Rick Foote dies at age 68
Butte, Montana
10-7-13
Rick Foote, long-time newspaperman and editor of The Butte Weekly, died Oct. 6, 2013.
Rick will be fondly remembered and sorely missed by his family and friends, his many colleagues throughout his career in journalism, and others he touched through his writing.
Rick had a long career in the newspaper business. In a presentation he gave at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives in 2012, he wrote:
“I began writing for newspapers in 1964 when I went to the University of Montana, then Montana State University in Missoula.
I was managing editor for The Montana Kaimin during my matriculation and wrote for such publications as The Missoulian, The Peoples Voice, the only really progressive paper at the time in Montana.
“After college I was sent to Vietnam and, after a month, I was tasked with developing an information vehicle for the 7,500 troops of the First Vietnam Artillery. So, I and a soldier named Joe Elia began The Artillery Review, which I edited until I was discharged in 1970 after 14 months in Vietnam.
“In 1970 I began working for The Montana Standard and was named editor in 1985. I resigned in 1994, signed on with the Knight International Press Fellowship program under the International Center for Journalism in 1994, and subsequently went to Albania and Romania as a Knight Fellow, a designation which I have today.
“After my first trip to Albania, I went to Canada and was graduated as a professional cook from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, worked at the Butte Country Club and, finally, joined the staff of The Butte Weekly as editor in 1997.”
Rick was a long time member and held several officer positions with the Butte Press Club. One of his proudest accomplishments for that organization was founding the Butte Press Club Scholarship Fund, which continues today, for journalism students attending the University of Montana.
Rick is survived by his wife Nancy Jean (Thomas) Foote, daughter Lesley K. McDowall (Gary), grandchildren Hayley and Chelsea McDowall, brother Rob Foote, sister Nancy Warren, Warren family nieces and nephews and Foote cousins. He is also survived by the Torpy family cousins and their families.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Bob and Helen (Torpy) Foote, his sister Ronda (Susie) Foote and his beloved son Rylan Kneal Foote.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Butte-Silver Bow Archives.
Rick wanted to be remembered as someone who tried to make a difference, asking that in lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor his memory do random acts of kindness for others and “pay it forward.”
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