Richard "Frenchie" "Dick" Ostbye

Richard “Frenchie” “Dick” Ostbye A life full of love, laughs, adventure, and shenanigans. What a life to have lived from December 21st, 1938 to June 9th, 2023. While his body may have aged, his soul never did. There was still the 19-year-old in there that had an exuberant passion for many things. He loved old cars and having something in the garage to tinker on. He fixed up his black ‘02 Mustang and had it dialed in. He was always trying to get someone to race him. “Wanna race?” he’d say with a big ol’ grin on his face, whether it was “a couple of hogs at the watering hole” or us kids coming over for a BBQ. Being at the lake, out in the boat with a line in the water, or camping with friends or family gave him such joy. He’d always say I’m headed for the lake, come on up! He developed a new love for grilling and smoking anything he could think of. He loved doing up a batch of ribs, some steak, or some chicken and playing with seasonings and different pellet smoke flavors. He was thoughtful and liked finding that special gift. Best of all, he had a sense of humor, twinkly blue eyes that sparkled like an ocean in the sun, and a grin that could be seen across the universe when he was being devious or was proud of himself for a joke he said or played on someone. He valued all the relationships in his life, family and friends alike. His grandchildren Anthony (17), Allivian (15), Gianna (15), Gabriella (10), Lane (8) and Chance (5) each held a very special place in his heart, along with his wife Nancy of nearly 42 years and their 3 children Gene, Denyae, and Shari, and their spouses (Jess, Tony, and Levi). He loved his fur babies, and always had them by his side, with his cats on his lap and sharing treats with his dogs. He also had five children from a previous marriage as well as some grandchildren on that side and was fortunate enough to be able to share love in their lives. He loved his siblings, their spouses, and his nieces and nephews. He shared a love for Nancy’s side of the family as well, treating her siblings and cousins as if they were his own. Dick and Nancy enjoyed traveling together and would often arrange to see as many family members as they could in one trip. He was blessed with many great friends. Just know you each had special meaning and helped round out his life. He was proud to be a veteran. Having served in the Army, he was deployed and was stationed in Germany. He served as part of the 11th Armored Cavalry. After the military, he did many different things in his professional life from being a butcher to a logger. He found a lasting joy in driving semis. He was his own boss as an owner/operator and contracted with Sammons Trucking for several years. After selling his own truck, he retired. After a while needed a hobby. His “hobby” was hauling for Sport Land Trailers which he absolutely loved. Please help us honor the life that was. Military Service will be held at the Western Montana State Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Friday June 23, 2023, at 1:30 pm 1911 Tower St in Missoula Following the military service, family and friends are welcome to gather at the Ostbye residence in Florence at 4:30 pm.