Charles F. Bick
CHARLO — Charles F. Bick of Charlo died suddenly at the family home near Charlo on Nov. 3, 2005.
He was born Aug. 8, 1921, at Broadview to Clarence and Evelyn Pierce Bick, the oldest of nine children. The family moved to Creston when he was 10 years old and came to the Mission Valley in 1934.
Charles graduated from Ronan High School in 1939 and that year he and Neil Bratton won the state 4-H demonstration contest and a trip to the World's Fair in San Francisco, where they won scholarships to Montana State College.
As part of the Advanced ROTC group from there he went on to serve in WWII with the 75th Infantry Division from the Battle of the Bulge until the end of the war. He was awarded the Bronze Star at the Battle of Colmar.
He returned to MSC to graduate with a degree in dairy production and went on to dairy at Pablo and Charlo until 1974 when he sold the dairy and began raising Arabian horses. For the past 17 years he loved raising roses, some to show but most to give away to friends and whoever appreciated them.
Charles was something of a pioneer to more modern agriculture as a charter member and first president of the Mission Valley Chapter of FFA as well as the first to earn the State Farmer Degree from that chapter. He was also the first to receive recognition as the Outstanding Young Farmer of Lake County in 1954.
He served on the Farm Home Administration Board of Directors, MSU Dairy Advisory Board and various other agriculture related groups.
He had a keen interest in young people and was a 4-H leader for over 20 years, a Sunday school teacher and in later years enjoyed being part of the Grandparent Volunteer Reading Program at Charlo Schools. His greatest joy was his children and grandchildren.
Charles married Delores Salomon of Pablo in 1952. Surviving are his wife Delores at the family home; four sons, Don (Kristy) of Worden, Wally (Kelly) of Charlo, Rich (LuJuana) of Missoula and Rob (Caralyn) of Rocky Point, N.C.; two daughters, Theresa (Ralph) Johnston of Ashley Lake, and Barbie (Vern) Stipe of Moiese; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; five brothers, Ralph of Midway, B.C., Arthur of Charlo, Herb of Ronan, Ray of Ely, Nevada, and Bill of St. Ignatius; sister Clara Miller of Ronan, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents Clarence and Evelyn Bick, brother Robert and sister, Wilma, who died as infants, and two granddaughters.
Funeral services were held Nov. 7 at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Polson. Military graveside rites were held at Mountain View Cemetery, Ronan.
The family requests that memorials be made to the New Hymnal Fund at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ronan.