Richard 'Dick' McClelland Hurd

Richard "Dick" McClelland Hurd died June 29, 2013, in Yuma, Ariz., at the age of 78. He was born May 8, 1935, in Livingston, Mont., to Lillian (McClelland) Hurd and Herschell Dale Hurd.

Dick had many interests in his busy life. He grew up in Bozeman, Mont., but spent his youthful summers with his grandparents in Jardine, Mont., near Yellowstone Park and in Big Sandy, Mont., with his grandparents, uncles and cousins on their farms. These experiences instilled a love of the outdoors and of farm -life that stayed with him throughout his life. He pursued hunting and fishing passionately while growing up and made farming the focus of his studies and his eventual career.

He attended Gallatin County High School and Montana State College, obtaining a degree in ag business and serving in ROTC and then joining the Army Reserve. While in college, Dick’s interests expanded to cars, motorcycles, flying, skiing and the girl he would marry in 1956 — Rosalie Fulton. They had two sons, William Dale and Michael Wayne

Dick managed the Bear Paw Ski Hill for many years, belonged to the Rock and Mineral Club and the Archaeological Society, and was active in the Ag Movement and Grain Marketing Club. He was a Boy Scout leader and served on the vestry of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Dick was on the Board of Directors of Ag Wise in Kremlin, Mont., served 16 years on the Box Elder School Board, and was a member of the Lions Club. He built his first radio in grade school, was an enthusiastic ham operator and belonged to the Havre Radio Club where he was known as "Log Chain."

Dick was interested in computers in the very early years and had both boys interested before most people had seen one. He was so proud of his sons as one went into computer programming and one into farming. He could truly share their interests. He also enjoyed any time he could get away for boating at Fresno Reservoir, camping in the Bear’s Paw Mountains or floating the Missouri River.

After retiring to Yuma, Ariz., Dick quickly learned to love the desert and joined an off-roading group which made many trips to historical sites, archeological sites, mines, and unusual rock formations in the area. He enjoyed dancing at the frequent functions hosted in Yuma’s numerous R.V. parks. He also took up golf and loved it.

He soon found many old friends from Montana in the area, and lured a few more to Yuma from Havre, Big Sandy and Bozeman. There were enough of these old friends from Bozeman that they started having a class reunion party in Yuma every year. He also formed many new friendships and with their encouragement and support started singing karaoke — a new interest in an old love of music. Dick loved people, loved life and lived it to the fullest.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, David Dean; and his parents. He is survived by his sister, Cheryl Hurd Bueno of El Centro, Calif.; his wife, Rosalie; son, William Hurd (wife Victoria), son, Michael Hurd (wife Jamie); and grandchildren, Scott Hurd (wife Angela), Shannon Chambers (husband Justin), Ryan Hurd, Herschell Hurd and Esmirelda Hurd.

Memorial donations in Dick’s name may be made to the Havre Lions Club, PO Box 248, Havre, MT 59501.