Richard Joseph Skees

Richard Joseph Skees, known to family and friends as Dick, was born on October 26, 1943, to Agnes and Stanislaus Skees in Orlando, Florida. One of nine children, he was the second oldest after his brother Stanley, followed by Ronald, Reni, Loretta, Fredrick, Michael, Melaine, and Belinda. From an early age, Dick showed remarkable drive, taking his first job selling newspapers to soldiers on an Army base in Texas. After the family returned to Florida, he worked various jobs as a teenager, including one that resulted in the loss of the tip of his right index finger—an injury that was successfully reattached but left the finger slightly bent and partially numb. This same finger later prevented him from enlisting in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War era, despite his lifelong passion for firearms and his reputation as an exceptionally accurate shot.

A physically active and determined young man, Dick played football throughout high school at Bishop Moore, competing on both offense and defense for the small Catholic school’s team. He continued playing in Orlando’s city league and in weekend sandlot games without pads or helmets until the age of 36. After high school, he spent a year in a seminary in upstate Connecticut, aspiring to become a priest and work with young men in boys’ homes or prisons. Ultimately, he returned to Florida, enrolled in college, and began working in construction.

Dick’s four sons—Theron, Derek, Jared, and Brandon—were born in Orlando, where he made it a priority to create lasting memories with them through fishing, hunting, and family projects such as building an airplane in the backyard. At age 24, he founded his own construction company and built his first spec home. In 1981, at the age of 38, he moved his family and business to Columbia Falls, Montana, quickly securing a construction contract and establishing deep roots there.

He met Gayle through Glacier Bank, where his upbeat nature and kind words made him a favorite customer. Their friendship blossomed into romance, and he proposed at McDonald Lake. They married in October 1993, and Dick embraced her three teenagers—Angela, Erik, and Kurtis—blending their families with love, structure, and shared adventures. For the next 33 years, Dick and Gayle worked side by side on their property and toward common goals. He remained in the construction business for 49 years, building homes and commercial projects one at a time with a promise of 40 hours of work per week to his customers. He rarely took more than three days of vacation at a time and did not retire until age 76.

A lifelong member of the NRA, Dick lived with passion, purpose, and strong convictions. Outspoken and politically active, he was a fierce advocate for justice and truth, and a deeply supportive friend. In his final years, he faced cancer with characteristic grace and tenacity, deeply appreciative of Gayle’s devoted care. He lived his love for his family every day.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ronald, son Jared, grandchild Jude Samuell, and niece Ellie Skees. He is survived by his wife Gayle; sons Theron Skees and wife Judy, Derek Skees and wife Ronalee, Brandon Skees and wife Amy, and Jared’s widow Michelle Skees-Vinton; stepchildren Angela McLauchlin and husband Derrick, Erik Einarsson and wife Ying, and Kurtis Samuell and wife Rhiannon; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren soon to be ten; and many nieces and nephews.