May God bless you and your...
Dick was a terrific mentor, scholar, and friend. He supported his students enthusiastically. I was lucky enough to have him direct my dissertation. Rest in peace, Dick.
Cheryl Foote
February 03, 2026 | School


Durango, Colorado
1939 - 2025
Richard N. "Dick" Ellis, born in 1939 in Brooklyn, New York, passed away peacefully on December 16, 2025, in Stevensville, Montana. A distinguished historian, teacher, and scholar of the American Southwest, Dick devoted his professional life to understanding, documenting, and honoring the...
Read MoreDick was a terrific mentor, scholar, and friend. He supported his students enthusiastically. I was lucky enough to have him direct my dissertation. Rest in peace, Dick.
Cheryl Foote
February 03, 2026 | School

Working with Dick was always an adventure... on the trail in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico. He always offered valuable insights unselfishly.
Andy Masich
February 03, 2026
Dr. Ellis was a great mentor. I started FLC in 1986 and graduated. Thank you.
Sandra
January 22, 2026
Dick was a good addition to the FLC staff/faculty and another of Joel Jones' 'recruits' from UNM. I enjoyed working with Dick and quickly learned how intelligent he was. You had a great life my friend and I consider it an honor to have known you. I envy that your final days were spent in the great state of Montana--still a 'true state' that adheres to Western heritage. RIP Dick.
Harlan Steinle
January 21, 2026 | Work
Dr. Ellis was a mentor for me at Fort Lewis College and he recruited me to move to Durango and attend school there. I was a SW Studies student and did my senior research paper under his guidance. He was a gentle soul and top notch research scholar and cherished faculty. His love for the American Southwest will forever be remembered. Thank you for all you did for me and the SW. A life well lived!
Craig E.
January 21, 2026 | School