Richard A. Groscop

LIVINGSTON - Richard A. Groscop, age 67, of Livingston, passed away peacefully in his home Nov. 11, 2007, after a short battle with lung cancer. His loving wife of 28 years and his close, dear friend Merry Nelson were by his side.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at the Franzen-Davis Funeral Home, 118 N. Third St. in Livingston. Pastor Brian Hopkins of Journey Church in Bozeman will officiate. Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery.

Rich was born on June 11, 1940, in Chicago, to Jake and Betty Groscop. He moved with his family to Beehive, Mont., when he was about 5 years old, and then later to Billings, where he attended school, graduating from Billings Senior High in 1958. Rich had worked as delivery and route salesman for Meadow Gold Dairy, Mustang Beverage, Briggs Distributing, all in Billings. On Nov. 2, 1979, he married Lynda Kellogg Fink and they moved to Livingston in 1980. In Livingston, he worked as a maintenance supervisor for Industrial Towel for a short time, then Livingston Health & Rehabilitation Center and Frontier Assisted Living. His illness forced his retirement in August 2007, although he strongly desired to continue working.

Survivors include his wife, Lynda Groscop of Livingston; two stepsons, Scott (Kim) Fink of Three Forks and Chad (Dana) Fink of Billings; daughter, Nelda (Iggi) Ortega of Winchester, Ore.; stepdaughter, Annette (Ken) Kunda of Belgrade; sister, Peggy (Robert) Kappel of Park City; two brothers, Don (Barb) Groscop of Morton Grove, Ill., and Kurt (Connie) Groscop of Billings; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and numerous aunts and uncles.

Rich was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed going to the lake with his family and friends at their summer home on Canyon Ferry. He will always be remembered for his famous smoked fish. Each year, he would look forward to the annual hunting trips with his brother Don and nephews Pete and Jeff, as well as the hunting trips with his stepson Chad.

Rich was a hardworking and caring person in all aspects of his life. He had many friends whose lives he touched and he will be sorely missed by all. We will miss his kind, sensitive and creative soul. His subtle sense of humor was enjoyed by all the friends who knew him and his contagious smile he had for all. In loving memory of our dear, sweet husband, father, brother, uncle, friend ? you will be missed and loved forever.

A special thank you to nurses and support staff at Livingston Memorial Hospital and Hospice for the care they gave our loved one and helping us with this journey. We also want to extend our sincere appreciation to all our friends and family who had helped in all aspects of his care and support. Memorials may be made to the Livingston HospiceCare, 504 S. 13th St., Livingston, MT 59047.