Richard Runnion

Richard Runnion

Richard Runnion, 85, passed away in Bozeman, Mont., on Aug. 11, 2010. He was born Nov. 26, 1924, in Glasgow, Mont., to Ray and Fern (Rager) Runnion.

Richard attended grade school in Chinook, Mont., and high school in Malta, where he was a member of the 1940 State B football championship team. He also played basketball and participated in track.

He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a gunners mate on the light cruiser USS Burmingham in the South Pacific, which took three major battle hits. He was wounded in the second battle of the Philippines, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Following the war, he was employed by Montana Power Company, wiring the south end of Havre. He worked at the Marony Dam in Great Falls. He also worked on road construction around the state for many years.

Richard was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. He loved traveling and meeting new people, and he never met a dog he didn't like. He rode race horses at fairs throughout the state. He also loved ice skating, boating, and fishing. He was a life-long picker and collector, and enjoyed spending time tinkering in his garage.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joe (Mable) Runnion and John Runnion; sisters Rosa (Walt) Pederson, Esther (George) Seaman, Yolanda (Ed) Mueller; wives, Laura (Barsanti) Runnion and Jean (Wilson) Runnion; brothers-in-law, John Seaman, Lee England and Jack Dungan.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Teresa (Perry) Miller, Havre, Mont .; sons, Ken (Sharon Tholt) Runnion and Doug (Mirafe) Runnion, all of Bozeman; grandchildren, Wade Miller of Havre, Mont., Jenny Miller of, Las Vegas, Nev., Wendy (Paul) Galvin of Bend, Ore., Bradley (Raelyn Mathies) Runnion of Helena, Mont., and Alexa Runnion of Bozeman. Also surviving are sisters Ellen Seaman, Chinook, Mont., Jean Bosch of Trout Creek, Mont., and Rita (Joe) Cancellare of Missoula, Mont .; sisters-in-law, Josephine England of Havre, Mont., and Dorothy (Runnion) Tordick of Big Sandy, Mont .; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Services and interment will be in Havre, Mont. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service, http://www.dokkennelson.com.

Delores Scheaffer

Richard Runnion, 85, passed away in Bozeman, Mont., on Aug. 11, 2010. He was born Nov. 26, 1924, in Glasgow, Mont., to Ray and Fern (Rager) Runnion.

Richard attended grade school in Chinook, Mont., and high school in Malta, where he was a member of the 1940 State B football championship team. He also played basketball and participated in track.

He joined the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a gunners mate on the light cruiser USS Burmingham in the South Pacific, which took three major battle hits. He was wounded in the second battle of the Philippines, for which he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Following the war, he was employed by Montana Power Company, wiring the south end of Havre. He worked at the Marony Dam in Great Falls. He also worked on road construction around the state for many years.

Richard was a lifetime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. He loved traveling and meeting new people, and he never met a dog he didn't like. He rode race horses at fairs throughout the state. He also loved ice skating, boating, and fishing. He was a life-long picker and collector, and enjoyed spending time tinkering in his garage.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joe (Mable) Runnion and John Runnion; sisters Rosa (Walt) Pederson, Esther (George) Seaman, Yolanda (Ed) Mueller; wives, Laura (Barsanti) Runnion and Jean (Wilson) Runnion; brothers-in-law, John Seaman, Lee England and Jack Dungan.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Teresa (Perry) Miller, Havre, Mont .; sons, Ken (Sharon Tholt) Runnion and Doug (Mirafe) Runnion, all of Bozeman; grandchildren, Wade Miller of Havre, Mont., Jenny Miller of, Las Vegas, Nev., Wendy (Paul) Galvin of Bend, Ore., Bradley (Raelyn Mathies) Runnion of Helena, Mont., and Alexa Runnion of Bozeman. Also surviving are sisters Ellen Seaman, Chinook, Mont., Jean Bosch of Trout Creek, Mont., and Rita (Joe) Cancellare of Missoula, Mont .; sisters-in-law, Josephine England of Havre, Mont., and Dorothy (Runnion) Tordick of Big Sandy, Mont .; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Services and interment will be in Havre, Mont. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service, http://www.dokkennelson.com.

Delores Scheaffer