John Mcnelly Richards

John McNelly Richards, 96 of Hamilton passed away peacefully Thursday, February 6, 2025 at his home in Hamilton.

John was born in Missoula Montana and lived in Philipsburg, Missoula, and Libby as a boy and young teen.  Those years cemented his love for his home state, skiing, hiking, hunting, camping, trains, and 2 lane blacktops.  He moved to Portland Oregon in his high school years where he graduated from Grant High.  He then attended Oregon State University and studied Forestry. His love for the outdoors led him to work for the Forest Service prior to joining the Marine Corps.  He proudly served his country as a United States Marine and was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War.  Upon leaving the Marine Corps he went to work for Bonneville Power Administration, which brought him back to Montana then to Washington and Oregon.  After retiring from Bonneville Power, he went to work for Morrison-Knudsen as a consultant in Kinshasa Zaire. He eventually settled in Hamilton Montana where he has lived for the past 30 plus years.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Collingwood Richards, his four daughters, three sons-in-law, seven grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and quite a few nieces and nephews.

A celebration of John’s life will be held at the Daly-Leach Chapel in the Community Room on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.   Military honors will be presented by the US Marine Corps, Marine Corps League – Bitterroot Detachment and the Hamilton American Legion.