Richard “Dick” Matthew Geary passed away September 26th, 2025 at the Syringa Hospital in Grangeville, Idaho following complications of a heart attack a weeks prior. 

The youngest child of James H. and Mary C. (Greene) Geary, Dick was born September 29th, 1943. Nine months after New Year’s Eve, as he liked to note. Dick was born in Portland, Oregon, when his dad was working on ships in the war effort. He joined two older sisters, Margarette and Reita. Dick was raised in the family home in Grangeville, Idaho. He attended Grangeville Elementary, St. Peter and Paul Parochial and graduated from Grangeville High School in 1961, where he was a three-sport athlete- playing football, basketball, and baseball. Dick went on to attend the University of Idaho where he pledged Delta Chi, but did not complete graduation. He was, however, a lifelong Vandal fan- even when being a fan was not easy.

Dick was a member of the Idaho National Guard, and was called into active duty with the 116th Combat Engineers Battalion to serve 11 months in Vietnam from 1967-1968 before being honorably discharged. Dick had previously been married to Kay C. Kelley and Christine Scharer (Earp). He married Lois Edwards (Stromberg) in 1985 and spent the rest of his years with Lois.

Dick worked in a variety of roles, including Tackett Saw Service and his own trucking company, He worked as a driver and grader operator for Heath Construction (Earl Heath), then was self-employed as Geary-Health Transport and Geary Enterprises. In the 1990s he began to work for the Fenn Highway District where he retired in 2005. Well, sort of. After that he drove part-time for Advanced Welding through 2013, then seasonally for Deer Creek, Doumecq, Grangeville, and White Bird Road Districts with his last day of work this summer at the age of 81.

Dick was well-known and appreciated throughout Grangeville. He was a member of the Grangeville Elks for 58 years, serving as the secretary and on the Board of the Trustees for a time, as well as a member and past president of the Grangeville Border Days Committee and past board member of Grangeville Golf Course. Dick was a past member of the Grangeville Lions, Snow Drifters, and Snowhaven Ski Patrol.

Dick was always busy and spent a lot of his time being a constant supporter of his family and friends. He was a wonderful husband, father figure, and grandfather. His dedication was shown  through simply showing up, making us laugh, and being the kind of person who always gets you just the right present for Christmas.

Dick was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Margarette LeTendre (Tom) of Michigan and Reita and brother-in-law Ken Edwards of California, cousins Geary Hinshaw and Linda Junes (McGrane) and three nephews. Dick is survived by his wife Lois, step-sons Kelcey and Darbey (Lisa) Edwards, grandchildren Brennan, Emma, and Joseph Edwards, brother-in-law Carl Stromberg, as well as four nieces and two nephews. 

He was a firm believer in the quote attributed to Ben Franklin: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy!” And he can surely be remembered by us all through his unwavering and constant response of “Well, I’ll be damned.” 

Graveside services are planned for 1pm Saturday October 11 at the Mt. Idaho Cemetery with a Celebration of Life following from 2-4 at the Grangeville Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Grangeville Border Days Firework Fund c/o Grangeville Fire Fighters, PO Box 637, Grangeville, Id 83530 or in person at the Grangeville P1FCU-Grangeville Fire Fighters Fund. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.