Aug. 30, 1944 — April 1, 2026
Rich Piercy passed away April 1, 2026, in Geneva, Illinois, with his wife and daughter by his side.
Rich was raised on a farm in Iowa, went to college to become a mechanical engineer and enjoyed a career at Caterpillar, Inc.
In 2006, Rich and Leslie left Geneva, Illinois, for Big Sky, Montana, where their love for hiking, climbing and skiing was easily fulfilled. Rich was known for his knowledge of the backcountry where he led many friends on hiking adventures on and off the beaten path. His easy-going nature; calmness under pressure and preparedness for an emergency made him the perfect hike leader. This is evidenced by his actions which more than likely saved his friends’ lives during a grizzly bear encounter on a hike on the Buffalo Horn trail.
Rich was also known for the generosity of his time to the greater Big Sky community as an on-call employee for the Big Sky Fire Department; a volunteer ski patroller at Big Sky Resort and a volunteer for Big Sky Search and Rescue. Once again, the qualities that Rich brought to the hiking community made him a valuable member of these three organizations.
Rich’s contributions to Big Sky will continue in the lives of his friends as they hike the trails he introduced them to and in the stories friends share about their adventures with him. It will also continue in the lives of the people Rich touched in his various volunteer roles when they were having a bad day.
His friends will gather to share stories and memories on Aug. 13, 2026, in a meadow near the North Fork of the Gallatin River. The Rich Piercy Memorial Hike will begin at 8:30 a.m. leaving from The Wilson Hotel parking lot (East portion of the lot) where attendees will carpool to the North Fork Trailhead. The hike to the meadow from the trailhead is an easy 2.3 miles with a slight elevation gain of 445 feet. Expect to cross one mud puddle and one bridge. The hike is 4.5 miles round trip. Expect to be back at the Wilson Hotel parking lot by 1 p.m.
The family is holding a memorial service in Geneva, Illinois.
