HOBERT RICHMOND obituary

CHINOOK - Hobert Conley Dale Richmond, 88, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at a Malta rest home due to natural causes.

A funeral service was scheduled for 2 p.m. today in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was to follow with military honors in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery.

Hobe was born in Milan, Mo., on Aug. 6, 1915, to Peter and Maudie Mae (Haynes) Richmond. His parents moved to Montana in November of that year and homesteaded north of Chinook. Hobe attended country school until his fifth-grade year, when the family moved into Chinook. Hobe went to work for the county with his father when he was 13 years old. During his high school years, he played both football and baseball. He also worked in the bakery until he graduated in 1935.

In 1941, he joined the Chinook Fire Department and continued to serve faithfully for 62 years, 29 of those years as city fire chief. Hobe was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Navy. He was also a lifetime member of the V.F.W. During his 17 years of working for the City of Chinook, he was very proud to be involved in the construction of both the new water and new sewage plants.

After his retirement in 1980, Hobe enjoyed spending time with his wife, Wilma, and their beloved pets, traveling and working on many different projects. He also maintained fire extinguishers for all of the surrounding counties.

Hobert was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Floyd, John and Art Richmond; sisters, Jennie Shockley, Olive Roberts and Kathleen Brice; grandson, James Conley Rock; first wife, Bethene Blatter; and second wife, Frances McLeod.

Survivors include his wife, Wilma of Malta; daughters, Sheron (Clarence) Rock of Ucon, Utah, and Merrimae (Sid) Solberg of Dodson; stepdaughter, Tina Grillmeier of Greenville, S.C.; stepson, Chris (Anna) Loney of Wedgefield, S.C.; 11 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and three great-great grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to the Chinook Fire Department Building Fund.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.