Richard (Dick) Blankenship passed away on July 1, 2020. He was born to Tom & Martha Blankenship Oct 2, 1939, in Hardin, Montana. After high school, he joined the Marine Corp; While in the marines, he saw a lot of the Far East. Upon discharge, he went to work for the Hardin Police Dept where he worked from 1964 until 1967, at which time he went to work for the State of Montana Highway Patrol. In 1968, he married Meredith Beck from Baker, Montana. To this marriage, a daughter Lora was born. During his career with the Highway Patrol, he was stationed in Circle & Broadus. While in Broadus, he was promoted to the rank of Sgt. and was moved to Butte. After five years in Butte, he transferred to Miles City. After retiring in 1986, he moved to the State of Washington, where he worked for Palmer Lumber Co. for approximately 15 years.
In 2001, he was united with his high school sweetheart after 43 years. Roberta (Birdie) Breen and Dick were married in 2002 in Branson, Missouri, where they made their home until her death in July of 2017. While in Branson, he worked in the theaters where they met a lot of the stars such as The Oak Ridge Boys, Mel Tillis, Charly Pride & many more. He also worked for the Chinese Acrobats and drove them all over the United States for 3 months doing shows. After Birdie’s death, he moved to Butte, Montana, where his daughter lives.
Those that passed before him were his mother & father & his wife, Birdie.
He has a daughter, Lora and Mark Clark of Butte, Montana; two sisters, Mary, of Boise, Idaho, & Myrna, of Wyoming & a half-brother, Tom, of Rockville, Maryland; six step-children; grandchildren, Marcus (Jaylyn) Blankenship and Ashlee Blankenship; & great-grandchildren, McKinlee, Wesley, and Lily (Lilian).
Services will be held at a later date, after which cremation will take place & burial will be at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Springfield, Missouri, with his wife.
Please visit below to offer a condolence or share a memory of Richard. Axelson Funeral and Cremation has been privileged to care for Richard and his family.
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Linda Phillips says
You will be missed. My brother and I send our prayers both to Dickie for a safe journey and to his family. Rest in peace.
Vangie Kuhn says
Mary and Myrna, sorry to hear about the loss of your brother.
My sincere condolences
Sharon Ellis says
I can’t believe you are gone. Laurie can you call me.
Lots of love to all.
Sharon
Sherry Kirschenmann says
Dick you were a good man and I was proud to say you were family. You and Birdie are back together again.
You will be missed.
Sherry and Bob Kirschenmann
Ruby Kinsey Bearley says
Sorry to hear ,my prayers and thought are with u all in this time of need God Bless
Tom and Pam Breen says
Dick sorry to hear you were a great Brother-in-law you will be missed as I have known you sense I was a very young man. Pam and II(Tom) Breen will miss you .
Robin Carpenter says
Mary and Myrna so very sorry for your loss. Prayers of comfort at this sad time. Much love 💕
Dixie Denton says
Mary, Myrna,& Lora so sad to hear the news. May the Lord bless you with His comfort and peace during this time. You have so many memories of all your sibling trips together, cherish those memories. We love you💕💕
Mary Schrapos says
So sorry to hear this news, Dick was a great neighbor and will miss chatting with you. Fly high with the angels! Sympathy to his family!🙏🙏
John Nickelson MHP 168 says
I work for the Montana Highway Patrol and was stationed in Broadus between 2006 and 2018. Mr. Blankenship is very well thought of to this day. I never had the pleasure of his acquaintance but enjoyed the good will developed during the time of his service there. God speed.
Perry Brown Sr. says
My sincere condolences to the family. I appreciated the time spent with Richard at the 1967 Hwy Patrol academy.
Perry L Brown retired MHP 256/136.