Obituaries

Richard Lee Davis, 96, Oakland, Ore., died Monday, March 3, 2014, in Oakland.
A funeral service was Monday, March 10, at First Presbyterian Church in Helena. Burial followed at Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Ft. Harrison, Mont., with full military rites.
Richard Davis was born Feb. 10, 1918, to Walter and Emma (Garnjobst) Davis on the family farm near Crofton, Neb. 
On Dec. 21, 1941, he married Mary Avery. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on May 16, 1942. He participated in the North African and Italy campaigns as part of the ground crew of the 15th AAF P-51 Mustang Group. His fighter group was the first successful fighter group to fly the historic Italy to Russia shuttle mission. He was honorably discharged at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin on Aug. 28, 1945, after his distinguished service in the Mediterranean Theatre.
After his service the family lived in Yankton, S.D., until 1950 and in Sioux Falls, S.D., until 1955. They then moved to a farm near Beaver Creek where they raised their five children. They moved to East Helena, Mont., in 1983. While running the family farm, he also worked at John Morrell and Co. for 25 years. 
Richard was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver Creek, and later in Helena. Richard and Mary raised quarter horses, and later raised miniature horses that they showed until the mid-2000s. He enjoyed gardening and spending time outdoors.  
Richard is survived by five children, Richard (LuAnn) Davis Jr., Rockford, Ill., William (Robby) Davis, Hobson, Mont., Susan (Larry) McAnally, East Helena, Nancy (Duane) Stutz, Oakland, Ore., and Sheila (Jeff) Benson, Raymond, Calif., 17 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.  
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Davis, on Nov. 30, 2009; two grandchildren; and four siblings, Virginia Hohlfield, Donald Davis, Bill Davis and Vern Davis. 
 
Arrangements were by Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home of Helena, www.helenafuneralhome.com.