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Richard Lawerence “Dick” Todd

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Birth	:	25 Mar 1923 Ennis, Madison County, Montana, USA
Death	:	1 Nov 2017 Sheridan, Madison County, Montana, USA
Burial	:	Sheridan Cemetery, Sheridan, Madison County, USA
Coordinate	:	45.4342003, -112.1781006
Description	:	Richard "Dick" Lawerence Todd passed away on Wednesday, 1 November 2017, in the Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center, in Sheridan, Montana. Dick was born at his family's home on Moore’s Creek, near Ennis, Montana, on Sunday, 25 March 1923, to Lennie and Mary (Edwards) Todd. He and his siblings rode horseback three-and-a-half miles--"the way the crow flies"--to school for twelve years since the school bus didn’t go as far as the ranch. They were the last kids to ride horseback to school and rode over the property which became the golf course. Dick graduated from Ennis High... Read More	Richard "Dick" Lawerence Todd passed away on Wednesday, 1 November 2017, in the Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center, in Sheridan, Montana. Dick was born at his family's home on Moore’s Creek, near Ennis, Montana, on Sunday, 25 March 1923, to Lennie and Mary (Edwards) Todd. He and his siblings rode horseback three-and-a-half miles--"the way the crow flies"--to school for twelve years since the school bus didn’t go as far as the ranch. They were the last kids to ride horseback to school and rode over the property which became the golf course. Dick graduated from Ennis High School in 1941, then attended Montana Normal College (nka the University of Montana), in Dillon for two years. He rode his horse, Dempsey, from Ennis to Dillon, and figured the trip over the mountains would "take the buck out of him", which it did. The head of the registrar's office at that time, Georgia Mathews, was unimpressed when Dick rode Dempsey up the steps of the Main Hall and through its double doorways. She didn’t say it, but by the look Georgia gave Dick, he knew he’d better get Dempsey out of there fast--which he did. In those days, Spring Break was not the time to party; rather, it gave Dick time to ride Dempsey back to Ennis and go to work. During his first year of college, Dick lived in Mrs. Brown’s boarding house and worked as a "pearl diver" (aka dishwasher). Two days a week, Mrs. Brown held a banquet for the Kiwanis and Rotary clubs which meant that, on those days, Dick and the other eight to ten regular boarders handwashed dishes for twenty to twenty-five people. Dick milked a cow as payment for his room and "pearl dived" for his board. One semester of college in Dillon cost less than $50.00 dollars so to pay for his tuition, Dick put up hay during one summer which paid $3.00 a day. By summer's end, he'd earned $87.00 for 29 days. In the Fall of 1942, Dick drove the school bus from the Diamond O Ranch, milked cows and fed a stallion to earn his tuition. By 1944, however, life took another turn. The country was involved in WWII and Dick left college to join the Army. He volunteered for jump school in Fort Benning, Georgia, but wound up in a four-week jump school on Dog Island, Florida. Eventually, Dick became a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne but, before he could finish the nine-week communications school that followed jump-school, he wound up in the infirmary with a severe case of the mumps. It was while he was there that the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb which helped end the War. Dick said, upon learning it was his division that had "jumped" on Japan, that he'd felt rather blessed to have been in the hospital at the time. In the days following WWII's end, Dick got stationed near Sendai, Honshu, Japan where he was a quartermaster in charge of perishable supplies during the occupation. He was honorably discharged from service on Wednesday, 13 November 1946. His military decorations and citations included the Army of Occupation medal, Asiatic Pacific Service medal, Good Conduct medal, and the Victory medal. A year later, on Sunday, 23 November 1947, Dick married the former Dorothy "Polly" Clark LaDue, whom he had met years earlier when their families did some horse trading. The newlyweds set up housekeeping in the bunkhouse on Dick's family's ranch for the first six months of their marriage. Then they had an opportunity to buy 160 acres in Ruby Valley, near Sheridan. Dick and Polly leapt at the chance. Soon their routine included caring for sheep, cows and horses and a second job for Dick, who drove the Sheridan school bus that helped make ends meet. It was a job he would keep for the next nineteen years. Dick was also a long-time rancher in Madison County and belonged to the Montana Stockgrowers. He was a member of Robb Creek and Three Forks Grazing Associations, grazed in the Sweetwater Basin, had a Saginaw Forest permit, was member of the Three Forks Grazing Associations, and a charter member of the Big Hole Grazing Association. He also served on the Ruby River Water Users board for many years; was a fifty-three-year member of Anderson-Simpson American Legion Post 89, as well as a member of Oddfellows, Madison Valley History Association, and the NAPA Auto Parts coffee club. Left to cherish Dick's memory are his wife of nearly seventy years, Polly Todd, of Sheridan, Montana; their children, Ty Todd; Terry (Julie) Todd; Neil (Joanne) Todd; and Tammy Todd; Julie (Todd) Malesich McAlear; and Nat (Melony) Todd, of Waco, Texas. Also surviving Dick are his sister-in-law, Zoe Todd, of Ennis, Montana; twenty-three grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; along with numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Dick was predeceased by his siblings, Dan Todd, Gene Todd, Jack Todd, Joe Todd, and Virginia (Todd) Rainville; plus grandchildren, Brooks Todd, Ryan Todd and Sarah Todd. Dick's family extends a special "thank you" to Dr. Roman Hendrickson and the entire staff at the Tobacco Root Mountains Care Center. Cremation has taken place in accordance with Dick's request at the K & L Crematorium. His life will be celebrated at 10 A.M., on Sunday, 12 November 2017, in the "old" Sheridan High School gymnasium, followed by military honors in the Sheridan Cemetery and a reception thereafter, at the Bethany Hall. The Montana Standard newspaper published another obit on 6 November 2017. /// NOTE: Montana birth records state Richard's middle name is spelled as "Laurence", though his draft card was written in his own hand and spelled as "Lawerence".

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Richard Lawerence “Dick” Todd's memorial?
Richard Lawerence “Dick” Todd's memorial is located at: Sheridan Cemetery, Sheridan, Madison County, USA.
When did Richard Lawerence “Dick” Todd death?
Richard Lawerence “Dick” Todd death on 1 Nov 2017 in Sheridan, Madison County, Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Richard Lawerence “Dick” Todd's memorial?
Latitude: 45.4342003
Longitude: -112.1781006

Family Members:

Parent

Lennie Houston Todd

(1888 - 1967)

Mary Virginia Edwards Todd

(1889 - 1986)

Siblings

John Houston Todd

(1914 - 1972)

Isaiah Lacey “Gene” Todd

(1917 - 1967)

Joe Edward Todd

(1928 - 1943)

Dan Houston Todd

(1933 - 1992)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Sheridan Cemetery
Sheridan, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4342003, -112.1781006

2. Laurin Cemetery
Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3574982, -112.1050034

3. Twin Bridges Cemetery
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5304350, -112.3142840

4. Taylor Cemetery
Alder, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3088989, -112.0781021

5. Masonic Cemetery of Twin Bridges
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5423088, -112.3152924

6. Shoshoni Burial Site
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5467000, -112.3563000

7. Point of Rocks Cemetery
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4117012, -112.4428024

8. Nevada City Cemetery
Virginia City, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3105392, -111.9703598

9. Bird Cemetery
Twin Bridges, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.5018000, -112.4483000

10. Boothill Cemetery
Virginia City, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2956009, -111.9480972

11. Virginia City Cemetery
Virginia City, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2971458, -111.9402542

12. Iron Rod Cemetery
Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6474380, -112.3131040

13. Silver Star Cemetery
Silver Star, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6907000, -112.2880000

14. Upper Ruby Cemetery
Burdick Place, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.1517300, -112.1461000

15. Rochester Cemetery
Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6138992, -112.5100021

16. Valley View Cemetery
Pony, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.6580000, -111.8814000

17. McAllister Cemetery
McAllister, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4435000, -111.7421000

18. Fish Creek Cemetery
Whitehall, Jefferson County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7599983, -112.1772003

19. Madison Valley Cemetery
Ennis, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3345370, -111.7050900

20. Reichle Ranch Cemetery
Glen, Beaverhead County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4597100, -112.6738100

21. Haining Cemetery
Beaverhead County, USA
Coordinate: 45.4324989, -112.6832962

22. Daems Vetter Cemetery
Varney, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2377635, -111.7550082

23. Evans Cemetery
Jeffers, Madison County, USA
Coordinate: 45.3451000, -111.6836000

24. Mountain View Cemetery
Dillon, Beaverhead County, USA
Coordinate: 45.2144012, -112.6016998