Richard Orton, 75

Richard Clarence Orton passed from this life on May 15, with his daughter, Cynthia Dragon Fly, by his side at St Joseph’s Hospital in Polson.

He was born March 20, 1950, to Margaret Joscum and William Orton in St Ignatius. He said his family was a “victim” of the BIA Relocation Program when they were sent to live in California, where they spent the majority of his younger years.

Around the young age of 16, he left home to start a life of his own, working various jobs, which took him to many different states. He served in the military, although he seldom talked about this time in his life or his military service, and little is known of his military experiences. As a veteran, he had a deep respect and admiration for those who served and often collected medals; it upset him that these precious objects would end up in secondhand stores and pawn shops.

As a young man, in his 20s, he returned to his home reservation in Montana and became acquainted with those individuals who mentored him in not only “working in the woods,” but in political discourse. Among those was Tom “Satch” McDonald, who inspired him and he became active in social justice and environmental issues, along with becoming acquainted with his tribal history and government.

Like many other outspoken, passionate, intelligent adults and “free thinkers,” he was a frequent patron of Missoula’s Eddy’s Club, which at that time was the hub of many political and social discussions.

Later in life, he found his passion for working with nature working as a forester for both the Tribes and state and firefighting, with his last occupation as Fire Safety Officer for CSKT Tribal Forestry/Fire Control. Due to his health, he was forced to retire, but he would often recount different fires he had been on in numerous states and his experiences.

Richard was intelligent and an avid reader. He loved to learn about people, places and things, but he especially liked “lecturing” the rest of us. He was fondly known as Dr. Science by some of the younger people in his life and as he would give them long, detailed lectures about various subjects. It was almost impossible for him to give you a simple answer to anything.

He was also artistic and creative and enjoyed collecting things. He denied he was a hoarder and had a sign on his wall that states, “It’s not hoarding if it’s good shit.” However, many of the rest of us would disagree with that. Sorry, Richard.

He was also a private and solitary man, taking off-grid living to the extreme in his humble abode.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret, who he lost at a very young age, and his father and a son, Richard Johnson, as well as siblings Carl, Dennis and William Robert Orton, Patrick Lozeau and Christina and Victoria Lozeau. He is survived by his sister, Rita Long Jaw of Northern Cheyenne, daughter Cynthia Dragon Fly of St Ignatius, eight grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and cousins Clarence, Richard and Russell Hunter.

As per Richard’s request, he was cremated, and his ashes will be spread over a forest fire this summer. There will be a memorial in his honor at 2 p.m. July 26 at Leon Hall (near Post Creek/St Ignatius). He wanted this to be a time of music, food, laughter and sharing. Bring your musical instruments, stories, food and pictures to share, as well as your own refreshments.