Richard Larsen

Richard Allen “Dickie” Larsen, 78, of Bermuda Dunes, Calif., died July 9, 2022, in Indio, Calif.

He was born Oct. 30, 1943, in CutBank to Albert and Valborg Island. When born, He joined a sister, Darlene, and brothers, Ronnie and Orville. When he was an infant, his mother died and he was adopted by his aunt and uncle, Evald and Violet Larsen, gaining another brother, Vyrion.

After living his early life in rural Montana and graduating from Plentywood High School in 1961, he moved to Tacoma, Wash., to join his brother Orville and brotherin- law Butch McLaughlin in the construction business, where he eventually became a licensed electrician.

In 1968, he married Linda and adopted her two daughters, Denise and Shawna. Shortly after, the family moved to Crosby, N.D., and he began construction of the Golden Wheel Motel and Restaurant. It was truly a family-run business with everyone having a job, whether it was checking people in to the motel or doing cleaning and laundry. Although he and Linda later divorced, the girls would spend summers in Montana with their dad traveling to many places with family and friends. Some favorite places for them were Glacier Park, as they passed through when driving to Plentywood and Disneyland.

In the ‘80s, he started his business, Larsen Vending, and continued working many long hours and days until his retirement. While visiting his brother, Orville in California, he met Karla and, on Nov. 11, 2021, they were married and he became step-father to her children, Brittnee, Kaelianna and Jonas.

He loved to travel and was able to see almost the entire world, going to Australia, Vietnam and England. He loved to take the children, including nieces Jill and Jan and nephew Jay, to fairs and there isn’t a fair in Montana, North Dakota or Saskatchewan that they didn’t attend. Cruises, though, were his favorite way to travel and he saw most of the world this way. He loved the Fourth of July and lighting fireworks for all of the children, even letting them do the honors occasionally. He loved to golf and fish. Most of all, he loved spending time with family and friends, inviting everyone to come and stay with him for a visit in California. He gave generously to his community, helping many organizations over the years.

He is survived by wife, Karla; daughters, Denise Halverson of Scobey and Shawna Casey of Albuquerque, N.M.; stepchildren, Brittnee Hickman, Kaelianna and Jonas Carrillo; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Vyrion Larsen of Plentywood; sister, Darlene McLaughlin of Tacoma, Wash; and brothers Al Island, Kalispell and Nick of West Point, Utah.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ronnie and Orville Island.

His funeral will be held Thursday, July 21, at 10 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Westby.