandma Catherine was very forward in her thinking when it came to her daughters. She sent four of her five daughters away to college, the remaining daughter was married. Two daughters (Connie Nelson and Ada Lee) came back to work in Glendive. In addition to having a job, both ladies managed the El Central Motel. Eventually, the women purchased the El Centro Motel and were often found managing the motel's front desk. The other two daughters married and resided in Las Vegas, NV, however, one of the daughters was widowed early and returned to work. Grandma Catherine's sons never shied away from hard work. One of her sons farmed Grandma Catherine's tract of land, and eventually, this farm became his property. Two other sons farmed not too far from the homestead, however, one of these sons moved his family into town as it was during the drought-stricken 1930s and became a carpenter. Richard's dad, Frank resided on the homestead briefly, however, there was a need for extra income, so Frank moved to Glendive and worked in the grocery business as a delivery man and later as a clerk. In time to come, Frank was a general manager for a Glendive-operated grocery store in Terry, MT. Eventually, Frank decided to spread his wings, he moved to Rexburg, ID, and opened a general grocery store. In March of 1925, Frank came back home to Glendive with his wife of two years and established The F.T. Reynolds Warehouse in Glendive. At the age of 13, Richard obtained his driver's license for his first job; delivering groceries to people’s homes for his father's grocery business. Frank drafted all six of his children (Paul, Rita, Richard, Jack, Robert & Marilyn) to work at the store. The Reynolds Warehouse grocery store has five locations which are located in Glendive, Sidney, Baker, Miles City & Glasgow. There were five other stores; a second Glendive store (The People's Market on the southside), Terry, MT, Wolf Point, MT, Beach, ND, and Watford, ND. As a young adult, Richard was drafted into the Army, earned the rank of Sergeant, and served as a cook while stationed in Germany during the Korean War. Upon being honorably discharged, he returned to Montana and earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Montana State (College) University, Bozeman in 1956. He would later return to MSU in the fall of 1977 to go through the Montana Law Enforcement Academy and became a Gross Vehicle Weight officer at the Weigh Scale station in Wibaux, MT, a position that he held for approximately 15 years while still living on his ranch while leasing his land to farmers. In the spring of 1953, Richard met his future wife, Rita LaMotte of South Saint Paul, MN. Rita had just graduated from high school and was gifted a round-trip train ticket, to come to Glendive by her brother Norman LaMotte who was employed by F.T. Reynolds Warehouse. A four-year long-distance courtship was born. They were married on August 24, 1957, in South Saint Paul, MN at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Richard and Rita raised their family on their ranch located seven miles southwest of Glendive which Richard started from scratch. For the first several years of their marriage, Richard continued to work at the F.T. Reynolds Warehouse while growing a cattle herd on his ranch. In the years 1937-1938, the Buffalo Rapids main canal was constructed for irrigation purposes on Richard's future property. Richard was the third individual to participate in a government agriculture program in 1964 to construct a concrete-lined irrigation lateral ditch, which has been a very successful method of irrigating. This ranch was very much loved by him as evidenced by the great labor that he had poured forth into developing it. His greatest wish was never to leave it. He never left the ranch until the Lord called him home. Richard was quite the character and very memorable to anyone who met him. He was full of Irish charm with a dazzling smile and had the gift to gab. He knew how to kiss the blarney stone and was famous for his jokes. However, one could always count on Richard to be direct and straight to the point and one always knew how he felt about important issues. As a designated family historian, Richard had an excellent memory. When a family reunion was held, Richard was the keynote speaker and educated the younger generation about the history of the family. Richard was active in the community. He was a member of the following organizations; Knights of Columbus (Life-Time Member), The Loyal Order of The Moose (Life–Time Membership), and B.O.P.E-Elks Lodge (Life-Time Membership). Richard held offices in the K of C and the Moose Lodge. He was a very gifted recruiter for these organizations and often got rewards along with recommendations for his recruiting skills. He would also volunteer his cooking skills whenever the need arose. Speaking of cooking, out-of-town (and even local) visitors would gather at Richard and Rita's home to enjoy Richard’s fabulous coffee and pancake breakfasts. As a concerned veteran, Richard was on the Finance Committee for the Eastern Montana Veterans Home which approved the budget for Eastern Montana Veterans Home. Richard volunteered his time and his pick-up truck to haul the statue of the Bugler playing Taps, which stands on the property of Veterans Home, to Glendive from Billings. He had a part in ridding the previous scoria pathway, making way for a concrete sidewalk in the Veteran's section of the Dawson County Cemetery, ensuring safety for visitors. Richard was an active participant in the Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Park & Block management program for the past 17 years. He believed in “keeping the gates open” to the hunters. Hunters came from across the country to hunt for deer and pheasants. Season after season, the gates were opened and hunters would come bearing gifts in their hands as a "Thank you" to Richard. At the age of 14, Richard taught himself to play the guitar and had a lifetime passion for guitar playing and singing. Over the years he was a member of various local bands and would be the lead singer. In his later years, he and his group called “The Mellow Tones” would often voluntarily entertain the public at the Senior Citizens Center and in nursing homes. Often people would be treated to him playing and singing his favorite song, “Red Roses For A Blue Lady”. Many times, he made it clear to his family that this song was to be played at his funeral because it was such a wonderful song. Sadly, he had to relinquish his love of entertaining people when a failed hand surgery denied him the ability to play his beloved guitar. Richard was known for being a Good Samaritan – he would always help out people stranded on the road and give hitchhikers rides. Richard J. Reynolds did many works of charity to better the community of Glendive and its people. His acts of good deeds shall be forever in the threads of that which built Glendive as he “Believed in Glendive”. He was following the footsteps of his father Frank Reynolds and other influential Reynolds family members. Richard was a lifetime communicant of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Richard Joseph Reynolds

April 10, 1928 - September 27, 2024

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Richard Joseph Reynolds

April 10, 1928 - September 27, 2024

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

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Obituaries

Grief & Healing

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