Rick Radke
Rick was born Frederick Michael Radke, March 7, 1963 in Helena. He was raised in Helena where he attended and graduated high school from Capital High in 1981. Rick enlisted and served in the United States Navy from 1981 to 1985. He met Jana Blom in January 1986. They were married on June 20, 1987 and had been together ever since.
Rick died unexpectedly on October 20, 2011 of a heart attack while out hunting with his daughter, Courtney, for her first hunting trip. A very sad ending to one of his happiest and proudest days!
Rick was always an entrepreneur, first, by owning Freddy’s pressure washing. Then he moved on to owning a gold prospecting shop and finally a local pawn shop. He really enjoyed all the great people he met thru all of these businesses.
Rick loved driving around in the mountains, hunting, camping, picking huckleberries, gold prospecting and teaching his daughter to shoot firearms.
Rick is survived by his wife, Jana; daughter, Courtney both of Helena; mother, Irene Price of Buhl, Idaho; father, Fred (Pat) Radke of Helena; mother and father-in-law Al and Barbara Blom of Bozeman; sisters, Karen (Tom) Tenneson of East Helena, Cindy (Justin) Janicke of Kalispell; brothers, Randy (Heather) Radke of Belgrade, Kenny (Catherine) Radke of Helena and Jeff Radke of Helena; grandparents, Tony and Charlotte Petrosky of Clancy. Rick is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Viewing hours will begin Tuesday morning October 25th with the family receiving friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home. A memorial service celebrating Rick’s life will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 26th at Life Covenant Church 800 North Hoback. For those wishing to send memorials in Rick’s name, an Education Fund has been established for Rick’s daughter (Courtney Radke) thru Helena Community Credit Union in Helena. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Allen Stenhjem says
Fred and Pat
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless.
Allen Stenmjem Family
Bugface says
Love you brother
Darcy and Linda Zahacy says
We are so very heartbroken to hear about Rick’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Jana, thanks so much for tracking down our number to let us know what happened. We wish we could be there today. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Deena Verworn says
Jana and Courtney, we are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. We are very sorry for your loss. ~ Deena, Skip, Lyndsey and Mykaylee Verworn
Denise Roth Barber says
Jana & Courtney – we are very saddened to learn the news of Rick passing. Our hearts to out to you both!
Denise, Jeff, Audrey and Evan Barber
Gene & Charlene Jonart says
We are very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I will miss our discussions about gold panning, the best metal detectors, and the mountains of Montana.
HARRY & MAUREEN PITMAN says
JANA,COURTNEY & FAMILY,I JUST READ ABOUT RICK’S PASSING ON THE AZO PROSPECTING FORUM. OUR SYMPHATHYS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FUN OUTINGS AT HIS CLAIM ON CONFEDERATE GULCH AND THE GOLD SHOWS.HE WILL GREATLY MISSED BY ALL GOLD PROSPECTORS.I LEARNED ALOT FROM RICK ON METAL DETECTING.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
HARRY & MAUREEN PITMAN
Heather Pennington Voeller says
Jana & Courtney – I was so sorry to hear about your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this dificult time.
John Hawkins says
Sorry to hear Jana and Courtney. The kids will never forget the effort you folks gave the kids for the Gold Club hunts.. The gold nuggets were the best.
Sincerely,
John, Renee, Amber, Cody & Keeley
Kathy Smith Dyer says
Freddy & Pat; I am so sorry for your loss. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. I will remember all of the family in my prayers. Kathy
Kevin M Collins says
Dear Freddy and Jana, I am very sorry to hear about the passing of Rick,It has been over 30 years since we first met,I always tried to stop by the shop and say hello when in town. Great smile and a Great Guy, I am glad that he was part of my life.He will be missed. God Bless your family.Bucuresti.
Mike Krisher says
My condolences to the family . May you find peace in your heart as we will meet with him again someday .
Mike Swingley says
I was deeply saddened to hear of Rick’s passing. I have known Rick for more than 25 years and I considered him one of the finest people I know. My usual routine, at least once a week, was to get my mail, then stop by the shop to see Rick. Always met by a smile and some new story or an intersting gun he was able to acquire. We would spend fifteen minutes or so catching up, and telling stories. I will miss Rick terribly. My most sincere prayers and thoughts to Jana and Courtney. He was one of the good people, the world sorely lacks.
All my respect,
Mike
Moreen Swingley says
Jana and Courtney, words cannot express how deeply saddened we are for you both. Rick was a kind and upstanding man. I will always remember how generous he was to our girls and what a close friend he was to Scott. I know that he walks with the Lord now and hope and pray that gives you comfort and peace. For we know that this is not goodbye but instead it is see you later. Scott, the girls and I will continue to keep you in our prayers.
Pat and Patty Coyle says
We were saddened to read about the loss of your son. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Pat and Patty Coyle
58 Greenies.
Richard and Charlie Richmond says
Jana and Courtney, we are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Rick. We will never forget all the prospecting outings and laughs we shared with him. He was a very patient and giving man. We learned many valuable lessons from him and he will be greatly missed. We are so very sorry we will not able to attend his memorial, but know that our love and prayers are with you and your family.
Rita Tenneson says
I am so sorry to hear about Rick. My thoughts are totally with you. May the happy times your family enjoyed together bring some peace to your lives as you struggle through this sad time. I will always remember the joyous days we shareded with Rick and your family. My love and prayers go out to all of you. Most sincerely – Rita Tenneson
Scott Swingley says
Rick, I am at a loss for words.You were like a brother to me. On our last hunt together I made you a promise. I intend to keep it. I will never forget you, my dear friend. Jana and Courtney I offer you my deepest sympathies. I grieve with you.The world lost a great man, but he is now home.
Shel Crawford says
Dear Jana and Courtney,
I am SO sorry. Please know that you are in our thoughts.
Love, Shel, Anna & Sara
Susan Held says
Dear Jana, Courtney, and Karen,
I am so sorry to hear about Rick’s death. Please know that my thoughts are with you and if you need something please call me.
Susan
T. Ryan says
This news is tough. I haven’t seen Rick in several years but sure enjoyed visiting with him at the Prospector shop when I purchased my metal detector from him and always thought I should visit and ask more questions about how to use it. I never did do that. He also carried copies of our Gold Rush Issue from Montana The Mag of Western History and I got him some extra copies even after that when he was displaying at the mineral and gem shows at the Civic Center in Helena. Losing someone this special is hard on a community….and to the family. My sincere sympathy to the family and friends. hey Rick- I hope you find lots of gold up there and save some for us. Thank you and God Bless your family.
Terry Wegner says
To Ricks family I am deeply saddened to hear of Ricks passing. I knew Rick for just a short time but the time I spent with him I will never forget. He was and will continue to be a great friend and someone who no matter what the issue always had time to listen and give advice. Thank you for allowing the community to know him. I would like to offer this to his daughter I would be honored to take her hunting so she can experence what her fater loved to do. Rick and I have had many conversations about hunting. He will be missed greatly.
Tim Clavin says
I am so sorry to hear about this.
Tom DeVine says
Fred and family. I just received a call from Helena about your son Rick…Bev and I are so very sorry for this terrible loss for all of your family. You are in our prayers.
Tom & Bev DeVine, Hamilton.
Tracy LaSalle says
I am so sorry. It is far too easy to say I will stop in tomorrow and say hi, until it is too late. He is a friend that will be sorely missed. I grieve with you.
Tylene Cato says
We are so sorry to hear about Ricks passing, he was a great person and he will be remembered for his kind smile and great attitudec. David and Tylene Cato