Richard Poese

Richard (Rick) Poese of Hamilton, MT passed away on November 8, 2026. Rick was born on March 16, 1949 to Harvey and Edith Pose in Higginsville, Missouri. He attended local schools, graduating from Higginsville High School in 1967.

Rick received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Central Missouri College in 1971 and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Portland (Oregon). Rick’s career included financial management in healthcare in Missouri, Montana, and Oregon, the cattle industry in Oregon, and higher education in Oregon.

Rick wed Wanda Hill in Higginsville, Missouri. They had two children; Teresa Jo and Christopher Sean. They later divorced but remained friends. In 1986, Rick married Peggy Delaney from Butte, Montana. Upon retiring from Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon in 2004, Rick and Peggy returned to Butte to care for Peggy’s mother. In 2018, they retired to Hamilton, Montana.

Rick was an intelligent, patient, creative, and caring man who enjoyed the simple things in life, watching geese fly overhead in the fall, listening to the call of a pair of eagles, or to the wind blow through the aspens. He was an avid fly fisherman, enjoying the rivers and lakes of Montana and Oregon with his lab, Libby. His love of nature, particularly Montana, grew from his time as a summer employee at Yellowstone National Park the summer following high school graduation. Rick volunteered tirelessly for the Oregon Nature Conservancy, restoring cabins and outbuilding at the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve in Northeastern Oregon. His work was recognized by the Conservancy, an honor he quietly cherished. Rick was a voracious reader. He enjoyed classical music on Sundays and the Eagles, Beatles, and Credence Clearwater Revival just about any time. He loved college sports, including Notre Dame football, Duke basketball, and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rick’s greatest love was for his family. Rick and Peggy’s 40 years together included extensive travels throughout the western United States, camping, fishing, and just enjoying being together. His children and grandchildren were the source of much joy, laughter, and many special memories.

Rick is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife, Peggy, daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Blake Nino, son and daughter-in-law Chris and Megan Poese, beloved grandchildren Grace, Faith, Blake Jr., Mercy and Trinity Nino of Kingsburg, CA; Sullivan and Callahan Poese of Phoenix, AZ; siblings and spouses Carolyn Whitsitt, Blue Springs, MO; Ruth and Don Schnakenburg, Kansas City, MO, Russell and Cheryl Poese of Katy, TX, special niece, Meagan Beckett of Butte, MT, ex-wife, Wanda Olson and her husband, John, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, David Whitsitt.

In lieu of services, Rick asked that people take themselves or someone else into the great outdoors and enjoy all that nature has to offer in this wonderful world. A private celebration of his life will be held in the spring.