Rickman
Steven James Rickman, 70, of Laurel, Mont., passed away on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, at Billings Clinic Hospital in Billings, Mont., where he had been born on June 26, 1947, to Ezra G. and Harriet J. (Schwenneker) Rickman.
The family lived in Fishtail, Mont., until Grover, a pilot, was recalled to active duty in the United States Air Force during the Korean War; when they moved to Napa, Calif.
He attended schools in Napa, Calif.; Amarillo, Texas; Burlington, New Jersey; Johnson Air Station outside Tokyo, Japan; and Columbus, Mont.
He graduated high school in Helena, Mont., and later attended the University of Montana in Missoula, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corps, he moved to New Jersey and worked at a law firm in New York for two years. He returned to Montana and served as a Billings City police officer before attending the U.S. Border Patrol Academy in Los Frensnos, Texas, becoming an officer where he worked for over 30 years.
He began his career as a field agent in Chula Vista, Calif., later transferred to Florida, and ultimately retired as a division assistant chief in Washington, D.C.
On Sept. 28, 1985, he married Sharon Dianne Shornak in Las Vegas, Nev. Together they lived in Chula Vista, Calif.; Hollywood, Fla.; Springfield, Va.; and Laurel, Mont., where Steven built his dream home.
While living in Japan, Steve earned the rank of Eagle Scout and hiked to the top of Mt. Fuji with his Boy Scout troop. He was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge. He loved history, politics, and animals, and had a great knack for telling jokes. He was a talented painter and wood carver. He was taking guitar lessons prior to his death. He was passionate about dogs and loved his Sadie Sue, Sassy, and Deuce.
Steve was preceded in death by his father, Ezra Grover Rickman, Jr.
He is survived by his mother, Harriet Rickman; wife Sharon Rickman; sister Cathy (Dennis) Hoyem; sister-in-law Glenda (Stan) Bishop; niece Jennifer Hoyem (Cory) Butler; nephews Steve Hoyem, Jason Bishop, and Brett Bishop; great-nieces Greer and Marit Hoyem; and great-nephew Joss Hoyem; as well as cousins on both sides who are so special.