John Richard Dick

John Richard Dick, 84, of Bend, Oregon, died on the 25th of May, 2024, at his home in Bend, Oregon. He was born on the 12th of October in 1939 to John & Lillian Dick in Toledo, Oregon. John graduated from South Salem High School in 1957, in Salem, OR. He served in the Oregon Army National Guard from 1957 – 1961 as a Specialist FOUR E4 in the 249th Tank Battery and automatic weapons battalion in the Operations and Intelligence Section where he was an artilleryman and planned movements and collected information regarding the most efficient use of equipment. He then served in the Army of the United States from 1961 – 1965 as an Artilleryman, Rifle Marksman, and Heavy Machinery Driver. He also continued with government security work with US Army COTEF in Bend from 1987 – 1993, where he held military top secret clearance. He was very proud of his service. He married Venita Mary Miller on May 16, 1959, and they had two children, Galen and Cindy. He wore many hats in his life and worked as a salesman for Sears, was a small business owner and sold and installed woodstoves, drove water tanker for the US Forest Service fighting wildfires, and worked for a logging operation. What he was most known for was his work as an Oregon State Police officer from 1966 – 1978, and as a Deschutes County Sheriff's Deputy from 1982 – 1986. After an injury during his time with the Police force, he went on to become a master woodcarver. He was an avid marksman, woodcraftsman, and fisherman. He also enjoyed travel—spending several winters RVing in Arizona with his wife—camping, and maintaining the log home and small farm he built with his family. John is survived by his wife of 65 years, Venita, his children, Galen Dick of Buffalo, Wyoming, and Cindy Willis of Seattle, Washington; his grandchildren, Branden & Tyrell; great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Bradley, and Ryan, his brother Kenneth, and beloved cousin Ron Hansen. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lillian and his siblings, Don and Larry. A service and military honors ceremony will be June 10, 2-4 p.m., at the Bend VFW Hall, 1503 NE 4th Street, Bend, OR. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations may be made to Partners in Care Hospice of Bend, Oregon, The American Cancer Society, or Band of Brothers.

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John Richard Dick

October 12, 1939 - May 25, 2024