Dick died October 28, 2023, in Missoula. He was born March 18, 1947, in Thompson Falls, Montana. Early on Dick knew he wanted to be a pilot and purchased his first plane when he was 16. He went to work for the Johnson Flying Service when he was 20 years old. Dick flew air tankers, spray planes and dropped smokejumpers. After Johnson was sold in 1975, he flew for several airlines retiring as a 767 Captain in 2005.