Richard (Dick) Earl Wilson "Coyote" was born at home in East Brady, PA December 23, 1941 to George Kendall and Clara Margaret (Zeitler) Wilson. He went to be with his Creator August 1, 2026 at home at 84 years of age in Coffee Creek, MT with his loving wife by his side.

Dick was the third born of twelve children. He developed a love for the outdoors at a young age and growing up, one could find him assisting his dad on the farm milking cows, candling chicken eggs, farming, or shoveling snow for the elderly.

Dick was a restless soul and was never satisfied living in the east. He knew there was more awaiting him, and he found it in Montana. In 1959 between his junior and senior year of high school he told his parents, "I'm hitchhiking to Montana for the summer." Before leaving, his mom made him promise to come back and finish his senior year of high school. He returned and completed his senior year graduating from Moniteau High School in Hooker, PA in 1960.Thereafter, he joined the navy but became deathly ill with double pneumonia and was medically discharged. While recouping, he helped around the family farm and worked at a chicken factory candling eggs while he waited for "his high school sweetheart", Shirley Stroup, to graduate After Shirley graduated in May 1962, he loaded his red '55 chevy with his belongings and headed west for Montana. He beckoned for Shirley in August and a week later they were married at the Methodist Church in Lincoln, MT, September 2, 1962.

Dick and Shirley welcomed their first child, Darlene, in December 1963 who became Dick's little shadow as soon as she was old enough to walk.

In 1965, Dick started his own Outfitting and Guiding business with Shirley as the camp cook in the Scapegoat Wilderness. He guided many successful hunters from the east and west gaining friendships throughout. They owned around 35 horses during the outfitting days which Dick broke and trained himself. Dick's favorite and trusty horse," Buck", was a beautiful buckskin he purchased on a trip to South Dakota. Dick participated in many horse auctions and wrangled wild horses on "Buck" to build his horse herd over the years. He took pride in his herd and always had a special way with horses.

Dick and Shirley welcomed their second child, Luke, in April 1966. Dick was proud of his son and daughter and would often parade them down the streets of Lincoln on horseback. In the fall when hunting season rolled around, they'd load Darlene on her own horse and pack Luke in their arms heading to hunting camp. Their third child, Nick, was welcomed the following year in June of 1967.

Dick volunteered as a wildfire Fire Fighter and served in the Chamber of Commerce. One of the greatest highlights for Dick and family was the Lincoln Rodeo and Rodeo Bible Camp. Dick would bring his pack string into the parade and ride with his children down the main street of Lincoln. Dick had a big heart and every year at Rodeo Bible Camp he would bring extra horses for children who wanted to participate in the events but didn't own a horse. Every year in January, Dick and Shirley would host an annual pig roast at the ranch and half the Lewis and Clark County came to eat and ride snowmobiles for the day.

In June 1973, the family welcomed their fourth child, Melody. Two months later, the family welcomed Dick's niece, Sherry, into the Wilson family after her father, Fred Wilson, died in a tragic accident. The Wilson family of six quickly became seven.

Dick assisted in developing the first snowmobile races in Lincoln as well as the first dog sled races. For the dog sleds, he would bulldoze trails with his CAT and plow snow where it had drifted. He raced arctic cat snowmobiles in the late 60's and early 70's representing the State Nursery out of Helena. He wasn't hard to find on the racetrack; one just had to search for the guy in the cowboy hat, until they later made helmets mandatory. Nothing much scared Dick and he was known to jump deep ravines with his snowmobile if it meant "getting ahead of the pack." In the fall of 1978, Dick sold the Outfitting and Guiding business longing to fulfill another passion of his, farming and ranching. In January of 1979, he moved his family to Denton, MT. Dick enjoyed planting crops, harvesting, haying, and calving with his wife and children by his side. In the mid 80's, Dick bought his first bluetick hound pups which led him on an adventure of coon and lion hunting. He became active in the Montana Houndsman Association and served as president for one year. He began to raise, train, and sell pups and with his love for hunting lions, he named his business, "The Pussy Posse.” He later turned the business over to his daughter, Darlene, and her husband, Clint. Dick passed on much wisdom to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren over the years and never missed a moment to "teach" them skills to be used in life. He thought everybody, whether girl or boy, should at least know how to change their own oil and a flat tire and gut an animal. Often the grandchildren would ask, “Grandpa, tell us about the good ol’ days.” He was known as a great storyteller and jokester. He gave his children a life one could only hope for; the life of experiencing the mountains, the streams, the wild animals, and the privilege of experiencing it all on horseback and snowmobiles. With his sideways grin and a quick wink at his children, he also taught them how to sneak cookie dough behind Mom's back. This tradition carried on with his grandchildren and great grandchildren with their moms. Whenever the “grands” came to visit, they could count on finding ice cream waiting in the freezer.

Dick was a good friend and a good neighbor to many. He never hesitated to stop what he was doing to help someone else out. He found great pleasure in providing wild game meat to widows, single moms, and families in need. He loved to give unto others whether money or time. Over the years, Dick continued to host family and friends throughout hunting season; he never wanted anyone to go without.

One of Dick's favorite pastimes and throughout life was dancing with his favorite girl, Shirley.

Surviving of Dick's family is Shirley, his loving wife of almost 64 years of marriage; one son, Luke Wilson (Nancy) of Lewistown, two daughters: Sherry Wilson of Nashua, New Hampshire and Melody Wilson of Coffee Creek, MT, 3 bonus children: David McGuire (Texas), Carrie (McGuire) Johnson (Manhattan, MT), and Eric Tolliver (Oregon). Also surviving are 9 brothers and sisters: Marty Reed, Jim (Linda) Wilson, Ken (Marilyn) Wilson, Margaret (Ray) Szutu, Dave (Rose) Wilson, Greg Wilson, Bob (Kathy) Wilson, Marion (Chuck) Hall, Maxie (Jim) Sullivan, and his faithful black lab, “Bell”, who never left his side and would escort him to the post office every day until July when he could no longer make the trip.

Dick was blessed with 16 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Wilson (1991), Clara (Zeitler) Wilson (2009), a brother, Fred Wilson (1973), and a sister, Marla (Wilson) Barnes (1997), one son, Nick Wilson (1998), one daughter, Darlene (Wilson) Pearce (2026), and one grandson, Austin Wilson (2020).

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Lincoln Gulch Cemetery in Lincoln, Montana.

In lieu of flowers, please send any contributions in his memory to the Denton Ambulance Fund at Opportunity Bank in Denton, Montana or the Old Lincoln Gulch Cemetery Fund, ATTN Susan Murphy. The Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences can be posted online.