Richard N. Rowe

HAMILTON - Richard N Rowe, 78, of Hamilton passed away peacefully, Saturday, December 29th, 2012 at his home. He was born at home, June 12th, 1934 in Rocker, Montana, the son of the late Roy and Beatrice (Hickey) Rowe.

Rich was raised in Rocker, Victor and Butte. Having not finished high school, Rich was proud to have obtained his GED in 1967. He married Mary Lou Walsh in 1953. They had six children together. He went to work for the Anaconda Company at the Anaconda Smelter in 1954, transferring to the Butte Concentrator in 1965 and ultimately retiring in 1983. Shortly after retiring he moved to the Bitterroot with his second wife, the late Fran McCloy. He continued to live in the Bitterroot for the remainder of his life. During his childhood he, like his mother Bea and his siblings, grew to have a profound love of animals. During his lifetime Rich had cared for countless pets and strays, including horses, cows, ducks, geese, numerous exotic birds, rabbits, dogs and cats.

While working at the Butte Concentrator, Rich was elected vice-president of the Local Steelworkers Union and proudly represented his fellow steelworkers in Salt Lake City for contract negotiations during a prolonged strike in the early seventies. Rich was an avid hunter and outdoorsman as exhibited by his purchasing and passing on to his children, twenty acres of recreation land surrounded by the Deerlodge National Forest. He enjoyed boating, riding horses, motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATV's. Rich loved cars and trucks. He was always avid classic car enthusiast. He was appreciative of the camaraderie and friendships he developed as a member of the Bitterrodders Car Club.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Beatrice, his second wife Fran, his two older brothers Robert and Arthur as well as two of his younger sisters Joan and Margie.

Rich is survived by his children Rick and his wife Irene of Missoula, Brenda and her husband Adriane Keene of Butte, Ron and his wife Susan of Whitehall, Randy and his wife Robyn of Deerlodge, Ray and his wife Lauri of Missoula, Roger and his wife Mari of Deerloodge, his brother Dave and his wife Shirley of Darby, his sister Rose Johnson of Butte, his sister Patsy and her husband Howard Brackett of Butte, his sister Lorraine and her husband Bill Barnett of Huntsville Texas, his sister Shirley Hunt of American Fork Utah, his sister Jeri Dye of Dillon, twenty-one grandchildren and by twenty-five great-grandchildren with more on their way.

Honorary pallbearers are David Rowe, Gary Rowe, Howard Brackett, Bill Bourne, Jarrod Rowe and Tim Rowe.