Richard Charles Dunstan

Richard (Rich) Charles Dunstan

REDMOND, WA - Richard (Rich) Charles Dunstan died peacefully at home, with his loving partner, Heidi, by his side, in Redmond, Washington, on December 27, 2023, after an extended battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. He was born on March 13, 1949 in Butte, MT to Fred and Marjorie Dunstan. The 2nd of 4 children. He attended Webster Garfield grade school, East Junior High and graduated from Butte High School in 1967.

From a young age, he had a fun-loving and ambitious spirit, always coming up with a new invention of some sort, building go-carts with his older brother, Len, and often times having many projects going, tearing things apart just to see how they worked. He would later take that ambition, along with his notoriously positive attitude and pour that into his business ventures, which would prove to be very successful.

He attended Montana State University, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering in 1972. He worked briefly in Butte for a commercial electrical shop before leaving to work for Boeing in Seattle as an electrical engineer. Shortly after working at Boeing, he took a position with Physio-Control, also in the Seattle area. In the early 1980s he left Physio-Control and started Perma-Chink Systems, a small business specializing in numerous products for the log home industry. In the mid-1980s he expanded his business and added Lifeline Stain as well as Stuc-O-Flex, which focused on stucco surfaces for both commercial and residential structures. All three businesses were headquartered out of Redmond, WA, where Rich lived, but spanned across the US in many locations and overseas in Europe, Asia, and Australia.

These businesses proved to be very successful both domestically and internationally. On a trip back to Butte to attend his 10th class reunion, he met a classmate, JoAnne Martin. They married and raised 2 children, Julia and Trevor. They later divorced.

He is survived by his grandchildren: Jessie and Grace. Siblings: Leonard (Sandee) Dunstan, Billings, Montana; Steve (Marsha) Dunstan, Kansas City, Missouri; and Susan (Ken) Stamp, Butte, Montana. Nephews and nieces: Jerrel Storrud, Lauren Trudgeon, Kurtis Stamp, John Hugdahl, Becci Viduarri, and Abbey Wesner and their families.

Also surviving are his longtime girlfriend, Heidi Dillard, her daughters and their families. And lifelong friends, Tony Bracco, Tino Grosso, and many business associates too numerous to mention.

He is preceded in death by his father Fred and mother Marjorie. Tragically both of his children, Julia and Trevor, also preceded him in death.

Services are yet to be determined and will be announced at a later time.