Richard Edward Fick
Richard Edward Fick, 82, of Billings, MT, passed peacefully at home on
November 9, 2022. He was born March 11, 1940, in Stafford, Nebraska, to Edward and Alberta (Pond) Fick. He started first grade at age four in rural Nebraska. Looking for better opportunities, the family moved to Billings, Montana, in 1949 where they had family living and a new job at Saunders Lumber. Richard also started working at the lumberyard at age 14, counting inventory and unloading rail cars by hand.
He attended Pine Hills, Lockwood, and Senior High Schools, graduating in 1957.
He attended Eastern Montana College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science
in Education in 1961. He then taught mostly 5th and 6th grades for 39 years. He taught at Taft, Orchard, Highland, and Sandstone Elementaries. He retired from teaching in June 2000. His love for teaching was unimaginable. He made a difference in so many children’s and families’ lives. He took his students fossil hunting in the back of his pickup in the Pryors, walked to PAYS to watch sales, outdoor ed at Riverfront Park, and many more adventures. He had posters of John Wayne, Native Americans, the U.S. Presidents, and, of course, an American flag hanging in his classroom. He wanted to teach and expose his students to as much history and real world experiences as possible. read more
