Richard "Red" Lewis

STEVENSVILLE - Richard "Red" Lewis, 83, of Stevensville passed away Friday, May 18, 2012 at Community Medical Center in Missoula. He was born November 1, 1928 in St. Louis, MO the son of Richard T. and Frances (Reese) Lewis.

Red grew up during the depression and it was during these hard times that he learned he had a talent to play the banjo. At the young age of 15, he and his dad would stand on the corner and pick their instruments to supplement their income. Red moved to Western Montana in the 1950's and in 1955 he met and married Patricia May Wilson. Their union was blessed by 3 children; Jim, Ralph and Terry.

Red enlisted into the US Air Force and was honorably discharged in July of 1959. He provided for his family by working as a welder and also playing music on the weekends. Red worked for numerous welding shops in Missoula including for the Montana State Highway Department from which he retired.

Red traveled from the East Coast to the West Coast playing his vintage tenor banjo. Playing under the handle "Montana Red", he earned recognition as one of the best banjo players in the world. Through some mutual music friends, Red met Lucy Craddock in the early 1994 and they married on October 14, 1994 in Raleigh, NC. Together they traveled to many banjo events and toured the West.

Red loved Montana for its beauty and he enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children as they grew up. He was a man of his word and wit! Red would often be heard saying, "If your words no good, your no good". He was a loving husband, father and friend too many, we will greatly miss him.

Red was preceded in death by his parents; 1 brother, and 1 sister. He is survived by his wife Lucy of Stevensville; 3 children, Jim (Lindy) Lewis of Missoula, Ralph (Colleen) Lewis of Corvallis, and Terry (Bob) Weaver of Portland, OR; 8 grandchildren, Shelly, Micah, Christina, Lisa, Kimberly, Stacy, Hannah Marie and Samuel Richard; 3 step-children, LuAnn (Bob) Cross of England, Richard Craddock of Florida and Linda (Mark) Helwig of Raleigh, NC; 5 step-grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and other relatives.