Richard “Dick” Simonton, age 73 of Glendive, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at his home in Glendive.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, January 1, 2018 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Francis Schreiber officiating. Rite of Committal will follow in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Dick was born on July 7, 1944 in Wahpeton, N.D. to Arnold and Marion (Benroth) Simonton. As a young child the family lived in Hankinson, N.D. before moving to Fargo, N.D., where Dick received his early education. Early on in life, Dick had decided to spend his life as a priest, so he moved to Richardton, N.D. where he received his high school education at Assumption Abbey and graduated in 1962; once Dick discovered girls, however, he decided to serve the people. He continued his education at Dawson Community College in Glendive for two years before transferring to North Dakota State University in Fargo where he received a Bachelor’s of Science. After college, Dick still wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life so he enlisted in the Peace Corps and spent the next two years in Ghana, Africa. Upon his return to the United States, Dick was in Missoula, Mont. and, on a whim, applied to the University of Montana School of Law and was accepted on-the-spot. Following his graduation, Dick moved to Glendive and started working for McDonough and Cox law offices where he later became a partner. Dick also served as the Dawson County Attorney for several years and had his own law practice before being appointed the District 7 Judge in Dawson County. During this time he also worked on several cases with the Montana Supreme Court. Dick formally retired in July of 2017 after 19 years of service, but continued working until November 2017 to finish his cases.
Dick enjoyed working, dedicating his time to practicing law and serving the people of eastern Montana. He was an avid baseball fan, always cheering for the New York Yankees. Some of his fondest memories were traveling with family and friends to Whidbey Island in Washington state and the summer vacations that they took as a family, which included several judicial conferences (some of their favorites).
Dick was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Connie Carpani (survived by John) and Mary Kay Shaver; two brothers-in-law, Bob McLain and Arnie Ames.
Dick is survived by his former wife and friend, LaNette Simonton of Glendive; their two sons, Eric (Jessica) Simonton of Billings and Mark Simonton of Seattle, Wash.; one brother, Jim (Karon) Simonton of Roosevelt, Utah; several in-laws; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.