Richard Evan Battle

Richard E Battle passed away peaceably on Thursday, April 21 with loved ones by his side. Richard was born on August 23, 1934 in Boston, MA, the eldest child of George and Rose Marie Battle. The family moved to Hamden, CT shortly after where he received his education and graduated from Hamden High School. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1954 and honorably served his Country for 20 years during the Vietnam era as a fireman and gyrocompass tech. Among other duty stations, he served on the USS Tringa, was on the staff of submarine squadron 8 in New London, CT and on the USS Cochrane. He retired in 1974 at his last duty station in Honolulu, HI. While in the service he received a combat action ribbon and Navy unit commendation medal.

In 1969 in Hawaii, he married Kalei Battle. They had one child, Marla-Kay. They later divorced. Upon retirement they moved to Montana where Richard had purchased 10 acres of property in Ponderosa Pines near Clarkson. They lived in Bozeman where his first job was at Pacific Hide and Fur. Later he began working as a maintenance man at the old Bozeman Deaconess and worked there for many years until the new hospital was built. After that, he worked at Montana State University as a custodian and later in the Heating Plant firing boilers. He retired from MSU in 1997.

In 1993 he married his soulmate, Sharon Tordoff Gottsch and they remained married until his death. Upon retirement from MSU they purchased a motor home and traveled around our beautiful country for 7 years returning to Montana in the summers. In 2004 they decided to remain in MT for a while and he was asked to come back to work at the MSU Heating plant where he worked until 2013 when he began to have ill health.

Rick loved hunting and fishing in MT. He also was a trophy bowler and a pool player and loved to watch all sports on television. He loved to talk and will be especially remembered for his knowledge of history. He was always a very proud Veteran. He had a very strong work ethic and could not sit idle for long so he was a jack of all trades for his family and friends.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Cynthia, his brother, Robert and a step-son Tony Gottsch. He is survived by his brother David Battle (Lorraine) and sister-in-law, Barbara Battle in CT. His loving wife, Sharon, his daughter, Marla Schroeder (Bret) of Highland Ranch, CO, step-sons Tim Gottsch (Donna) and Durand Gottsch of Bozeman and a step-daughter Roxane Hagen of Casper, Wy. He will be so missed by his Grandchildren; Madeline Schroeder, Parker Schroeder and Weston Schroeder of CO, step-grandchildren, Bill Pitmon (Natina), Casper WY, Kristina Dolan (Jake), Misti Gottsch, Levi Gottsch, Amanda Dunkin (Andy) and Mike Severson all of Bozeman, Morgan Gottsch-Nunn of CO and Tonya Uliberri (Kyle, of Albuquerque, NM. He also had 7 step great-grandchildren.

Richard was an over 30 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #326, Bozeman, life time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the American legion Post #14 Bozeman.

Services will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2:00 pm at Dahl Funeral Chapel followed by interment of ashes at Sunset Hills Cemetery with Military honors.