Richard Pierce

Richard Lee Pierce died suddenly on November 9, 2015, at his home in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He was born on April 13, 1939, at the Billings, Montana, Hospital to Robert and Julia DeClerq Pierce. He grew up and worked on a farm east of Pompeys Pillar, Montana. He began his education at Pompeys Pillar Grade School and in 1957, graduated as valedictorian from Huntley Project High School in Worden, Montana. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman while still working on the farm during sugar beet harvest. He married Bernice Krum in 1961. He graduated with honors from M.S.U. with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1962. Following graduation they moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he took a job with Phillips Petroleum (Atomic Energy Division) at the National Reactor Testing Station (later known as the INEL) near Idaho Falls. He was an Engineering Supervisor for 32 years. He retired in 1994, at the age of 55. Richard enjoyed camping, fishing, and building Snake River float boats. In 2012, after 50 years of marriage, he lost his wife, Bernice, to cancer. He is survived by his son, Shawn; grandson, Tyler of Boise; his daughter, Cheryl Pierce Kendle and her husband, Vaughn, of Idaho Falls; his brother, Robert Pierce, and his wife, Gladys, of Pompeys Pillar, Montana and his sister, Donna Mae Dierenfield and her husband, Doug, of Billings, Montana. Graveside services will be held at a later date at the Pierce family plot in Billings. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in his name to the Huntley Project Museum of Irrigated Agriculture, P.O. Box 353, Huntley, Montana 59037.

Graveside Services will be held at a later date in Billings, Montana. He passed away on

Monday, November 9, 2015