Richard (Dick) Edwin Alberts died Oct 1, 2017 at St. Peters Hospital in Helena, MT. He’s preceded in death by his wife Kathy (Morgan), mother Dorothy (Purcell) and father Edwin. He’s survived by his daughter Anne Charpentier (Philip Charpentier), daughter Amy Alberts (Anup Manandhar), and granddaughter Natalie Manandhar.
Dick was born in Billings, MT and grew up in Helena, graduating from Helena’s Cathedral High School. He attended Carroll College, but eventually transferred to Marquette University where he graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering before attending Montana College of Engineering (MSU) in Bozeman for his Masters in Mechanical Engineering. He continued his education, receiving a Professional Certificate in Planning from the University of Washington and a second Masters in Transportation Engineering from Seattle University—where he later was an instructor in Engineering.
For over 35 years, Dick worked for Boeing—on the 747 engine cowling in the 1960s, the result of which resides in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum; on one of the most successful mass transit systems in the U.S. at West Virginia University in the 1970s; and as the in-Kingdom Operations Manager for the air defense system Boeing built for Saudi Arabia.
Despite being an only child, Dick’s family was extensive. After his widowed mother Dorothy married George Purcell, Dick gained 7 step-siblings (and whose children became his nieces and nephews). Dick was also uncle to his brother-in-law Michael’s (Morgan and Norling) 7 boys, cousin Joyce’s (Sternhagen) 4 children, and son-in-law Anup’s 3 siblings. Dick and Kathy lived in Seattle, WA for over 40 years, establishing life-long friendships which became family as well. Researching his extended family was a passion—an activity from which all the Morgan descendants will benefit.
His intellectual curiosity fueled his many hobbies and collections: from stamps, coins, and Western-style art to actively serving on Helena Historical Preservation Society and as chair of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission. When he wasn’t serving his community, he was traveling the globe. By age 40, he had circumnavigated the globe. By age 65, he had visited all 7 continents, including the Arctic Circle and Antarctica in the same year. Dick would frequently return with tales of danger (getting caught in Cyclone Yasi in Australia), excitement (having his hearing aid stolen by a mouse while in Tanzania), and many wonderful photos to share. Last year, he took one of his favorite trips to Kathmandu where he met his son-in-law’s family.
A service celebrating Dick’s life will be held at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, October 7th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A light reception will follow the service in the social hall of the funeral home. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Nepal Youth Foundation, Hospice of Helena, or the charity of your choice
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
9:00 a.m.
Saturday October 7, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of His Life
Saturday October 7, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Social Hall
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
9:00 a.m.
Saturday October 7, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Celebration of His Life
Saturday October 7, 2017
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Social Hall
3750 N. Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Share
The Duncan's says
With Heartfelt Sympathy to the Alberts Family,
May you rely on the God of all comfort to help you to endure the days ahead.
” God is our refuge and strength ”
( Psalms 46 : 1 )
Jean Jagoda says
I have been very fortunate to call Dick my neighbor and friend for many years. He has always held a special place in my heart. He was the sweetest man you could ever meet. We served together on our homeowner’s association board and the York Historical Society. He had a great love of all Montana history, especially the travels of Lewis and Clark. He was also the most traveled person I have ever met. He would come to our home for dinner after returning from an adventure and bring his photos and stories with him. He shared with my three children African safaris, penguins in Antarctica, the mountains of New Zealand, the head statues of Easter Island, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall of China. The list goes on and on. He was the only person I knew that walked on ALL this earth’s continents. While Dick had a strong love of history and travel he seemed to love learning about people of other cultures the most. He loved people. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone in all the years I knew him and he was always the calm presence in any situation. Most recently, he and I liked to exchange stories of our grandchildren. The trip to Kathmandu with his precious granddaughter was a highlight in his life. His family meant a great deal to him and he was so proud of his daughters. Dick was a very intelligent person, but more importantly he was wise. He knew that all people long for the same things in life. He was excepting of all people and always listened to other’s point of view. If only everyone could be like Dick, the world would be a much better place. Dick Alberts made my world a better place and I will miss him very much. Helena/York has lost a great treasure.
John Jeffrey says
I have had the privilege of knowing Dick on a professional level for some forty years. I met Dick in the seventies when I started working at West Virginia University’s PRT System in Morgantown WV. Dick loved the PRT System! He had many stories about the system which he shared with me and others about the early days of getting the system up and running. When Boeing left Morgantown in 1978 I thought I would never see any of the Boeing Engineers again. But in the mid nineties WVU needed the computers upgraded and hired Boeing to do the job. And who do you suppose can back as part of the team, Dick Alberts. What a surprise, and like the fine engineer Dick was he did a good job. But Dick wasn’t finished with the PRT and the PRT still needed his intellect. The next project Dick participated as the “go between” for an Engineering company and an Independent Valid and Verification firm in the redesign of the on-board computers for the Boeing PRT vehicle. But Dick still wasn’t done! In 2013 WVU started a project to upgrade the entire system hardware and software that controls the movement of the 71 vehicle fleet. The PRT asked Dick if he would like to be a consultant for the PRT on this project and he accepted. Dick was in Morgantown for a series of meetings on this project and had just left for home on Saturday. What a mind that Dick had, he could remember tons of the Boeing documentation and procedures and how the system operated. I learned a lot from Dick. Wish I could have worked more with him to learn more from the best. Dick, I will miss you my friend and colleague! My sympathies to the Alberts family.
Shirley Rehngren says
Dick and Kathy were friends since early 1960’s. They were a very big part of my life and that of my dear husband, Phil. I am deeply sadden by this loss. I am thankful that both he and Kathy were able to have a life together for many years and that he was able to return to Montana and build a lovely log home and travel in retirement. Tho we did not get together much in the retirement years, he was never for gotten or the many good times we had. He was loved and will be missed! Shirley
Anne Saville says
I first met Kathy and also Dick in 1981 when Tony and I and or two boys spent 3 months in Burien while Tony was overseeing the deliveries of Boeing 757 aircraft to Air Europe in UK. We became friends from our first week having met through St Francs school and remained friends of the family ever since. Tony and I visited Kathy and Dick several times over the years and then later visiting Dick in Montana, where we spent many happy times. Dick also visited our home in UK when he was passing through from Saudi Arabia. Our most recent communications have been via e-mail the last being in July. Dick, when you get through those `Peal Gates’ don’t forget to look out for Tony and he will be delighted to see you again. I am going to miss you.
Dave Kettman says
Anne and Amy, Your dad had such wonderful stories of his travels, we will miss him and his laughter. Your friends at the Ghost Art Gallery
Carol Bridge says
I met Kathy first at water aerobics at the Broadwater. What a delightful woman. Then to find out her brother Mike and I went to school together and he married a classmate of ours Mary Jo. However the best of this was when I met Dick and came to treasure their friendship. He was a wonderful person with a gift of history that he often shared and it was enjoyed so much. He and Kathy are together now and watching over their girls and grandchildren. Many Blessings to all who will go on with all the memories that they share with their mom and dad. Love and Hugs Carol Bridge5
David and Phyllis Warfield says
Ann and Amy, your father was good man, good human being and a good family men who loved his family. I look back over the many years I have known him and thank him for the memories of our days at Cathedral High School, class of ’57. We enlisted in the Army Reserve Unit, a hospital unit, after graduation and spent six months active duty and returned to Helena and attended eight years of weekly meetings and two week summer camps in Seattle, WA. After retirement he lived at the lake enjoying life. From his deck he would send pictures of the game, birds and other animals the inhabited his yard, the snow covered grounds and mountains around his home and the beautiful Montana evening sunsets. The wonderful pictures of his travels around the world were magnificent. All of this I will always cherish and remember.
To the family your loss is painful and it is difficult to come through such times. Keep faith in God and He will out His love and care for you.
Mary Rachel Flynn says
Remembering fondly Dick and his parents Dorothy and Ed—great friends of my folks. As well I remember his second family, the Purcell’s. My prayers of gratitude for Dick’s life and for all of you. May your mourning time be dotted with joy and may you know deep peace
Arni Raj Manandhar says
You will always be remembered uncle Richard. Though its been a year you visited Nepal, it seems only yeaterday. Rest in Peace uncle Richard. Our condolences from Nepal.
Dale Shellhorn says
Dale Shellhorn says:
Morgantown was my first Boeing job as a Chief Engineer, and while I went on to a few other jobs Morgantown was the one that all of us liked best. As we got ready to install all of our equipment to the PRT site our Program Management asked for a few of us to move there temporarily and help, install, and test everything. So 6 of us took the invitation and moved into a small office there. We all were Engineers in the Seattle build up, and now were in the fantastic “Open Air Arena” that was going from dirt roadways to the Most Advanced Transportation System in the World. In our small quarters Dick immediately took control of making ALL of the Drawings and Electrical Schematics which all of us were building in order to make that Initial System Work. As anyone knows who has ever been in such a new Creation anywhere there were a LOT of necessary changes, late night work, and calls back to the Engineers still in Seattle: and Dick was our single point to translate such actions into working paper that was translated to the Manufacturing Crew that put these things into Real Working Hardware. Everyone in the Engineering Staff knew of Dick’s outstanding Capability, Creativity, and Long Hours. And as the System started working, and we all returned to Seattle, Dick had made such a reputation with the University that quite often they asked Boeing to send him to help them with ongoing problems and updates. Dick was always a Top Engineer at Boeing, and all of us who were with him on Morgantown will always carry our greatest respect for him as an Engineer and Friend.