Richard Benjamin Strobel, 78, Of East Helena

Richard Benjiman Strobel

1/27/1946 – 11/6/2024

Rick was born on January 27, 1946, in Omak, Washington to Ben and Ellen Strobel. He joined his sister Kathy who was only 2 years older. They later relocated to Colville, Washington.

He was proud to be a 12-year member of the Colville school, graduating in 1964. He made many forever friends and lasting memories which he loved to recount. His class celebrated their 60^th reunion in September 2024. Due to his declining health, he was not able to attend but was there in spirit.

In 1965, Rick and Margaret (Lynn) Walmer were married. To that union, Brenda was born in 1965 and Todd in 1966. The marriage ended in 1976. In 1977, He met his wife, Kathy. And welcomed her two children, Christy and Shad, with open arms.

Rick had joined the Army National Guard in Colville in 1964. Working on the missile sites in Redmond, Washington until they were closed. He then transferred to the Montana National Guard. He worked for the rest of his military service at the Aviation Facility in Helena Montana, starting as a mechanic and ending as an Armament Specialist. He was very proud of his 32 years for service, retiring in 1995. He received numerous awards and citations during those years. He always felt he was one of the luckiest guys to have a job he loved and was able to serve his country and state for as long as he did. He often wondered who had put the silver spoon in his mouth.

After retiring from the National Guard, he worked for DNRC maintaining the helicopters used to fight wildfires.

In his younger years, Rick enjoyed hunting and fishing with friends and family. He had many happy memories with his brothers-in-law, Mike and Dwayne on the boat taking his mother-in-law fishing.

When his desire for fishing ended, he started a new hobby. This was restoring hit and miss engines and steam engines. Long hours were spent with his friend Corky Harris, taking off the rust and fabricating broken parts to restore turn of the century machines to working order. Researching the make and models of the engines was a joy. He even learned how to pin-stripe, so they look factory new when he was done with them.

Rick spent many years puttering in his shop doing a whole lot of nothing but enjoying himself.

Rick is survived by his wife Kathy and children Brenda Berg (Dusty) of Colville, WA, Todd Strobel of Colville, WA, Christy Eason (Ray) of Helena, MT, and Shad Oliver (Heather) of Cumming, GA. He was blessed with twelve grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Kathy Barnhart of Indiana as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A service with Military Honors will be held November 13, 2024, at 1:30 pm at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison, MT. A celebration of life will be held at the Glass Slipper 5720 Canyon Ferry Rd, East Helena immediately following the service.

Service Schedule

Graveside Service

1:30 PM

Wednesday November 13, 2024

Montana State Veteran's Cemetery

3550 Heroes Rd.

Fort Harrison, MT 59636

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Funeral Reception

Following the Graveside Service

Wednesday November 13, 2024

Glass Slipper Lounge & Grocery

5720 Canyon Ferry Rd

East Helena, MT 59635

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