Richard
Leslie “Dick” Potter, age 74, a former Shelby businessman, passed away
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Marias Medical Center in
Shelby due to natural causes. Visitation will be
1-8 p.m., Sunday at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby .
Funeral services will be
2 p.m., Monday, May 12th at the Whitted Funeral Chapel
with a reception to follow at the Shelby Elk’s Lodge.
Entombment will be 2 p.m., Tuesday at
Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Mausoleum in Great Falls .
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Shelby Elk’s Lodge
No. 1696.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Mary Ann of Shelby; his four children, Peggy Lee (Daniel) Decker, Penny Rae (Kirby) Underdahl, John Leslie (Amy) Potter and Jana Jo Richards; ten grandchildren, Andrew Don Decker, Darby LouAnn Decker, Joren (Nancy) Underdahl, Kirsten (Kyle) Kearns, Amy Ann Underdahl, Dominique Jo Underdahl, Courtney Ann Potter, Rose Naomi Potter, Jacob Leslie Richards and Jordan Elizabeth-Ann Richards as well as his five great-grandchildren, Hunter and Abbey Underdahl and Lauren, Layne and Kade Kearns. He is also survived by a sister, Evelyn Dorothy Fagg and a brother, Melvin Wilbur Potter as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews.
He was born January 8, 1934 at Cresbard , S.D. to Leslie Earl and Dorothy (Bent) Potter. He received his elementary education in Aberdeen , S.D. and San Jose , CA . He graduated from Central High School in Aberdeen , S.D. and attended Aberdeen Northern State Teachers College in accounting and architectural engineering. He came to Montana and worked for the Montana Forest Service and later was employed in the accounting department of International Harvester Company in Great Falls , Montana . Being interested in sales, he became a truck and equipment representative for IHC covering several districts in Montana .
He married Mary Ann Mital on November 22, 1953 in Great Falls .
He retired from the IHC and was an insurance agent before going on to manage the IHC Truck and Equipment in Miles City, Montana.
The family moved to Shelby in 1969 where they owned and operated the O’Haire Manor Motel and the Rainbow Hotel. He sold these interests and purchased the Shelby Rainbow Ford-Mercury car/truck dealership. He later sold the dealership due to health issues.
Richard was a baptized Methodist. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves from 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1970. He was a member and served as President of the Shelby Chamber of Commerce, Shelby Merchants Committee and served as a Shelby City Councilman. He was also a member of the U.S. Highway 2 Association, Montana Innkeepers Association, National and Montana Auto Dealers Association and a life long member of the Elks Lodge.
He enjoyed hunting pheasant and wild turkey. He was also an avid collector of western bronzes and Jim Beam bottles. He loved automobiles and designing, renovating and building structures. He had a master mind in architectural design and mathematics. His greatest passion however, was the love of his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Delmar Earl and Donald LeRoy Potter and an infant grandson, Brady Gerald Decker.