Richard W. ‘Dick’ Jones

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(Aug. 3, 1947 - Jan. 24, 2015)

“Tell them I was a faithful, loyal employee with the State Geological Survey.  I wish to be remembered for my skill as a professional geologist with a wicked sense of humor and an appreciation for fine music, spectacular scenery, and my family.”  RW Jones

Richard W. Jones (“Dick”) was born in Watertown, South Dakota on August 3, 1947, lived in Midwest, Wyoming, moved to Powell, Wyoming where he graduated from Powell High School.  He graduated from Northwest Community College with a degree in pre-engineering and later from the University of Wyoming with a degree in geology.  He worked for the USGS, the BLM, and finally for most of his career at the Wyoming Geological Survey in Laramie.  Until his retirement, he was a coal geologist, a publications editor, a map editor, and a member of the Association of Earth Science Editors.  Dick was an avid boatsman and fisherman, both on Wyoming’s reservoirs and rivers, particularly the North Fork of the Shoshone River.  He delighted in travelling and pointing out to his ignorant family, various geological formations.  He enjoyed watching auto racing, professional football and college basketball.  Dick loved listening to all kinds of music from Bach to Zappa and everything in between.  He especially relished the operas of Richard Wagner and made several pilgrimages over the last twenty-five years to Flagstaff, San Francisco and Seattle to see “Der Ring des Neibelungen”.  He was a movie buff and a lifetime fan of the Three Stooges.

Dick is preceded in death by his father, William W. Jones, his mother, Genevieve Jones, and his younger brother, Warren W. Jones.  He is survived by his sister, Kathleen Jones, and his other sister, Beverly Thorn (Brian Thorn).  Memorials may be made in Dick’s honor to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 2123 Broadwater, Billings MT 59102, Red Lodge Music Camp, PO Box 80268, Billings, MT  59108, or Riverstone Hospice, PO Box 1562, Billings, MT  59103.  A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3 at the Cremation & Funeral Gallery at 29 8th St. W, Billings.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.cfgbillings.com thru “Our Families”.

“A son should learn from his father but follow his mother.” RW Jones

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