CORVALLIS - Richard “Dick” Maier, 90, of Corvallis crossed gently over the great divide in the loving arms of his daughter and his beloved caregiver on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at his home ranch near Corvallis MT.
He was born in Twin Bridges MT to Richard Adam Maier and Nancy Grindell Maier on June 10, 1925. Dick spent much of his early childhood on his grandparents, Adam and Augusta Maier’s, ranch at Glen MT. The family grew about 2 years later when younger brother, Darwin, was born.
Dick’s family relocated to the Spokane, WA area in the mid 1930’s. A few years later his baby sister, Ruth, was born. As a child of the “Great Depression”, Dick formed his determination, self-reliance, and work ethic at an early age. He left school after finishing his sophomore year and began working on area ranches, breaking horses, haying and working cattle.
He lived near the Kalispel Indian Reservation north of Spokane. His friendships with the members of the Pend d’ Oreille tribe formed his respect and admiration for all the native people and their cultures.
Dick shared his mother’s great love for horses and as a teenager purchased his “first love”, a red roan mare he named Queen. He taught her all the arts of a working stock horse and several clever “tricks” as well.
Dick became a skilled livestock dealer with his equine partner, but the best deal he ever made was without a doubt his partner for life and dearly loved wife of over 65 years, Delores Natalie Burton. They were married on July 3, 1945 at the home of her parents, Earl and May Burton.
About two years later they purchased their first modest ranch near Newport, WA. Always fondly referred to as “the little ranch”, Dick built their small ranch house himself and continued to build his business as a livestock trader.
Dick and Delores where never blessed with children of their own, and clearly recognizing their need for additional ranch hands, they adopted their only child, Marilyn May, upon her birth in 1954.
Dick and Delores built a successful ranch and livestock dealing business together that eventually covered a 4 state area. They leased several larger ranches, built a cattle feeding facility near Spokane in partnership with Dick’s mother, and of necessity started a livestock hauling company. Their Western Cattle Express grew to become another successful enterprise for them.
Dick had a true rancher’s heart and was able to make his dreams come true with the purchase of his Paradise Valley Ranch, located in north Idaho in the early 1960’s.
There he settled into the saddle as full time rancher, raising Black Angus cattle and reg. Quarter Horses. Dick and Delores also began to develop some small real estate projects.
In the summer of 1968 Dick suffered a nearly fatal drug reaction to penicillin after a severe barbed wire gash. Coupled with a staph infection in his hand early in the spring and a bad bout of influenza that winter his health was seriously compromised.
Delores’s parents had retired to Hamilton MT and they had fallen in love with the Bitterroot Valley on visits here. The sale of Dick’s prized Paradise Valley Ranch, its many hundreds of cattle and his beloved horse herd closed that chapter of his life.
Dick and Delores purchased a small, pretty property near Corvallis, but life as a gentleman rancher didn’t keep Dick’s active mind occupied and soon he was pursuing all his old passions. Focusing on the less physically demanding real estate development became a larger part of their life in the Bitterroot.
Dick and Delores where active members of their churches, wherever they had lived, until Delores’s health began to decline.
Dick was a talented amateur musician and could play several stringed instruments “by ear”. He had a keen appreciation of the arts of the west and treasured his friendships with numerous artists. A love of western history and collecting antiques was shared among his whole family. Family vacations always involved camping, visiting other regions of the west, and exploring the lives of the early pioneers and native people.
Dick and Delores celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1995 with their family and friends. Delores’s passing in 2011 was a devastating loss for Dick. With the support of his family and many loyal friends he continued to live at his home ranch near Corvallis until his death.
Dick is survived by Billy, his last saddle horse and equine partner; his daughter, Marilyn Maier of Kalispell MT; his sister, Ruth Blanford of Scottsdale AZ; his brother, Darwin Maier of Spokane WA; his daughter’s ex-husband, Jack Bert; and several nieces and nephews and many more great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. at the Daly-Leach Chapel with a reception following in the funeral home’s community room. Dick will rest beside Delores and among his older family members at the Mountain View Cemetery in Dillon MT. The date for a graveside service will be announced when it is determined.
Dick wished to express his special gratitude to his personal caregiver, Maureen Allsop and her faithful and loyal team, and to his ranch caretaker, Chris Barteni.
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