Richard Harold Tallmadge

Richard Harold Tallmadge, 72, of Troy, Montana passed away peacefully on March 4, 2026.

A branch has fallen from our family tree. In Rick Tallmadge’s final days of life, many came from Troy, the west coast and as far as Texas. Phone calls and texts came in to express their love and gratitude to an extraordinary man who lived an ordinary all American life. 

He was born in Bonners Ferry on Jan. 28, 1954, to Beatrice and Harold Tallmadge. He grew up in the Bull Lake area in a time when Highway 56 was just a graveled road, living across the creek from the Halfway House. Rick mentioned many times that he would leave his toy trucks in the road and they would remain unharmed the next morning. 

The Tallmadge family was large with extended family members where they had adventures on the lake boating, fishing and hunting.

He was your typical young boy taking the usual pleasure in teasing his older sisters and rough housing with his older brother. There were the annual Fourth of July picnics, Christmas Eve, being bundled up to go to their grandparent’s house during which time Santa made his visit while the kids were gone.

Rick was proud of his deep family roots from Bull Lake and the Bull River Valley. Rick’s great grandmother, Edwina Tallmadge Stanley, brought Rick’s grandfather Harry Vernon Tallmadge (age 3 at the time) to the Bull Lake area in the late 1800s where she set up a homestead at the end of Bull Lake. 

Logging was deeply rooted in the family and his grandfather, Harry, grew up to be a woodsman and a landowner. He started and built the bar known today as the Halfway House Bar and Grill (originally Tallmadge Service) on Bull Lake Road.

Rick’s dad, Harold, also a woodsman, formed the Tallmadge Logging Company and eventually at the age of 18, Rick went to the Denver Automotive and Diesel College, and there decided his true calling was to go work with his dad alongside his brother, Stan, in the woods. He worked for Tallmadge Logging and embodied the definition of hard work, up at the crack of dawn he remained a dedicated woodsman for 47 years, except for a 9-month period when he worked at Asarco Mining Company.

On Aug. 19, 1988, Rick met the love of his life, Nancee, at the Big Sky Rendezvous and they have been inseparable ever since. From there the love story between the two began. They were married six months later at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Together they built their family and were married for 37 years.

Their best memories spent were taking family vacations, hunting, fishing and time spent with their children and grandchildren. There were many family dinners, memorable holidays and swimming parties at Bull Lake. Together they served their community as Little League softball coaches and volunteers for 12 years on the Bull Lake Ambulance.

His way of living was one without pretense - Rick was always one that met you on equal ground and was as curious about you as you were about him. To his family’s humor and dismay he made friends everywhere he went, like in the movie Crocodile Dundee, saying hello to everyone he’d see on the street in his own special “gooberish” way. 

He gave an honest day's work and earned the respect of all who knew him for his grit, strength and quiet patience. Physical demands of his job never tired him from being a dedicated family man. 

Above all, Rick was devoted to rarely missing a special moment in their lives. He was happiest being the weekend breakfast cook surrounded by his kids or large family gatherings sharing stories. He was known for his gentle guidance he gave to his kids and known for his “to a fault” honesty.

In recent years he spent his time taking adventures with his Nancee, fishing at Ross Creek, huckleberry picking, the Oregon Coast, Seattle, and to Texas for their grandson’s sporting events and enjoying his gardens with his beloved dogs, Daisy and Lucy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Bea Tallmadge, an infant daughter, Kelly, nephew Josh, great niece Destiny, and most recently his daughter in-law, Emily, whom he dearly loved.

He is survived by his beloved wife and soul mate, Nancee, siblings Linda Schmidt (Larry), Judy Managhan, Stan Tallmadge (Chris), his children Jeremy, Justin (Athena), Brandon, Jessica, twins Ashley (Dayton) and Erin (Jesse), and 15 amazing grandchildren he adored.

He also has a wide circle of nieces, nephews and extended family too numerous to mention. He wanted everyone to know that he was aware of how loved he was. 

He was very touched and beyond grateful for this. While Rick’s logging boots have left the woods, his monumental legacy has just begun and will remain there for his future generations. His stories will always be told.

At his request, there will be no formal service. A family memorial will be held at a much later date.