Richard Carl "Dick" Lund

Richard Carl Lund “Dick” passed away peacefully at home on July 15, 2024, in Billings, Montana, due to complications of Parkinson’s disease.

Dick was born on a warm Sunday morning in early July 1939 in Billings, to Mildred T. H. Henriksen and Ole B. “OB” Lund. His family moved to Havre in early 1943 to stay with his grandfather, Karl Henriksen, while his dad went off to war. Dick attended Havre schools. In high school, he met Beverly Perry, the girl that he felt, even then, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Dick and Bev were married on Sept. 11, 1960, at the First Lutheran Church in Havre. To this union, two daughters were born: Dana Suzanne and Kirsten Arlene.

Dick was very proud of the Electrical Engineering education he had received at Montana State University. He used to say that when he was working in Industry, that in working with other engineers from schools like Purdue, MIT, Stanford, etc., that he knew just as much as they did. Upon graduating from Montana State University in June of 1962, Dick worked for Boeing, Control Data Corp., RCA (in Germany), the Montana State University computing center, Big Sky of Montana, and IBM.

(Boeing) being involved in the installation and testing of the Minuteman Wing II missile system deployed throughout western South Dakota.

(Control Data Corporation) Involved in the integration and testing of the OPCON II system for the US Navy.

(RCA) Involved in the implementation and testing of the US Air force’s 412L Radar acquisition and processing system in West Germany during the cold war.

(Control Data Corporation) Involved with the software that enabled NASA Langley’s computers to simulate various stages of the Apollo lunar lander system.

(Montana State University) Developed the first coop/symbiont job input process for Montana State’s new Sigma 7 main-frame computer.

(Big Sky of Montana) Developed the first integrated accounting system used at Big Sky of MT during the Chet Huntley era.

Then in 1981, to the amazement of friends and coworkers, who said that he was crazy to leave a job at IBM, he left IBM and started his own business, The RCL Systems Group. Despite the Jimmy Carter-induced recession at the time, the business was very successful. Dick said that it was the best thing, businesswise, that he ever did.

Although Dick was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork, he was not a joiner of service clubs, fraternal organizations etc. He preferred to spend his time, when he was not working, with friends, family and coworkers, or out on a trout stream somewhere. Playing his Gibson guitar, collecting Great Northern trains, and working on and driving his beloved cars were also favorite pastimes.

After his retirement, Dick and Bev moved to their cabin on Swan Lake for their summers and wintered on the Texas gulf coast. After a period of time, Bev found that the mold carried in the coastal sea air didn’t agree with her. They then began wintering in Green Valley, Arizona. In January 2020, Dick and Bev moved to the St. Johns Mission Ridge retirement living community.

Dick is preceded in death by his daughter, Kirsten Algaard; his parents; sister Patti (Jerry) Campbell; numerous aunts and uncles; and a favorite cousin, Allen D. Lund.

He leaves behind wife, Bev, of nearly 64 years; his daughter, Dana Lund of Billings; son in-law Dewey Algaard; and his grandchildren, Layne Perry Algaard, Kaydee Algaard, David Algaard, and Derek Algaard. Also numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.

Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, at the St. Johns United Mission Ridge Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Johns United Home Care & Hospice. Beverly and Dana Lund would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the hospice caregivers for the compassion, support and love provided not only to Dick, but also to Bev and Dana during Dick’s last couple months.