Richard "Rick" Stephen Kinzell
Richard “Rick” Stephen Kinzell, 79 of Glasgow, Montana passed away October 5, 2026, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow.
Rick was the last of four children born to Leslie and Pearl (Mattson) Kinzell on April 25, 1947, in Glasgow, Montana. He grew up in Glasgow with parents who worked over 40 years for the Glasgow school system while raising a family and working the family farm. Rick went to school in Glasgow where he was involved in many sports including track and field where he excelled starting in the seventh grade. With his speed and agility, he was able to be part of the state champion 880yd relay team where they still hold the state record time to this day. He graduated from Glasgow High School in 1965.
After high school he attended Montana State University before joining the Army in 1968 and heading off to boot camp in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Upon completion he was assigned to the Army National Guard in Glasgow to serve in the area and care for his father who eventually died of Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 1968. He would serve there until 1973 where he rose to the rank of Sergeant. While serving in the Guard, he was also employed with Avco at the Glasgow Air Force Base. For several years he worked in various positions including as a bandoleer production foreman supervising over 100 employees.
On April 29, 1972, Rick married another Glasgow resident, Suzette Butts. While making Glasgow their home, Rick and Sue embarked on a series of adventures. Up or down, thin or flush in 54 years they never left each other’s side. During this adventure period, they raised a 150lb mountain lion named Shana. This larger-than-life docile feline was one of the highlights of Rick’s life in 1977 that he always liked to share stories of. In 1979 they welcomed their first child Teage Richard Kinzell while building their dream home North of Glasgow. Then in 1983, their second son Trent Leslie Kinzell joined the family.
Rick loved his sons and instilled into them his love for hunting and conservation. These were a huge part of Rick’s life starting at a young age, and he had many adventures over the years with his friends and family. During his hunting career, he was fortunate enough to harvest numerous North American big game animals including his Boone and Crockett Record Book bighorn sheep that took 50 years for him to draw a permit. He even made his way to the dark continent of Africa and took eight African plains species, including his life’s hunting dream to take a massive Cape Buffalo bull. He was always sharing stories with grandkids about the times he had or making new memories with the grandkids.
His love for Valley County and the people in it made his 38 years as member service director with Valley Electric and Valley Rural Telephone Co-op (later changing to Norval Electric) a perfect fit. Over those decades, he served the land and its people with a friendly dedication that earned the respect of its many members. While employed at the co-op, he was also able to use his other passion for writing to become editor of the popular newsletter The Milk River Ripples. In it he would write about the “old timers” in the cooperatives service area including pioneers, community leaders, and the many others who lived off the land. Rick always had a gift with words and was published several times throughout his life, from stories to poems. His way with words eventually led to his story about his bighorn sheep hunt being published in his favorite magazine, Outdoor Life.
After retiring from the co-op, Rick chose to spend his days relaxing at the cabin on Fort Peck Lake. His Pines oasis was a welcome getaway where he enjoyed fishing and watching the wildlife with his family and friends. While there, he loved to sit around the campfire and tell stories even if the one about “the big black wolf” was just to frighten the grandkids.
Rick was preceded in death by his parents, brother Leslie Kinzell, sister Cherie Norgon, and brother Gerald Kinzell.
He is survived by his wife Sue Kinzell of Glasgow; sons, Teage (Kristie) Kinzell of Courtenay, ND and Trent (Shanna) Kinzell of Minot, ND; grandchildren: Kalen (fiancé Isaac Stadler), Terek, Aiden, Tason, Harper, and Toren.
Services will be held at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 16, 2026, with burial at the Highland Cemetery. Viewing will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on October 15, 2026 at Bell Mortuary. Lunch will be served at the Cottonwood Inn after the graveside service. Online condolences may be left for the family at bellmortuarymt.com.
