Belle Richards, 96, passed away from heart failure on May 25, 2017, with family at her side. Belle, a retired pediatrician, was one of Helena’s pioneering female doctors, an active member of the Helena community, a longtime activist for progressive Democratic causes, an intrepid outdoorswoman, and a loving mother and friend.
Belle was born Jean Belle Calkins on October 10, 1920, in Detroit, Michigan, to Myrtle and William Calkins. From an early age she was adventurous and loved nature. Her favorite childhood pet was a baby alligator named Iggy, to the dismay of her older sister Ruth. Despite their differences in interests, Belle and Ruth remained close their entire lives.
Belle graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1941 and from that university’s medical school in 1944. She became a licensed pediatrician. In 1944 she married Jerrold Richards. They moved to Helena in 1948 and later divorced.
In 1950 she opened her own practice in her Helena home after experiencing frustration as a female physician trying to obtain employment at existing practices. She maintained a full-time practice while being the primary caregiver of her own five children. In 1965 she joined the Helena Medical Clinic. She was a beloved doctor to many Helena children until retirement in 1985. In 2007 she received a lifetime achievement award from the Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In 2017, Lewis and Clark County honored Belle and six other women for their work 50 years ago to develop the Child and Youth Project, an innovative pediatric health program. Her children have many memories of walking to the County Court House lobby after school to meet her while she conducted vaccination clinics.
Belle was active in community affairs, running for the Helena City Council in the ‘70s and serving on the Lewis and Clark County Health Board. She was a lifelong passionate advocate of progressive, environmental, and women’s causes.
Belle loved the outdoors and went on frequent camping trips with the whole family, and later, backpacking trips with her children, often in Glacier National Park. She had many adventures, including a 1967 bear attack in Glacier. She and her teenaged children camped next to Granite Park Chalet just before the fatal attack there on the “Night of the Grizzlies”. After a nervous night there observing grizzlies feeding on garbage nearby, the family backpacked north on the North Circle Route. A morning or two later, Belle woke to a black bear biting her foot. Following the conventional wisdom at the time, she played dead—until the bear left her and grabbed one of her sons. She bolted up screaming, “Get away from my kid!!”; the bear fled; she stitched up her son’s and her own bite wounds and hiked the children out to the nearest trailhead. When she tried to report the attack, she couldn’t find anyone to take her story because the Park was in an uproar over the two fatal grizzly attacks that had just occurred.
Belle was kind and good-hearted but tough as nails. While backpacking alone in the Crazy Mountains, she fell and broke a wrist, yet was able to pack up her gear, hike out, and drive her stickshift car to a hospital, while managing to open—and dutifully close again—several barb-wire gates along the way out.
She rafted the Grand Canyon and the Salmon River; traveled widely, including Europe, the Galapagos, Iceland, and Hawaii; and hiked and backpacked (often solo), continuing into her 80s.
Belle was a fiercely independent person who lived alone in her Helena home until age 95. She spent the last 10 months of her life at The Legacy in Helena. It is a tribute to the Legacy’s staff that such an independent woman decided in a very short time that she truly enjoyed assisted living.
Belle was preceded in death by her parents; sister Ruth Yergens; and niece Marcia McMahon. She is survived by sons Carl (and Judy) of Calgary, Jerry of Lyle, Washington, Bob (and Patricia Corry) of Helena, and Paul of Boulder; daughter Jean; nephews Bill Yergens and Paul (and Bettijean) Yergens; and a wide circle of friends, fellow Democratic activists, and professional colleagues.
The family will hold a memorial party for Belle on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, from 4-8 pm at Benny’s Bistro in Helena. Please RSVP attendance at: www.helenafunerals.com/obituaries/Belle-Richards/ by October 3. Per Belle’s wishes, the “price of admission” is sharing a story or remembrance of Belle, which can be done at the webpage above or at the party.
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Terri Burgess says
It’s been an honor to have spent our time together the past years. My condolences to your family.
Sid and Terri Burgess
Robert Richards says
Our friend Angela Mueller shared this story: Belle was pretty cool under fire. When Angela was training as a Licensed Practical Nurse one of her rotations was with Belle at a pediatric clinic. Belle was performing a circumcision when an earthquake struck. She said “… Hmmm. I guess we’re having an earthquake” and didn’t pause for a second.
Robert Richards says
2 files added to the album Belle Photos
Julia Demaree says
She was my Dr from the time I was born until she retired. She kept telling me I was too old to see the pediatrician but I just told her she was my doctor and she treated me until I was nearly 20 (when she finally retired) because she knew I loved and trusted her. She was a jewel and I still abide by some of her instructions . Thank you for sharing her with us. She made a huge difference for so many people. Truly a life well lived and loved.
Renee Doney Stapleton says
I grew up in Helena, and Dr. Richards was my pediatrician from 1972-1985. I adored her. Her toughness, compassion, devotion to humanity, and grit were inspiring, and I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a physician, too. She made me believe that women could do anything. Having graduated from medical school less than 1/4 century after women won the right to vote, I can only imagine what she must have endured.
I did go into medicine and now practice at the University of Vermont. After her retirement, I didn’t know happened to her, but she often enters my thoughts, and I am so grateful to have known her. I wish I had told her how very much she meant to me. Godspeed, Dr. Richards.
Dundee's Barber Shop says
I miss our thoughtful and colorful conversations and laughs. Belle was truly an inspiration on many levels, one being that she never gave up on putting one foot in front of the other no matter how tough the going got! I am honored to have had a delightful friendship with her. My condolences to Belle’s family. Dundee Warden
Francis Maternowski says
Belle was truly a great person, loved by so many of us, who are so thankful we were in her life and she in ours.
~ Frank Kromkowski
Terri Stevens says
She was my sisters and my doctor when we were little. We thought she was wonderful and no nonsense.
Chic Barnett says
She saved my son’s life. She was a very special person to me and my family. We had many great conversations together over many years. A hell of a gal.
Chic Barnett
Patricia Corry says
Belle was my mother-in-law. There are so many great “Belle†stories, but here is one of my favorites that shows what she was like. This occurred roughly 30 years ago when Belle would’ve been in her late 60s. She and I were on our way to a housewarming party at the Runkels’ then-new house on Gold Rush. Belle was behind the wheel of her little Subaru Justy. The upper east side was much less developed then and some of the streets didn’t exist yet; there were a lot of vacant areas crisscrossed with informal dirt roads. Belle was trying to recall how to get to the Runkels’. We started down a 2-track that got worse as we went east. It was muddy and it got so bad that we knew if she slowed down or stopped, we’d be stuck and have to push the car in the mud in our party clothes. All of a sudden, up ahead we could see that the 2-track ended at the base of a steep grassy embankment. Saddle Drive was just beyond and above the embankment, but there was no connection to it from where we were. Just as I was thinking we were doomed to get stuck in the mud, Belle slammed the accelerator, we roared up the steep slope, did a Dukes of Hazzard flight over the curb, and landed sideways in the middle of Saddle Drive. She looked at me, looked around, and calmly said, “Oh, I know how to get there from here.†And we proceeded on to the party. All I could think was, “Most – awesome – mother-in-law – EVER!!â€
Pat Corry
DeeAnn Jeschke says
I am sorry for your loss.
DeeAnn DeFord Jeschke
Gene Freedman says
I was very saddened to hear of Belle’s passing. The very first time I met her was Christmas 1975 and she was using a blowtorch to wax her cross-country skis; that immediately gave me an idea of what kind of woman this was. This was after I’d heard that her children had given her a chain-saw for her birthday earlier that year.
Although I was just some east-coast stranger who escaped New York (later, in the summer of 1976) to recuperate in Helena and was barely known to her, she welcomed me into her home as family. When I was sick, she would come to my little shack on the east side of town, do a throat culture, and generally look after me.
I will never forget when she took me with her (along with a couple of her ‘kids’) to her property in the Crazies … I still recount to friends of driving 3 hours from Helena, then about 15 miles down a dirt road to a gate, where we got out, went around the gate, crossed a stream (my first taste of really fresh water), walked a couple of miles on a forest service trail, then she pointed to the right, up a sloped meadow without a trail, and said, “up this way.” After walking for I can’t remember how far without any trail, we arrived at her property — the most beautiful plot of land I’ve ever seen, at the bowled-base of a mountain with a spring and surrounded by old-growth forest. It was the first time I ever saw my shadow cast by STARLIGHT!!! (I was also buzzed by an owl, but that’s another story). On our way out, we stopped at another meadow and picked and ate wild strawberries.
Even though I left Helena in 1977, Belle and I stayed in touch, at least annually, with our holiday catch-ups. I’m very sorry I only got to see her twice in the last 40 years, but her kindness and love have stayed with me all this time.
My heartfelt condolences to all of her family and friends. I wish I could be there in October to share everyone’s stories and memories.
— Gene Freedman
Kristen Kane says
We did not know Belle in her roles of pioneering doctor, progressive activist, intrepid outdoorswoman, but we do know Jerry, and can attest to the fact that she must have been an amazing mother. I imagine she is proudest of her accomplishment of raising a kind, thoughtful and incredibly talented son.
Jerry, I am sure that you carry on your mother’s legacy of spirit and soulfulness.
Sending you love from Lyle,
the Kane clan
trish barnes says
During my elementary school years, I spent many hours at the Richards home with my good friend Jean. One evening while helping with dinner preparations, I cut a finger. I was terrified, not because I had cut my finger but because I had [1] been clearly careless and [2] interrupted Belle’s work. I remember my deep relief when she kindly and quickly bandaged my finger. There was no lecture on paying better attention when using knives.
Trish Barnes
Big Sky Cremation & Twitchell Funeral Se rvice says
1 file added to the album Belle Photos
Richard Young says
I was born in Helena in 1945 to Richard Young and Dawn Young. My father was the son of Zee Young and Floyd Young at 706 Monroe, and my mom and I had stayed for almost 2 years with Zee and Floyd in Helena while my father was overseas in WWII. Belle and I are related through her mother, Myrtle Calkins, who was the sister of my grandfather, Floyd Young. So we are descended from the same two people – my great-grandparents and her grandparents (father and mother of Floyd and Myrtle). So I guess that makes once cousins once-removed or some such. I also see that Belle was born in Detroit, where I now live, so that is one more connection. She was a remarkable woman, far ahead of her time.
I used to come back to Helena every few years or so to visit my grandparents. There are many Belle stories, but I will relate just two of them that were particularly meaningful for me.
The first occurred during my sixteenth year, which would have been 1961. I was sent for the whole summer to Helena while my parents were getting a divorce. I had not met Belle directly before then that I remember, but Zee suggested I go meet her and her family. I did so, and Belle and her children welcomed me like one of her family. I used to go over to her house quite a bit that summer, and had many wonderful times with Belle, Carl, Jean, and Paul. All her children are themselves remarkable people in their own right and I know how much she thought of them and loved all of them, even through some difficult times. I stayed friendly with Belle through the years since. We would exchange emails about family matters, and I would make every effort to visit with her whenever I got back to Helena. I also became good friends with Jean for a time when she was living outside Montana, but I lost contact with her. Belle was truly an incredible woman, who single-handedly raised some outstanding children, all the while with a full-time job serving the Helena community.
My other story concerning Belle is what she did for my grandmother Zee Young. Zee was living alone in her big house at 706 Monroe, after my grandfather died. Belle took Zee under her wing, and would often look in on her. When Zee fell down the steps in her 80’s, it was Belle who was the first family member there, and got her to the hospital. Belle then basically saw to it with no dissension permitted (so could be quite firm on life-threatening issues!) that Zee enter the nursing home there in town, despite Zee’s adamant wishes not to do so. It was the right decision and I am sure Belle saved her life with that decision. My Uncle Bob saw to it that Zee’s house was rapidly sold so Zee could go back there. I visited my grandmother Zee just before her death in the nursing home, and she was finally happy there. I just found out that Belle in the last years of her life had also entered an assisted living facility, and I hope that she was happy there.
For these and many other reasons, I will be forever grateful to the remarkable, compassionate, brilliant, talented Belle, and will always miss her.
With my condolences and warmest best wishes to the immediate family,
Richard (Dick) Young
David Friedrichs says
I only spent time with Belle Richards on a handful of occasions in 1971-1972, but she made a lasting impression on me as a remarkable and memorable person – for all the reasons mentioned in the obituary. Her empathy in difficult circumstances was much appreciated by me. I initiated a correspondence with her, beginning in 1996, which lasted quite a few years, always with lively and interesting comments from her. It was gratifying to me that when I mentioned to Belle my recently published book in 1996 she took the trouble to track it down in the Carroll College library. Her political outlook was very much in line with my own, and I much admired her long-standing engagement with political issues. I do not happen to share Belle’s love of the great outdoors, but my son – who is a high school teacher in Alaska – certainly does, and I regarded it as especially thoughtful when Belle provided me with contact information when he headed off many years ago on one of his climbing adventures. Those who were privileged to know Belle Richards during the course of her long life will surely cherish their memories of this singular – and inspirational – woman.
David Friedrichs
Clarks Green, Pennsylvania
Mary Runkel says
I met Belle as the office nurse in 1978 at the Helena Medical Clinic. She taught me the art of listening to children. She introduced me to teaching the importance of breastfeeding,complications of second hand smoke for babies,nutrition and exercise were part of her assessments. Long before it was the standard of care she wrote out instructions in her rolling script for parents.
She included my spouse, Bob at gatherings that included the legendary Solstice party. She welcomed our daughter Anne, at age 2 she sat her up on telephone books so she could eat off her Haviland china for Easter brunch. Belle offered to “babysit our second daughter Kate at 2 weeks of age so we could go to dinner. Upon our return she handed Kate to me and said, “This one has a mind of her own” That mind of her own is now in medical school.
As our daughters matured their visits with Belle were their own friendship as she encouraged them to pursue their dreams in science.
Belle had a special gift of interest, regard, and communication for every friend. She was unique and powerful.
Special thanks to Bob and Pat, Mary Anne and Jan, Rick and Joanne, and Terri Burgess for supporting Belle to maintain her friendships and independent spirit.
A forever friend – thanks Belle
Sandra Lilligren says
Belle and I met only once, at Jerry’s birthday party in Lyle nearly 20 years ago. But her vitality, ingenuity, and integrity was apparent to me in 1991 soon after I met my beloved Warren (Miller – deceased in 1914). Three of Belle’s son – Carl, Jerry and Robert – were fast friends of Warren’s, and I was regaled with many stories of Richard’s Clan doings that included Warren after he met Carl at Reed College in Portland. I always felt that the Richards’ Clan was Warren’s second family. Not only were those many stories so heartwarming and delicious, but when Warren died, the Richards’ turned out en force to honor him and lend comfort to me at his memorial. Belle could not attend, but asked me how she could effectively honor Warren by helping someone else. In his name she helped send the son of a good friend of ours to rural Africa for a summer’s work in medical assistance. I wish I had spent more time with her.
Thank you all for loving Warren as you did; your mother raised fine folk! My very best to you all as you contemplate that change that has occurred with her passing.
Love, Sandy Lilligren
Cherryl Evans says
I have such fond memories of Dr. Richards as my doctor and neighbor of many years.
As my doctor I remember her putting stitches in my mouth three times in one week and her holding me against the door to give me a polio shot as I tried to escape that needle. I was in her office so many times I thought of her as my own private doctor.
As a neighbor I remember being there for dinner. She left the table to answer the phone and one of the boys threw his broccoli in the garbage. Belle came back to the dining room, saw the broccoli was gone, went to the garbage, got the broccoli and put it back on his plate. Jean and I were always baking. One day we made probably 100 cupcakes with blue and green food coloring. They looked pretty moldy. Belle never got upset with us. Who could ever forget the cowbell being rung at dinner time telling her kids it was time to eat. It also told the rest of us to go home for dinner.
When I think of Belle, I see her sitting on her sidewalk working on her rock garden. She spent so many hours out there and her garden was beautiful.
She was a wonderful person and doctor. My condolences to her family.
Cherryl Evans
Kate says
I don’t remember the first time I met Belle because for me, she was always a part of my life. I grew up listening to Belle talk about the most recent politics, current events, and the most recent book she read. I have wonderful memories of swimming in her pool with my sister and the blowup, life sized, emperor penguin she had. I can’t pick one memory of Belle because the impact she had on my life wasn’t contained in one moment. She taught me that to make it in medical school in the 40’s “all you had to do was be smarter than the boys, which really wasn’t that hard.” She taught me that being a woman in science is valuable, that medicine is a wonderful field, and that age is primarily a construct. She lived her life fully and actively in her 80s and 90s; she was always reading and interested in the world around her. As I move forward in my medical career, I hope I can take with me some of her wit, drive, and cantankerousness for my patients. I hope I can stay true to what she said about me when I was 2 years old: “this one has a mind of her own.”
Thank you to everyone that made her independence possible in her later years.
Love,
Kate Runkel
Phi Beta Kappa Staff says
Phi Beta Kappa sends our condolences to the family and friends of our member Belle Richards, who earned Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Michigan Alpha Chapter of Michigan in 1941. Her adventurous spirit exemplifies the highest ideals of Phi Beta Kappa, and we are grateful to have had her as a member for so many years.
Rick Schlenker says
I have fond memories of Belle Richards. I was truly saddened when I heard that she had passed away, not only because of the loss of a friend, but because her family and the Helena community had lost one of its very best.
I always admired her energy, whether she was working on her many social interests, or planning her next solstice celebration, or spending the week at her cabin in the Crazy Mountains, she was always doing something or planning her next adventure.
She had a positive perspective, and her knowledge and acceptance of the future was refreshing. I first met Belle later in her life when we worked together designing her new retirement home. She knew that she would eventually need brighter lighting, crisper acoustics, better accessibility, maybe an apartment for a future caregiver, and of course a lap pool for continued physical activity. Belle did a good job of planning, as she lived in that house and used that pool well into her 90s.
I can only hope to live as well, as productive, and as long a life as Belle did. I am blessed for having known her and learned from her.
Rick Schlenker
Leila Peters says
When I bought my cabin in the Crazy Mountains in Montana, I thought I had everything I ever dreamed of, a place of my own paradise. I took long walks with my dog, Pepper, in awe of everything. Fear kept me from hiking the mountain trails alone. I didn’t realize then that I would meet a fearless woman who would open my eyes to the mountains and many things more.
On the way back from an excursion in my van I saw an elderly woman walking briskly toward the mountains with a knapsack on her back and a bed roll on her shoulders. I jumped from the van. I had to meet this woman who would brave the wilderness alone. She told me that her children walked too fast, so she would go alone. She planned to make a camp at the beginning of Trespass Trail, then hike to her section of land miles up. All I could think of was bears and mountain lions.
I had to see this woman again, so I did what any star struck person would do. When I saw a little red car parked off the road I left her a note asking if I could hike with her sometime, gave her my Indiana address and phone number and put it under the windshield wiper. She answered and that was the beginning of a friendship of twenty years. When Belle came down to her Crazy Mountains she would stop and visit. When she couldn’t drive down I went to Helena. Now I am an “elderly†woman cherishing those too short but rich and loving visits.
I am still star struck and Belle will never be forgotten. Leila Peters