Richard Hal Henderson

Richard Hal Henderson, 92, of Great Falls, passed away Friday, January 19, 2018. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Private family burial of ashes will take place at a later date. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Richard was born May 1, 1925 in Ogden, UT to Harold and Esther “Pat” (Anderson) Henderson. After high school, he joined the US Navy in 1943 and served in the Pacific Theater during WWII. He was honorably discharged November of 1945. He attended college at the University of Washington, MSU, and U of M obtaining his teaching credentials. He worked in the welfare office in Plentywood and Havre, as well as being a crop adjustor. He taught in Chester and was also the basketball coach. He then moved to Great Falls where he was a school teacher with Great Falls Public Schools. He taught at East, West, and Paris Gibson Jr. High before becoming a guidance counselor. He was also a lifeguard at the Chester and Great Falls pools. He married Bernelda Lambert in 1950. Richard was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Club, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, an Algeria Shriner, and a past Associate Bethel Guardian of Bethel 9 Job’s Daughters. For many years, he was a snowbird at Weaver’s Needle RV Park in Apache Junction, AZ with his wife. He also raised racing pigeons when the kids were younger. He is survived by his wife, Bernelda; daughters Kaye (Dennis) Atkinson and Gayle (Dean) Jacoby; sons Steve (Jeannie) Henderson and Michael Henderson; granddaughter Jessica (Kevin) Powell; and great-grandchildren Hannah Rutherford and Emily Powell. Richard was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter Melissa Brewster.