Cover photo for Richard Nordhagen's Obituary
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1929 Richard 2017

Richard Nordhagen

January 3, 1929 — September 22, 2017

Richard (Dick) Harvey Nordhagen, 88, a lifetime resident of Choteau, Montana passed away on September 22, 2017 of natural causes while staying in Utah to be near his children and grand-children.

Dick Nordhagen was born January 3, 1929, to Ole Marinius Nordhagen and Johanne Johansen Nordhagen. Dick was second to the youngest of nine children. When Dick was 9 years old, his father passed away, and he was raised by his loving mother, his kind and caring older sisters, and his older brother, John, who would become the provider for the family.

Dick attended Choteau Elementary School and graduated from Teton County High School. During high school he got a job at the local newspaper office, the Choteau Acantha, working for Millard Bullerdick who later sold the Acantha to the George Coffey family. Dick learned various responsibilities from typesetting to running the printing presses.

Dick met his future wife, Viola Joan Rowley, at a local roller skating rink. They were married April 9, 1955 in Bynum, Montana. They would raise five children, one girl and four boys. Dick loved his family. He enjoyed spending time playing with his kids, teaching them how to play sports, how to fish and how to work with him.

Dick became the owner and publisher of the Choteau Acantha when the Coffey family sold the Acantha to him in 1960. Dick greatly valued the many people that worked for him through the years and was especially thankful to Don LaBaugh, Jeanette "Tootie" Rasmussen, Toni Christman and Ethel Blakesly.

Dick had a love for sports. He played town basketball, softball, bowled and even took up golf after he retired. He was active in serving in the community. He was a volunteer fireman. He served as a member of the Lions Club and was a long time member of the Chamber of Commerce. He also served four years as the Bishop of the local LDS ward. He had a great love for the town of Choteau and was always very proud of his Norwegian heritage.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, brothers John, Robert, Donald, and sisters, Ellen Nesbit, Esther Morris, Harriet Shelmerdine, and Bertha Shelmerdine.

Dick is survived by his wife, Joan; daughter, JoAnn (Tevita) Salakielu of Honolulu, HI; sons, Richard (Nancy) of Sandy, UT; Robert (Jackie) of Boca Raton, FL; Roger of Sandy, UT; Ron (Maria) of Pleasant Grove, UT; eighteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and one brother Raymond (Beverly) of Missoula, MT.

A public viewing will be held starting a 10:00 AM followed by funeral services at 11:00 AM at the LDS Church in Choteau on Friday September 29th.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Nordhagen, please visit our flower store.

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