Rick Wiedeman, age 64 of East Helena (2024)

May 14, 1960 – August 2, 2024

At noon on August 2^nd, 2024 Rick passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his wife and children. Rick was 64 years young, and had bravely fought for a year and half against Pancreatic Cancer.

Rick was born in Malta, MT on May 14^th, 1960 to Arthur Wiedeman Jr. and Kathy Wiedeman. He was the third child and only son.

Rick and family moved to Cut Bank, MT where he resided all through his childhood, with a close-knit group of kids riding bikes, playing on the banks of Cut Bank Creek until the sun went down and mom’s called kids in for dinner. Rick attended Cut Bank Schools from kindergarten through his graduation in 1978 from Cut Bank High. He golfed and played basketball and football for the Cut Bank Wolves. After graduation, Rick attended Montana State University in Bozeman, MT where he met his future wife, Terry Weller. While still in college, Rick and Terry were married in Stanford, MT on September 3^rd, 1983. Rick graduated from MSU with a BS in Finance, and a minor in Economics. After graduation in 1984, Rick’s first job took him and Terry to Nevada where they welcomed their first child, Brittany in September of 1985. Rick worked 4 years in Nevada and Arizona, waiting for an opportunity to get back to his beloved Montana. The family moved to Missoula, MT in 1988, and shortly thereafter, Rick took a job at Ronan State Bank in Ronan, MT. It is there where Cassandra was born in January 1991 and Tyler in October 1992, making their family complete. As a banker in Ronan, Rick was involved in many civic organizations, but the one he was most proud of was being a founding member of the first YMCA to serve the Mission Valley.

After establishing and opening a branch of Ronan State Bank in Pablo, MT, Rick went on to open branches for several other banks. This included First Boulder Valley Bank-Montana City Branch, First Community Bank-Three Forks Branch and First Community Bank-Helena Branch where he finished his banking career and retired in 2015.

Rick’s love of sports and family meshed where he was able to be involved in his children’s activities and sporting endeavors. Whether it was coaching from the crowd, or coaching on the field or court, he always was encouraging his children to do their best and just have fun! He coached Small Fry Football, and numerous travelling basketball teams.

Rick’s hobbies and pastimes included riding his treasured Harley Davidson Motorcycle with his close friends and his wife. His most memorable trip was a month-long ride with Terry immediately following his retirement, to California and up the Pacific Coast Highway. He loved flyfishing domestically and internationally, almost always with his Uncle Paul, and often including other friends. Rick enjoyed golfing, rafting, ATV rides, and Casinos because “Life is a gamble,” after all. Rick was an involved Mason, Shriner, and Jester. He thoroughly enjoyed his time spent as a MOA Basketball Referee, which he did up until his diagnosis in April of 2023. Of all these pastimes, nothing was more important to him than time spent camping, playing cards and travelling the world with his wife and children. Rick felt spending time with his adult children was like visiting the best parts of his life.

Rick was preceded in death by: his parents Arthur Wiedeman, Jr. and Kathy Wright, his sisters Kari Wiedeman and Karla Dean.

Rick is survived by his wife Terry of the family home in East Helena, MT, daughter Brittany Wiedeman of East Helena, MT, daughter Cassandra (Nick) Kutzko of Bozeman, MT, son Tyler Wiedeman of Bozeman, MT and their beloved puppy, Jackpot. Rick is also survived by his Uncle Paul Wiedeman of Dillon.

Services for Rick will be held Saturday, August 10^th at 11am at Anderson Stevenson Wilke & Retz Funeral Home, 3750 N Montana Ave., Helena, MT 59602. Donations may be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital. Please go to www.aswfuneralhome.com for additional information.