Richard Frye

Funeral services for Richard Alan Frye, 67, formerly of Ekalaka will be 11:00 a. m. Monday, May 20, 2013 at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Burial will be in the Beaver Lodge Cemetery following the service. Military Rites will be by the Ekalaka American Legion. Prayer service will be at 4:00 p. m. Sunday, May 19, 2013 at the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Richard passed away peacefully in his sleep May 14, 2013 at Hot Springs, SD. Richard Frye was born June 14th, 1945 to parents, Glenn and Ethel Frye at Baker, Montana. His father was away serving in the Army during World War II at the time of his birth. Rick spent most of his childhood in the Ekalaka area on the family farm/ranch. He attended schools at Spring Valley and Ekalaka Grade School and Carter County High School. He graduated from high school in 1963 and then went into the Navy and served for four years during the Vietnam War. After he was honorably discharged he attended college in Washington and Eastern Montana College. He taught grade school for many years in Ekalaka and also coached in the junior high basketball program. In the off seasons, Rick operated a successful greenhouse in Ekalaka. He married Leanne Taylor, who was also teaching in the Ekalaka Grade School. They moved to Roy, Montana and later Culbertson where they taught in the schools there and then commuted to Poplar where he finished his teaching career. Their sons were born during this time; Matthew and Michael. The couple later divorced. Rick loved music. He played guitar, banjo, and steel guitar in the family band during the 70’s and 80’s. He also loved to coach basketball and enjoyed playing golf with his boys. He was quite a competitor when it came to ping pong, horseshoes, and playing cards. After retiring from teaching he attended barber school and opened up a barber shop in Williston, ND. He retired and moved to Ekalaka in 2011 and lived with his mother until her death. Then he moved to various locations in South Dakota where he was able to visit with his son Matthew, daughter-in-law Katie, and new grandson Calvin. Rick loved his family and was so proud of his boys. Matthew graduated from pharmacy school and Michael is very successful as a golfer and made it to the PGA Championship in 2012. He is survived by his children; Michael (Hadley) Frye and Matthew (Katie) Frye; grandson Calvin; two sisters, Rene Labree (Jordan) and Betty Cline (Jerry); one brother Bill (Cathy) Frye and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Ethel Frye; and a brother, John Michael Frye. In Lou of flowers memorials may be given to the Frye Memorial Scholarship Fund.


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Burial Date: May 20, 2013
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Monday: Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT