November 22, 2022Journal Entry by Billie Hyde — November 22, 2022
Richard has declined significantly in the past week or two. He is sleeping much more, has occasional bouts of confusion, and is very unsteady on his feet. He also has been very restless, moving frequently between bed and his chair. He fell again over the weekend, and said it was because he just blacked out. I've been nagging him to make sure he calls me to help him whenever he decides to move, but while he has lost a lot of his ability, he has not lost ANY of his stubbornness!
Because of that I'll not leave the house unless I have someone with him. Thankfully I have some great neighbors. One of them is going to start picking up my groceries for me. I can order online and she just has to drive up and park. I guess Covid was good for something, since that didn't happen before here in Great Falls.
Thanks to all our friends and family for the good wishes and support. It does mean a lot to us.
Richard passed away this morning. I am both devastated to lose the love of my life, and also relieved that his fight is done.
Yesterday
we made the difficult decision to move Richard to the Peace Hospice
House here in Great Falls. On Wednesday he took a definite turn, having
hallucinations and beginning to lose motor control. I was hoping it was
just a bad day, but yesterday it continued and got worse. I called
hospice and our nurse came right away to evaluate the situation. She
talked with Richard and he agreed to go to the hospice facility. She
knew I would not be able to provide him the around-the-clock care he was
needing with this new situation.
When I left him last night to
go home and get some much needed sleep, both the nurses and I thought
this was simply a new chapter in his journey. I'm actually glad it
happened this way though, because after three years of being in and out
of hospitals, I knew he wasn't thrilled with the idea of being away from
home again.
Sons Nate and Rich are coming to help me, and of
course cousins Bob and Beth and our circle of friends and neighbors are
here to help.
Richard chose long ago to be cremated and have his
ashes scattered in the place we love so much-Glacier Park. Meanwhile we
will be planning a celebration of life, and I'll post the details as
soon as we have a plan.
We will be having a Celebration of Life for Richard on February 18 here
in Great Falls. Our hope is that will allow time for everyone to make
travel arrangements. It will be held in the Fireside Room at the
University of Providence McGlothlin Center at 1 PM on Saturday, February
18. If by chance you decide to brave the Montana winter to join us,
please let me know. Our only request is that you truly help us celebrate
Richard's life; Hawaiian shirts and bright clothes are appropriate!
Richard
also long ago decided on cremation, and we will scatter his ashes in
Glacier Park late this summer. As children we spent a lot of time in
Glacier, and after we were married we hiked the Highline Trail in
Glacier as often as we could. It holds a special place in our hearts.
Nate
and Nova, Rich, and Josh were all able to be here over the weekend to
help with plans and to lend their support. My friends and neighbors have
also all been incredibly helpful. Today is my first day on my own, and
I'm planning to take a deep breath and relax. I know the coming weeks
will see me processing all that has happened and getting used to being
on my own, but the good thing is that my family and friends are
incredibly helpful.
Obituary
Richard Allan Watson was born in Conrad, Montana in 1946. He spent his early years on his grandparent’s farm west of Cutbank and moved “into town” at nine years old. He served a missionary tour in London in the late sixties when rock and roll was king; one has to wonder whether that was a wise move on the part of the church elders. He went to Brigham Young University, married, and moved to San Diego where he worked as a finish carpenter. He went to school at night and earned a law degree, passed the California Bar, and continued to work as a carpenter while using his law degree to overcome his speeding tickets. His four sons Richard, Thomas, Nathaniel, and Josh were all born in San Diego. He eventually divorced, and when he went to Cut Bank for a high school reunion in 1986, he met his childhood girlfriend Billie. They married that same year, and enjoyed 36 years together, raising his sons, working together, and traveling the world.
Richard was a lifelong motorcycle and car enthusiast, enjoying many cross-country trips. He loved tooling around in his Miata and then his Mini, usually driving far too fast and laughing all the while. He became what some people thought was an urban legend when he and two pals skateboarded down the Going-To-The Sun Highway in Glacier Park when they were in high school.
Richard is survived by his four sons Richard, Nathaniel, Thomas, and Joshua; his wife Billie; his grandchildren Lydia, Ayrton, and Conner; his sister Dee Harrington (Bill Harrington); his stepson Russ Dobransky (Joan Dobransky); and cousins Beth Sobolik (Bob Sobolik), Jim Collier (April Collier), and Christina Collier Heck.
