Richard Lee Bruins was born on August 25, 1945 in Minot North Dakota where he attended school and graduated in 1963. As a young man he worked concrete before heading to the West Coast in 1963 where he met the love of his life, Vivian Telehey. They married shortly and had three children.
Dredging was his life as he worked from San Diego to the north slope of Alaska then up to the East Coast and into Canada where they built a bridge from Prince Edward Island to the mainland. In 1976 he dredged Canyon Ferry Lake with his crew.
Richard and Vivian moved to Townsend in 1976 where they bought land and built their dream log home in 1980. Welding was just one of Dick’s many talents he enjoyed helping others and ranchers throughout Broadwater County. After retirement, he enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson traveling through the western states, provinces, and Alaska with his brother Leo.
Dick’s largest passion was his cabin in the Elkhorn ‘s, he and many others spent a tremendous amount of time to build and enjoy the labor of love. He played the accordion, loved music and he was an avid hunter, and enjoyed fishing camping and gardening.
Dad was a large barrel-chested man, and he lived his life the same way!
Richard passed away in his home on May 1, 2021. He is survived by Audrey Allen, TX, Floyd Bruins and Eve Eichinger-Bruins, MT, and Dan Bruins, ND, his brother, Leo Bruins, ND. Dick is also survived by his Grandchildren: Travis Dewart, J.D Dewart, Cory Dewart, Casey Allen, Nicholas Bruins, Kaden Bruins, Brad Eichinger, and Pantara Villarreal; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian Bruins, and parents Ted Bruins and Viola Bruins.
A Funeral Service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 7, 2021 at the Alliance Church in Townsend, MT. He will be laid to rest next to his wife, Vivian in Minot, ND. Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Dick.
JOANN PATTERSON says
PRAYERS TO ALL THE FAMILIES