Richard Dwight McLaren

Richard Dwight McLaren

October 6, 1954-July 20, 2024

Richard Dwight McLaren passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024 after an extended illness.

Rick was born to Arley C. and Carol V. (Giudici) McLaren in Pocatello, Idaho. He was the second of Arley and Carol’s four children and joined his sister Susan on October 6, 1954. The young family moved back to Dillon where Rick’s younger sisters would be welcomed into the family, Chris in 1958 and Amanda in 1962.

Rick attended school in Dillon, graduating from Beaverhead County High School in 1972. As a youth, he was active in Boy Scouts and participated in Jaycees Shooter Education. He enjoyed hunting with his dad and Uncle Ray as a teen and continued to be an avid hunter throughout his life. As a young teenager he spent his summers in the Grasshopper valley working for Dwight Harrison during haying season.

In high school he was active in intermural sports and lettered in track. He spent much of his high school time in shop class, where he acquired a talent and love for working on cars. When he wasn’t working in a shop, he could be found hanging at the family cabin with his cousins and friends or secretly making Dandelion wine with them in the basement of the family home. 

While in high school, he got a job working at the Conoco Station for Gary Brown and continued to work there after high school. He went on to work for Elliot Ford Sales in the dealership’s shop until he joined his parents as an Apprentice Plumber at McLaren Plumbing, working his way up to Journeyman. After many years working for the plumbing shop, the opportunity presented itself and he was hired by Western Montana College as a plumber and boiler operator where he worked until his retirement.

On August 9, 1996, he married his longtime love Charee (Klugow) Bourassa and became father to her daughters, Summer Bourassa and Serena (Bourassa) Zareski. He and Charee were blessed with three grandchildren Logan and Blake (Summer) and Zachary (Serena). 

Rick was a man of many talents and interests. His enjoyment of snowmobiling brought him around to snowmobile racing, and when it wasn’t winter, the snow machines would get stripped down for grass racing competitions. It seemed like if it moved, had an engine, and could go fast, he would find his way to it. Hanging out in the garage working on a car whether for pleasure or necessity suited him.

He participated in silhouette pistol competitions for many years earning awards at many of the shoots. He taught himself the craft of bow making, first with self-bows and eventually laminated Long Bows. Many family and friends were gifted his handmade bows and are treasured to this day. He traded in his hunting rifle for a bow, preferring to hunt with a traditional long bow to anything else. He was a member of the local archery club for many years and enjoyed shooting in the 3D bow shoots. He was a dog lover from day one and there weren’t many times in his life he was without a dog by his side. He loved camping with his wife and their dogs and if they weren’t home, you could almost guarantee they were enjoying the great outdoors somewhere.

He is survived by his wife, Charee; children, Summer and Serena; grandchildren, Logan, Blake and Zachary; sisters, Susan and Amanda; nieces, Kimberly (Susan) and Morgan (Amanda), and nephew Eric (Susan) ; and countless family members and friends-like-family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Arley and Carol McLaren, and sister Christine.

 At his request, no services are planned. If you wish to give a memorial in his name, please do so to the charity or organization of your choosing.