Richard D. Schleve, 87, Dickinson, died Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Health Center, Dickinson. Richard’s visitation will be Monday, March 25, 2013 from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. with the family present during that time to receive guests at Ladbury Funeral Service. Interment will take place at Black Hills National Cemetery on Wednesday, March 27, at 12:30 p.m.
Richard D. Schleve was born October 1, 1925, the fourth child of George and Alta (Fleming) Schleve in Oral, S. D. Richard lived and was educated in rural South Dakota, and attended high school in Hot Springs, S. D. until he was drafted in the Army at the age of 17. He served in the European Theater, after the war he returned to his beloved Black Hills and started his life. On August 30, 1947 he married Carol M. Heath in Forsyth, Mont. To this union they were blessed to have three children, Richard, Randall, and GayLe and later adopted the Watson family, Cheryl and Gerry. During Richard’s life, he worked 40 years for the railroad starting in the fall of 1948 working for the Northern Pacific Railroad, he was a brakeman and conductor. He was proud of his service there and the time he spent as the passenger conductor between Glendive, Mont. and Billings, Mont.
Richard enjoyed people and made friends quickly, this was one of his past times, but he loved to be outside, he gardened, and took care of yards. He enjoyed fishing, rock hunting, traveling, and looking at the country side, playing cards, and woodworking. He loved working with his hands, he could fix almost anything, (or so we thought), and he also loved to cook, (ask those who had opportunities to taste some of his cooking). He enjoyed having coffee with friends and a good story or joke. He enjoyed a good baseball game and watching the major league teams on the television every season.
Richard was preceded in death by his wife Carol, his parents, two brothers and one sister. But he is survived by his children, Richard L., Dickinson, Randall D., Miles City, Mont., and GayLe Schleve, Glendive, Mont and Gerry and Cheryl Watson of Glendive, with Ryan, Robbie, and Richard C. and their children, also three grandsons, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The common thread with it all is in the words of many, “That he will be missed”.
