Richard Everett Moffitt was born 5 February 1934 to Everett Moffitt and AnnaBelle Pettengill Moffitt on a farm in Osceola County, Michigan. He grew up and was schooled in Reed City, Michigan. He attended the Michigan School of Mining & Technology, Houghton, Michigan where he graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering; also as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force ROTC. When he completed training he qualified for pilot school.
Richard met and married Emma Lenore Hutchison on 27 December 1958 near Clare, Michigan. From this union was born Lenore Ann, Daniel Richard, William David and Angela Marie.
Flying and airplanes became his passion. He served with the United States Air Force in England, Germany, Korea and Vietnam. He finally retired in 1978 as a Lieutenant Colonel. The family moved to Simms, Montana, where he learned farming was like crime-it just didn’t pay. But it does provide a good basic training to raise a family.
Richard began working for Waddell & Reed doing financial planning in 1983. After the children were grown, he and Emma moved into Great Falls, then to Cody, Wyoming, and on to Casper where he set up an office and stayed eight years. In 1999 he retired and purchased a lot at the Silos housing area near Townsend, Montana where they began building a home.
He was a great neighbor, always helping and serving others.
Richard was serving an LDS Church Service Mission working with the young Elders & Sisters. He and Emma also served in the Billings Temple.
Surviving are wife, Emma; brother, David (Patricia) Moffitt; Their children: daughter, Lenore (Mark (now deceased),) Adams, their children, Duncan (Sarah) Adams and Shawn Adams; son, Daniel (Karen) Moffitt, and their children, Chad Moffitt, Mikkell (Calen) Heinemann and their child, Miyla; son, William (Laura) Moffitt and their children, Alyssa (Lucas) Bailey and their children, Ethan, Casey and Lindsey; daughter, Angela (Raymond) Zentz and their children, CeNedra (Joshua) Davidson and their children, Richard, Christian and Caitlyn.
Richard was active in the community serving in the church and on Broadwater Airport Board which he loved as it gave him a contact with airplanes.
He passed away 30 June 2015 in Ogden, Utah where he had attended his granddaughter’s wedding on Sunday.
The family will begin receiving friends at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 6, 2015 with a funeral service scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 916 Broadway Street in Townsend. Interment and Dedication of the Grave with military honors will be at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison, Montana at 2:30 p.m. Monday.
Donations in Richard’s name are suggested to the Broadwater Airport Board, Broadwater County, 515 Broadway, Townsend, Montana 59644.
Please visit www.stevensonwilke.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Richard.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Monday July 6, 2015
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
916 Broadway Street
Townsend, Montana 59644
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Monday July 6, 2015
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
916 Broadway Street
Townsend, Montana 59644
Reception
Immediately following the Funeral Service
Monday July 6, 2015
Church Social Center
916 Broadway Street
Townsend, Montana
Celebration of His Life
2:30 p.m.
Monday July 6, 2015
Graveside at Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heros Road
Fort Harrison, Montana
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Monday July 6, 2015
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
916 Broadway Street
Townsend, Montana 59644
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Monday July 6, 2015
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
916 Broadway Street
Townsend, Montana 59644
Reception
Immediately following the Funeral Service
Monday July 6, 2015
Church Social Center
916 Broadway Street
Townsend, Montana
Celebration of His Life
2:30 p.m.
Monday July 6, 2015
Graveside at Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heros Road
Fort Harrison, Montana
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Don Kellum says
You might say Richard and I have been to the woods together. On May 5, 1970, we were flying a reconnaissance mission in an RF-4C Aircraft in the A Shau Valley of Vietnam. About half through the valley, we ran into heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire and after numerous hits, had to eject from out aircraft into enemy infested jungle. Shortly after we went down, Richard contacted Army helicopters and Air Force A-1s and they provided protection from the enemy until we were rescued by An Air Force helicopter and returned to an Air Force base. Following this mission, Richard flew over 100 combat missions without incident and returned to the United States. This past May 5, Richard and I talked about the extra 45 years the Lord has given us since that fateful day in Vietnam in 1970..
For Emma: In this difficult time, may you find comfort in knowing that others share in your sorrow, May God bless you and your children and grandchildren and be with you always.
Bob and Sandy says
We were so shocked to hear about Dick. He will be sorely missed. He was a kind and helpful man. We feel blessed to have known him. Our prayers are with Emma and the family. We are so grateful to know that families can be together forever. God bless.