Richard Love French

Richard Love French, age 85, passed away on Jan. 24 at Kalispell Regional Hospital in Kalispell. He was born Nov. 25, 1927 in Blair, Neb. to Harold and Drusilla (Love) French. He was the oldest of five children raised on the family farm near Blair. He joined the Coast Guard in 1945 and served as a radioman on the Roger B. Taney until 1947. In 1947 he married June A. Porter. They farmed outside Blair, Neb. until 1959. In 1957 Richard and June’s adventuresome spirit drew them to visit Northwest Montana. Later that year they purchased a remote ranch located on the upper Fisher River between Libby and Kalispell. In 1959 they moved lock, stock and barrel to the Wolf Creek Ranch. Even without modern conveniences their hard work and effort turned the ranch into a productive cattle and horse operation. In 1971 Richard and June started building a registered black angus operation known as Clay Creek Angus. Richard was a life member of the American Angus Association and in his family’s opinion, one of the last real cowboys. From 1971 to 1982 they ranched near Hot Springs, Irvine Flats, near Polson, and on the Tongue River near Miles City. After retiring from ranching they owned and operated a motel in Greybull, Wyo. and later lived in Cody and Emblem, Wyo. In 2001 their travels brought them back to Northwest Montana where they reside on Flathead Lake near Dayton.

Richard is survived by his wife June of 66 years along with four children: daughter Billie and husband Roger Murdoch, North Pole, Alaska; son John French and wife Jan, Otis, Oregon; daughter Jackie and husband Mike McCoy, Bigfork; son Jim and wife Lori, Emblem, Wyo. along with grandchildren Nikki Reynolds, North Pole, Alaska; Justin French, Havre; Sally Taylor, Hawaii, Tyler French, Tex.; Levi Harrod, Missoula, Jesse Harrod, Kalispell; Carlissa and Charlie French, Emblem, Wyo. and 10 great-grand children. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Drusilla French and sister Mary Beth Owatta. A memorial service to honor Richard’s life is planned this summer to send him on his last cattle drive. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.