R.J. "Dick" Brickley

1922-2007

R.J. "Dick" Brickley passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. Dick was born on February 13, 1922 in Rapelje, Montana. He spent his early years working for his parents on the family ranch and in the Rapelje General Store. Dick was fun loving from his earliest years and proved to be a star basketball player for Rapelje High School. In The early 1940's, he went on to play basketball at Rocky Poly Technic (now Rocky Mountain College).

World War II called, and Dick enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He trained at Camp Lejeune, NC and went on to serve as a lieutenant platoon leader in the South Pacific Islands of Okinawa and Saipan. Dick was always proud of serving his country. He was indeed one of "American’s Finest."

Dick was married to Gloria Dean on February 2, 1943. After his discharge from the Marine Corps, he returned to his wife and new baby boy in Montana. Dick then took on the task of providing for his family, and he did this very well by tirelessly working at various businesses.

Dick owned a grocery store and meat cutting business known as Dick’s Market which was located on the corner of Yellowstone and 8^th Street West. He owned various bars and taverns in the Billings area, including The Keg, 1145 Club, and Hideaway Lanes. Dick also worked as the bulk agent for Standard Oil Co. in the early 1960's. In the later part of his working life Dick enjoyed working as an operating engineer out of Local 400 Union in Billings. He spent several happy years working for local contractors R.J. Studer and Sons.

He was a kind and generous person who loved to be around people. A wonderful sense of humor won his many, many friends.

Dick lost his lovely wife Gloria to cancer in 1988. A few years later, he was blessed by another love of his life, Kay Koory. The two were inseparable and spent several wonderful years together traveling, dancing and just enjoying one another. Dick was quite a guy and will be remembered fondly by all of his many friends.

He is survived by son, Dick and Hoa Brickley, grandchildren, Tony (Gina) Brickley and their son Cameron, and Tammy Brickley and her daughter Dakota all of Fairbanks, Alaska; son David and Connie Brickley of Billings and grandchildren Skyler Brickley of New York City, Jesper Brickley of Biddeford, Maine, and Camela Brickley of Billings. Dick’s daughter Diane died of cancer in 1995, leaving grandsons Casey Wagner and Dylan Wagner, both of Bozeman, MT.

Cremation had taken place and Memorial services will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Monday, May 7, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary.

Memorials may be sent to Billings Chapter of The Elk’s Club, where Dick was a lifetime member.