Richard Billotte

Billotte, Richard L. (Dick)
Age 86, died peacefully on June 13, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 21, 1927 in Omaha, NE, to Ida Maude Dixon and James Billotte. He was the youngest of 5 children, and much loved by his siblings James Jr., Marjorie, Geraldine, and Lorraine. After a self-described idyllic childhood, Richard graduated Creighton Prep in Omaha, and immediately joined the U.S. Maritime Service/Merchant Marines in the summer of 1945 to contribute to the war effort. He travelled widely throughout the Pacific Islands and coastal China, and eventually returned stateside where he joined the horse racetrack circuit as a groom, stable foreman, and later, horse trainer.
Richard was drafted in the army in 1951, and was stationed in Camp San Luis Obispo, CA. He courted and later married his lovely bride, Arloien (Susie) in 1953, moved back to Omaha following his army stint, then to Minneapolis to work at Honeywell while attending night school at the U of M. After moving to Fridley, Dick and Susie spent the next 30+ years raising and loving 4 daughters, travelling to the family cabin on Lake Osakis most weekends, and 'playing' on the nearby hobby farm purchased in 1966. After 30 years of employment as a Honeywell aeronautics engineer, and eventual supervisor in Quality Control, Richard & Susie retired and moved to Osakis full time, living in their dream retirement home that he designed and partially built. They enjoyed 25 wonderful retirement years that included winter trips to North Padre Island, TX and later, Mesa, AZ; as well as numerous trips to such far-off destinations as Alaska, Hawaii, and Europe.
Richard was always ready to tell a story or a joke, and had a prodigious memory for all things, including wonderful stories of his boyhood. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed large and small game hunting and fishing in MN, MT and Wyoming with his many buddies, best friend Lee Carver, brother-in-law Patrick, and son-in-laws. Richard was an enthusiastic gardener, a student of Spanish guitar and enjoyed reading historic biographies and stories of the American West. He will be terribly missed by his 4 girls, Debbie, Karen, Sandi and Holly; son-in-laws Paul, Scott, Bill and Ken; his 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; his many nieces and nephews; and Mary and Sitauti Fifita, his caregivers for the past year. He cherished and held close his wife of 60 years, Susie, the love of his life, to the very end.

65 (Central) Southbound is closed visitors are encouraged to follow University Ave. NE and turn on 61st Ave NE heading East to arrive at the funeral home. Please check directions to ensure your specific route here.

Miller Funeral Home
6210 Hwy 65 NE
Fridley, MN 55432