Richard "Rick" Alan Gabel

Richard Alan Gabel of Billings, MT passed away unexpectedly on July 14th, 2023.

Richard was born in Hardin, MT on September 18, 1968, to Sandy Gabel.

Richard graduated from Hardin High School in 1986 and went on to bootcamp in August of 1986. He continued with the Army reserves while attending Miles City Community College and participated on the rodeo team as a bull rider. In 1995 he transferred from the reserves to active duty with the US Army and was stationed in Alaska at Ft. Richardson Army Base where he finished out his time as an E6 Staff Sergeant and raised his two children, Cody Gabel and Courtney Gabel. He went on to begin his work on the North Slope in 2006 with NC Machinery and received his diesel mechanic certification from the University of Anchorage Alaska in 2008. In 2017 he decided to leave the slope and work at Peterbilt in Billings, MT until returning back to the slope with ASRC energy services in 2019 where he remained until his passing.

Through his years in the military and working on the slope he always had a love for bull riding and rodeos. In October 2022 he started his business, Big Sky Bucking Bulls, LLC. Although he was called home way too soon, it is a rare thing to be able to say that he was able to spend the remainder of his days living his dream of owning and training bucking bulls.

Richard is survived by his mother, Sandy Gabel, sister Shannon Gabel, son Cody Gabel and daughter Courtney Gabel, granddaughters Hallie, Freedom, Olive and Claire, nieces Darbi and Abbi, two loyal companions, Sadie and Bandit, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins and his girlfriend, Heather Hansen Hampton.

Richard is preceded in death by his father Larry Gabel, grandfather Roy Smith, grandmother Carolyn Smith, grandson Jackson as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral service will take place at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Billings, MT at 11:00 a.m. on July 25th, 2023 followed by a luncheon at the church and a graveside service at Fairview Cemetery in Hardin, MT.

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