RICHARD BRAINARD obituary

CHINOOK Richard C. “Dick” Brainard, 81, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2006, surrounded by his loving wife Vivienne, daughters and son at Sweet Nursing Home in Chinook due to natural causes.

His funeral service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the United Presbyterian Church with burial following at Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Dick was born in Bozeman on Nov. 10, 1924, to Darr and Clara Mae Brainard. He graduated from Chinook High School in 1942. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his discharge, Dick returned to Chinook and married Rita Williams in October 1947. The couple had five daughters and one son. Rita died in May 1964. Dick owned and operated the Conoco Bulk Plant and was a barkeeper in the Mint Bar in Chinook for a number of years. He was a member of the Army Reserve and retired a lieutenant colonel. In August 1970, he married Ann Kelly Churchill and helped raise her son, Winston. Ann died in January 1977. Dick married Vivienne Deming Kimball in August 1979. They lived in Oceanside, Calif., until his stroke in January 1993. He was a resident at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home for a number of years. Dick was a colorful part of the Chinook community. He was an avid fan of the Chinook Sugarbeeters activities. Dick was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Alberta MacGregor, Anna Mae Brainard and Clara Jean MacGregor; and brother, Erwin Mitchell. Survivors include his wife, Vivienne Brainard of Chinook; children, Susan (Harold) Moos of Miles City, Nancy (Dick) Stang of St. Regis, Joan (James) Williams of Denver, Colo., Amy (John) Anderson of Brady, Mary (Ted) Edwards of Spencer, Idaho, Marc (Joyce) Brainard of Billings, Winston (Amy) Churchill of Fox Island, Wash., Bill (Peggy) Kimball of Chester, Herb (Bonnie) Kimball of Polson, Kathy (Steve) Crabb of Harrison, Ariz., Patsy (Den) Saatjian of Bozeman and Ted (Laura) Kimball of Bozeman; brothers, Lee Brainard of Rio Rancho, N.M.; brother-in-law Mitch MacGregor of Kent, Wash.; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.