Richard Harold Schultz

1932 - 2025

Richard (Dick) Harold Schultz (age 93) of Reese Creek, Montana passed away October 13, 2025, with his children at his side, sharing love and levity to the end. Maya Angelou said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." That quote is relevant to Dick because he was also a poet at heart, and you never forgot how "Limerick Dick" made you feel. His mind was a steel trap for poems, ditties, songs and one-liners from which he could share spontaneously to anyone present. That talent, combined with a rumbling chuckle and zestful twinkle in his eye, made it impossible not to feel welcomed and loved. He lifted the spirits of everyone in the room, and we honor him by carrying forward a piece of his infectious light-heartedness. Below are the facts of his life, but anyone who met him knows the facts do not tell the whole story. He was a special man who always made you feel better.

Born March 3, 1932, on the Schultz homestead in Washington County, Minnesota to Joseph and Alice (Thorene) Schultz, he was raised on dairy farms in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, eventually graduating from River Falls High School (Wisconsin). He served in the US Navy during the Korean conflict concurrently meeting and marrying Phyllis Ann Jensen of Oakland, California on February 12, 1954. Dick and Phyllis returned to the farming community of River Falls, Wisconsin for two years before Dick started college, eventually earning degrees of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (1961) and a PhD in Veterinary Obstetrics and Biochemistry (1966) from the University of Minnesota. Dick stayed on at the university in a teaching and research capacity focused on the fields of large animal health and reproduction. In 1973, Dick left the university to work with a small private start-up firm developing new science and markets for exotic cattle genetics and commercial-scale cattle embryo transfer. In 1976, he and Phyllis moved to Wilmington, Delaware where Dick began his next career chapter in the animal health pharmaceutical industry, eventually leading research teams at three large international pharmaceutical companies, concluding with early retirement in 1993 as Vice-president of Research and Development at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. in St. Joseph, Missouri. He and Phyllis then moved to the Reese Creek, Montana community where they built their retirement home and launched a consulting business advising pharmaceutical companies. They resided in the Reese Creek area until COVID necessitated their move to the Hillcrest care community in Bozeman.

Dick and Phyllis loved to travel, taking over 15 international trips to many parts of the world including a year-long job and home exchange with a Norwegian veterinarian/family affiliated with the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway. These travels were especially inspiring for the educational discoveries and close relationships developed with the folks they met along the way, with the time spent in Norway being particularly enriching to the whole family.

Dick fully embraced his Christian faith throughout his life including many years at the Springhill Presbyterian Church Legacy Site where he served in leadership roles helping with the church growth and building expansion, acting as emcee and entertainment for church auctions, and doing all things necessary to maintain the church grounds. He was always engaged with some professional or civic group including, but not limited to: Intl. Embryo Transfer Org, Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc., Jaycees, Lions, Reese Creek Vol. Fire Dept., Quilts of Valor, and Meals on Wheels. Most recently, Dick was especially gratified of his 14 years and 14,000 hours volunteering at the Bozeman Health hospital as escort and information desk attendant. He loved to say that he spent his time there "either pushing people around or telling them where to go."

Dick is predeceased by his spouse, Phyllis; daughter, Patricia Rogowski; brother, Bill Schultz. He is survived by daughter, Nancy Schultz (John Eckfeldt); son, Robert Schultz (Mary Ellen); son, Dan (Lisa); grandchildren, Jason Rogowski (Brittney), Jenna DeMilio (Dan), Erik Schultz, Sydney Schultz; and great-grandchildren, Cole Rogowski, Hudson Rogowski, Jackson DeMilio, Isabella DeMilio, and Reese DeMilio; brothers, Dennis Schultz (Sandy); and Joel Schultz (Joanne); brother-in-law, Barry Jensen; sister-in-law, Gloria Schultz.

A gathering honoring Dick's life will be at Rush Creek Golf Club, 7801 Cnty Rd 101, Maple Grove, MN on December 20 from 2 pm to 5 pm. There will be an informal gathering with a program that gives tribute to Dick's ability to lift everyone's spirit from now to the end of time. Another gathering will be held in Montana and will be announced at a later date.

Memorials in Dick's name can be made to University of Minnesota Veterinary College scholarship program (https://vetmed.umn.edu/giving#:~:text=Donate%20to%20our%20scholarships%20and%20fellowships) or to a charity of your choosing.

Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com