Carol Richter

Carol Anne O'Connell Richter joined the heavenly choir of angels on January 3, 2024.

A graveside funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024, at the Sun River cemetery in Sun River, Montana. A celebration of life is planned in Choteau this summer.

Carol "Candy" was born to Francis and Lois O'Connell in Kalispell, Montana on February 14,1941. She joined an older brother Dennis, surrounded by relatives and friends who all farmed and raised animals in the Lower Valley. When Dennis was little, he was unable to pronounce the name Carol and hence the nickname "Candy." As a child, Candy rode a horse to a one room school in the Lower Valley. The bonds formed in the Lower Valley are a treasured part of the lives of all those who were fortunate enough to have grown up there. She and Dennis would have many adventures while growing up on the family farm. She participated in the Catholic Church, 4-H, dance classes, piano lessons, and loved to swim.

Candy attended High School in Kalispell and was most proud of being a Flathead Brave. She was a baton twirler for the marching band while her best friend Marion played the saxophone. The band would take trips to various parades around the Northwestern portion of the United States. She would often comment that at the end of the parade that her moccasins would have holes in the bottoms. She would have to get a new pair of moccasins after each trip. Candy and Dennis graduated from Flathead High School in 1958. Candy graduated from Flathead High School at the age of seventeen and went on to go to college at Montana State University. While at college, Candy met William "Bill" Richter. Bill was returning to Montana State to finish his master's degree in animal science. Bill was also a pilot with the Montana Air National Guard (MANG). Their relationship blossomed, and they married on September 17, 1960, at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Kalispell, Montana. The couple moved to Jordan, Montana where Bill worked as the Garfield County Extension Agent. Bill continued driving to Great Falls to fly for the MANG. Bill's career transferred him to Butte, Montana where he was the Extension Agent for Silver Bow County. Their first daughter Laurie was born in December 1965. Bill, Candy, and Laurie briefly left the state for San Antonio, Texas where Bill could continue his credentials in flying jets for the Montana Air National Guard.

Bill, Candy, and Laurie returned to Butte, Montana. When they arrived Bill and Candy bought their first home in the Hillcrest Subdivision. Candy loved living in Butte. She liked the energy of the town and loved to eat out at her favorite restaurant Lydia's. While Bill was away flying on the weekends, she would often volunteer to teach swim classes at the YMCA. She would instruct children with special needs. Laurie would also take lessons and then on the way home they would stop at Pork Chop John's on Mercury Street and have a sandwich. A second daughter Leslie was born. Shortly thereafter, Bill's last career move transferred him to the Extension position in Choteau, Montana where their permanent residence began.

Bill and Candy were remarkably busy in Choteau. Bill was working with the Extension Office flying for the MANG and working at his family's ranch in Fort Shaw. This left little time to finish the house. Candy finished as much of the house as she could while raising two active children and being part of the small community. Bill retired from the military after a 20-year career of flying jets.

Candy was active in Choteau from being involved with St. Joseph's Catholic church, a 4-H leader, a cheerleader for her girls' sports and academics, an advocate for the Farm Bureau, and as an alum of Montana State University. Candy managed to open her own school of dance in the basement of her house. She loved teaching tap, ballet, and jazz to the community. After 10 years, she decided to retire from her school but loved keeping in touch with her students.

Bill and Candy enjoyed ranching, traveling to various farm and ranch conferences to advocate for various farm legislation. Never fully retiring from work, they liked to take trips to Arizona and Nevada in the winter with their friends and go camping at Lake Mary Ronan in the summer. They especially loved to stay at their cabin near Columbia Falls. Candy would visit her family and childhood friends. One of her great joys was when her grandson Shea would come and stay with her at the "Treehouse." She would often comment on how that name for the cabin made her laugh. Grandma Candy loved to take Shea for Huckleberry milkshakes, play video games, and take him to his 4-H dog activities.

Candy maintained the properties that she and Bill owned after his passing in 2016. She kept her girls well informed of what she was doing and what friends she was going to see. When her health began to fail, her niece Kelly was able to help her keep her appointments. We are forever grateful for the kindness that Kelly gave her.

Candy is survived by her two daughters, Laurie Sullivan and her husband William Sullivan, Leslie Monarchi and her husband David Monarchi, grandson Shea Sullivan, and Candy's brother Dennis O'Connell along with many nieces and nephews.

Candy was preceded in death by her parents Francis and Lois O'Connell, and her husband of 55 years, William R. Richter.

In lieu of flowers, please donate on behalf of Candy to the Bright Eyes Animal Shelter or the Montana 4-H Foundation.