Roderick “Rick” Leslie Wilhelm was born in Dickinson, on Jan. 18, 1950 to Leslie and Lillie (Transtrom) Wilhelm of Halliday. He was named Roderick after an author and his mother hoped that he would indeed be an author in his later years. Not to be, he instead became quite an accomplished artist. He was raised and attended school in Halliday and graduated in 1968. Rick served as a Medic in the U.S. Army 1970-1972. While stationed at Ft. Ord, Calif. he was a member of the Army Rodeo Team.
He earned a Wild Life Management Degree at the Bottineau School of Forestry and went on to work for the U.S. Forest Service in the Yellowstone Nat’l Park. He enjoyed the time spent guiding hunters in Wyoming. Rick was an incredible artist, working in oil paints, polymer clay, and bronze. He had his own art galleries/shops in Jackson Hole, Wyo. and Cody, Wyo. He was employed at Art Casting of Colorado in Loveland, Colo. It was there that he began sculpting in Bronze and won awards for his work and several best of shows. Rick also worked as a carpenter, built his own home on the south fork out of Cody, and completed many projects – large and small for so many.
Rick loved to read, do his artwork, hunt, call family and friends to chat, watch rodeo, and play a game of cribbage with Richard or Uncle Vic.
He left us on his next life’s journey on Monday, Sept. 19, 2016 after a valiant and dignified fight with cancer. He is survived by his soul mate of 10 years, Debby Harrington, and his three sons, Kaleb of Leander, Texas, Trey of Casper, Wyo. and Flint, of Powell, Wyo. and four grandchildren. Debby’s children Jody, Lea, Chip, Jason and their families, and his sisters, Rita (Larry) Burr, Halliday, Roslyn (Bill) Amerman, Forman, Leslie (Ross) Keltner, Cody, and brothers, Robert (Sallie) Wilhelm of Orafino, Idaho and Mick (Pamela) Wilhelm of Custer, S.D., and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Rick’s Life Memorial will be held on Oct. 1, 2016 at the Halliday City Hall at 2:00 p.m.
