Richard Proul

1930 - 2016

Richard P. "Bud" Proul

Helena —Richard Philip Proulx, the first born son of Victor & Bertha (Sangray) Proulx was born on February 10, 1930. He passed peacefully in Helena on November 7, 2016 with his children by his side.

Bud lived life to the fullest, starting with childhood in Great Falls, Augusta and Helena. He attended schools in Helena, and it was in his early grade school years that he met that pretty little girl named Patricia, who eventually would become the love of his life. He continued through high school and into the military.

His military career took him from the National Guard to the Army to the Airforce, where he learned the diesel repair trade. While in the Air Force, he was assigned to such places as Newfoundland, where he made many friends and memories. He would always talk about his time there and remember it fondly.

When he finished his service, he returned to Helena and found that pretty little girl, Patricia Fletcher. They were married in 1960 and that's when they started on their life adventures. He worked construction and other projects, including work on the Canyon Ferry Dam and the Clark Canyon Reservoir. One could say he was a jack of all trades and even stepped into the teaching field where that earned him the nickname "Dr. Diesel". He was pretty fond of that nickname!

In 1978 he moved his family, which at this time included 4 daughters and a son, from Great Falls to Helena and together they opened R&R Diesel Repair. The shop that they built is his lasting legacy and still continues to operate today with his children and grandchildren at the helm. He never really "retired" because he loved coming to the shop on Fridays for lunch, to see his employees and former customers and to make sure that everything was still running smoothly. The smile on his face while there was priceless.

Bud & Pat would travel around the northwest showing off their beloved 1957 Pontiac, and he loved to tell the stories of that car and what it meant to them. He was a member of the Helena Street Rodders and Capital Carriages Car Clubs as well as the Capital City Towing Association and valued the many friendships made while attending shows and club meetings.

He was preceded in death by the one true love of his life, wife Patricia, with whom he spent 55 loving years, his parents, brothers Vic Jr. & Bobby. He leaves behind his children, Patsy (Tasha) & Robert Personette; Larie & John Williams; Rich & Susan Proul; Yvonne & Gary Hufford, and Anita Proul, all of Helena. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. He is also survived by his brother Ronald (Nadene), and sisters Blanche Proulx & Roberta Warf.

The family would like to thank his caregivers at Touchmark, whom he affectionately referred to as his girls and also Big Sky Care Center, especially Kiela (Red) who took such great care of him. We would also like to thank Celeste and the crew at Frontier Hospice for their comfort and care.

Viewing will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 13th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. The Family will be welcoming friends to join them for a prayer service beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Funeral Home Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:10 p.m. on Monday, November 14th at Saint Mary Catholic Community, 1700 Missoula Ave in Helena. Rite of Committal, with Military Honors, will follow the Mass at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. A reception will follow the Rite of Committal at Jorgenson's Restaurant. Memorials in Bud's name are suggested to Frontier Home Health & Hospice, 800 Front St., Helena, MT 59601. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Bud.