Raymond “Ray” Paul Bick, 86, died of natural causes on April 9, 2025, at his home in Cherry Creek, Nev. He was born Aug. 4, 1938, in Ronan, the eighth of nine children born to Clarence and Evelyn Bick of Round Butte, west of Ronan.

He was raised on the family farm; went to grade school in Round Butte and graduated from Ronan High School in 1956. He joined the Army National Guard after high school and served for two years active duty in the U.S. Army, stationed in Korea between the Korean and Viet Nam Wars. He was a Wheel Vehicle Mechanic Sergeant in the Army.

In 1959 he asked Charlene Rose McClure to marry him and they were wed on June 11, 1960. From this union, they had five children: Ronald Dean, Jay Eugene, Dave Edward, Julia Dawn and Joann Rae.

Ray worked at Arnie’s Service Station and along with Charlene managed the Union 76 station in Ronan, where they first lived after getting married. They moved to Valley View in 1962, were Ray worked at the Polson Plywood Plant as a quality control specialist and also farmed 80 acres of their own, raising beef cattle and sharecropping with Ray’s father.

They established a dairy business in 1967 which they operated into the mid 70s when Ray began driving owner/operator semi-trucks for short and long hauls. Ray then worked for Ingram Real Estate until he became a broker and opened his own real estate business, Lakeview Realty.

After Ray and Charlene divorced in 1978, Ray returned to farming in Hot Springs, and then jobs in mining took him to Cherry Creek, Nev., in the mid 80s where he settled, building two homes and expanding and improving the water utility company that serves Cherry Creek.

He was an iconic and important figure to the people of Cherry Creek where he retired from 20 years of working for Bald Mountain Mine in Nevada as a lube truck driver and mechanic.

Ray was a man of many talents – known for his work ethic and ability to build, fix, and operate many types of equipment and master many crafts. He passed on while working on the tires for a road grader he had just purchased.

His parents and siblings, Clara Miller, Ralph, Charles, Art, Herb, Robert and Wilma, and infant grandson Ryan Berens proceeded him in death.

He is survived by his brother Bill (Joanie) of St. Ignatius; children Ron (Mindy) of Renton, Wash., Jay (Janie) of Polson, Dave (Mona) of Pablo, Julia Moriarty (Michael) of Kent, Wash., and Joann Berens of Missoula; 17 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Ray had many friends in Montana and was highly respected by his friends and the community of Cherry Creek. He had several four-legged companions that were special to him as well as his horses Annie and Spring who will miss him.

Services will be held April 19, at 10 a.m. at The Lake Funeral Home, 101 6th Ave. E. in Polson, followed by graveside military services at Mountain View Cemetery, 46727 N. Foothills Dr., Ronan. A reception will be held at the North Crow American Legion Hall following graveside services.