Richard (Dick) Carter O'Leary, Sr.

On August 29, 2021, our Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Uncle, Brother, and Friend passed away surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and loved ones. The last days of his long, well lived life were filled with tears, laughter and exchanges of fond memories and stories.

Dick was born to Lucille Carter O'Leary and Ralph Sheridan O'Leary on October 13, 1932, in Butte, MT.   Shortly after his birth, he moved to Helena and lived on his family's ranch until the age of 7. The family then returned to Butte where Lucille began her career at Montana Abstract & Title Co.

Growing up in Butte, Dick attended Butte High School before joining the Air Force. While in the Air Force, he furthered his love of boxing and earned his golden gloves, winning the Golden Gloves Boxing Championship in New Mexico in 1952. Dick left the Air Force later that year on medical discharge and returned to Butte. He later attended the University of Montana, the University of Arizona, and Montana Tech before beginning his lifelong career at the still family-owned Montana Abstract & Title Co.

Dick married Patricia Ruth Nulty on September 18, 1952, and they would have celebrated their 69 ^th anniversary this month. The first time Dick saw Patty Nulty at a local dance he told his lifelong friend, Bob Bennie, that she was the girl he was going to marry. He loved Patty fiercely and took great pride in taking care of her. He carried her lipstick in his pocket for nearly 69 years, and he spent much of his last days singing self-composed love songs to her from his hospital bed. They lived a full life together, constantly dancing, traveling the world, connecting with their beloved lifelong friends, skiing, golfing, and enjoying their children, grandchildren, and great grand children's activities and events.

Dick was a talented and intensely competitive racquetball player. He convinced most of his children and grandchildren to play with him once, but most left defeated and sometimes slightly injured, and usually declined a second invitation to play. Dick was an avid snowmobile racer in his younger days. He and his sons spent many weekends racing. He also passed on a love of snow skiing to his family through countless Big Sky ski trips, with a condo always packed full of grandkids.

Dick was a very active member of the Butte community throughout his life. He was instrumental in the founding of Mile High Little League, where he was a longtime coach and sponsor. He was often found still "coaching" from the sidelines at his grandchildren and great grandchildren's activities. He was a longtime member of the Exchange Club, The Elks Club, Butte Country Club, American Legion, and the Jay Cees.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille and Ralph, his infant sister Mary, his son Richard Carter O'Leary II, his great grandson Will Hollow, his sisters-in-law Therese Nulty, Rita Lewin, and Mary Blastek.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Patty, his children and their spouses, Dick O'Leary III (Carolyn), Randy O'Leary (Pam), Mike O'Leary (Denise), Greg O'Leary (Kerry), Kate Hollow (Bill); his grandchildren, Chad O'Leary, Matthew O'Leary (Jessi), Ryan O'Leary, Eric O'Leary, Sean O'Leary, Haley O'Leary, Mandy Kelly (JB), Steven O'Leary (Jamie), Kilian O'Leary, Carrick O'Leary, Lucy O'Leary, Kyle Hollow (Kelli), Shauna Hollow (Steve), Colin Hollow(Lexi), and Cal Hollow; his great grandchildren, Gavin O'Leary, Declan O'Leary, Treigh, Will, Harper and Mack Hollow, Cam, Margo and Cy Nicholls, Beckett and Isabelle O'Leary and one more on the way. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Gerald and PJ Nulty, sisters-in-law, Lila Foster and Elizabeth Carroll, his O'Leary and Carter cousins, and Patty's extended family both here and in Ireland.

He loved his Notre Dame football much to the dismay of his grandsons, his special Hennessey cocktail (the recipe to which he made sure to share in his final moments), his dancing shoes, his QVC and cooking, his friendships that he nurtured and cherished from childhood, and his family who he lived for and loved so dearly. He was famous for his quote "Family over everything" and he truly lived by that.

"Take time to work, it is the price of success. Take time to think, it is the source of power. Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth. Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom. Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness. Take time to love and to be loved, it is the privilege of the gods. Take time to share, life is too short to be selfish. Take time to laugh, laughter is the music of the soul."

Private family services are being held and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The family requests memorials to the Butte Food Bank, Shriner's Children Hospital JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Peutz-Jeghers Disorder Research), or a charity of the donor's choice.