Richard "Ric" Kenneth Tenneson, Jr. July 18, 1956 - September 18, 2014

Richard "Ric" Kenneth Tenneson, Jr., passed away in Helena, Montana, after battling cancer for two years.

Born in Helena on July 18, 1956, to Richard Tenneson and Mary Lee Tenneson, he grew up with his sister and brother, Barbie Bowers and JT Tenneson. He graduated from Lake Oswego High School and in 1985 graduated with a construction engineering management degree from Oregon State University. In his time at OSU, Ric was student body vice president and served as the Associate General Contractor's student chapter president.

Also during this time, Ric met and married the love of his life, Alison Waggoner, in 1982. Ric and Alison moved to California and then to Eugene, where they had their first daughter, Rachael, in 1990. During this time Ric started his own construction business, GT Contractors Inc., and became more involved with his family's business, Leupold & Stevens (L&S). He has been a director at L&S since 2003, and was instrumental in shaping the future direction of the company.

After the birth of their second daughter, Hannah, in 1997, Ric and Alison moved to Sisters, where they developed deep friendships in the community.

In 2008, Ric moved to Helena, where he was a co-owner of Tri-County Mechanical & Electrical. He was a board member for Northwest Sheet Metals and SMACNA, which are union-supported organizations.

Ric was a builder at heart. From the construction of multiple houses and shops in Central Oregon and Montana, to his passion for clay arts, to the inclusion of multiple children into his family including Neeka Rhodes, Allie Rhodes and Micah Rhodes.

Ric was an amazing teacher. He included as many people as possible on his boat to teach them surfing, wakeboarding and how to drive. He would spend as much time as needed to help others learn how to play hearts, how to throw a clay pot and do any construction job properly.

Ric leaves a legacy for his wife and children.

Survivors include his wife, Alison Tenneson; daughters and son-in-law Rachael and Jonathan Hillis, Hannah Tenneson, Neeka Rhodes, Allie Rhodes; father and step-mother Richard and Nancy Tenneson; brother JT Tenneson and sister Barbie Bower. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.

There will be a night of remembrance on Friday, October 3, at 7 p.m. at Sisters Coffee Co., 273 W. Hood Ave.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Leupold & Stevens Foundation, P.O. Box 1929, Beaverton, OR, 97075-1929.