More detail on this person: Rick was born in St. Joseph, Michigan on April 13, 1946, to Robert and Winifred Greenlee. He made his final flight home on July 8, 2026, at the age of 80. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gary. Rick and Helen were married in 1982, creating a blended family of 6 children, Gina (Darrell) Langford, Mason (Kathy) Hart, Sean (Cyndi) Greenlee, Ryan (Londa) Hart, Tiffany (Jacob) Branson, and Alison (Steve) Brodet. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, David and Nancy Doerr, and many nieces and nephews. After graduating from college in Wisconsin, Rick enlisted in the Air Force in 1970. He attended OTS and pilot school. He spent one year in Thailand flying H-53 "Jolly Green" rescue helicopters, served 3 years in TX as a T-37 jet trainer instructor, and then 13 years at Malmstrom AFB flying rescue and missile support. He acquired well over 5000 hours over the mountains of Montana. After retirement in 1990, Rick dedicated himself to learning guitar (and whatever other instruments were available), sold real estate for a few years, and moved from Great Falls to Wolf Creek in 1997. He and Helen renovated the historic Wolf Creek Hotel, making it their home for 25 years. He served on their school board for 10 years, then the WC water and sewer board for 10 more. He acquired a love for horses, which began a period of his life as he desired to see Montana from the ground after so many years from the air. He built his 1st cabin in Wolf Creek canyon while still in his 30s upon his return from Thailand. His passion for horses and music expanded his desires for more guitars, pasture, guns, and hunting property. He continued to build more cabins, barns, and a dance hall (He always wanted to play music in a bar but didn't want to" play in a bar"). Rick was a genuinely kind, caring, loving, and gentle soul, incredibly witty and wise, ambitious, accomplished, and talented man. He was a friend to all. In true Rick fashion, he chose to participate in an Eli Lilly clinical trial to study Alzheimer's Disease. When his diagnosis was confirmed in 2017, he said "Let's do it! We can't just sit here and do nothing." 3 years of monthly trips to Spokane didn't yield positive results for him, but hopefully all those MRls, PET scans, EEGs, EKGs, infusions, etc., contributed to the solutions for which we all pray. Thank you, Capt. Greenlee, for sharing yourself with all those of us who were lucky enough to have been a part of your incredible life. The family will celebrate his life privately around the campfire. Memorials are suggested to the charity of your choice.
This information was last updated 07/13/2026
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Date posted on this site: 10/11/2026
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