SLATER, Richard

SLATER, HOBBS, FLEMING, JOHNSON, BOYER

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 11/12/2004 at 06:36:07

Richard (Dick) Slater, 73, of Montana died February 5, 2001 at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Mont. Graveside services and burial of cremains will be August 18, 2001, 11:00 a.m., at the family plot in the Glenwood Cemetery.

Mr. Slater was the son of Harold and Georgia (Hobbs) Slater, born August 23 ,1927 in Grant. After graduation from high school in Glenwood he serviced in the U.S. Navy during World War II being honorably discharged on August 20, 1948. He was married to Ellen M. Fleming on October 9, 1949 in Glenwood. They made their first home in Omaha, Neb. then moving to Tennessee with the Southern Railroad. They returned to Iowa where they lived in several communities until October, 1976, when they moved to Powell, Mont.

During his life’s work, he had varied experiences. He worked for the railroad for five years; was employed by BF Goodrich Tire Co.; was district sales rep for Gulf Oil Corp.; was owner/operator of a gas station; partnered with his oldest son, Mike, in an auto repair business; and then worked as an auto mechanic in Powell for several years. In 1985, he slowed the pace by driving a school bus for the Powell School District while continuing to help his wife develop their commercial greenhouse business which they started in 1978.

He was active in the Presbyterian Church as an elder, deacon and member of the committee responsible for the expansion of the church. He was a member of the American Legion and the Optimist Club, a troop leader for the Boy Scouts of America, and a leader in the Powell Kiwanis Club. He was Kiwanian of the Year in Powell in 1991-92 and again in 1994. He served as Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis for Division 10 of the Rocky Mountain District from 1991-1994. He also enjoyed many years of fishing, golfing, woodworking, playing cribbage and softball. He and his wife were responsible for planting and maintaining 42 flower beds in public spaces in Powell.

Survivors include his wife; sons, Mike and wife Lil, both of Waukee, and Pat and wife Diana of Powell, Mont.; daughter, Jaci Johnson and husband George of Powell, Mont.; brothers, Allan Slater and wife Jeanie of Arkansas, and Jerry Slater and wife Sue of Colorado; sister, Marlene Boyer and husband Cliff of Silver City; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.