PHILLIPS — Richard Alton Bredeau, 76, died peacefully at his home in Phillips Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012.

He was born in Kingfield, the son of Alton Bredeau of Canada and Evelyn Ellis Abbott. He graduated from Phillips High School in 1953 and Feb. 18, 1956 he married his childhood sweetheart Betty R. Huntington at the Methodist parsonage in Phillips. He worked all his life as a self-employed lumberman which he enjoyed and made it a great part of all his six children’s lives, including memories of going on weekends to wood camps and cooking hotdogs on the campfire. The family would all work together to make the next family vacation that he enjoyed, especially the travels to Nashville for the love of old time country music, to Florida and to the Amish country in Pennsylvania. Never forgetting, his favorite place to stop was the Crackerbarrel Restaurants.

He enjoyed town government serving as town selectman and as a member of the budget committee in Phillips for many years. He pulled the old railroad car with his bucket loader in the Phillips Old Home Days parade.

His family was his life, interested in whatever they were doing, from church picnics in the backyard, carrying Longerberger baskets, truck pulls, horse shows and horse racing, building his children’s homes, watching the birds and grandchildren from the front porch, boiling sap in the spring and working in the gardens.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Betty; sons, Wayne Bredeau and wife, Tami, Ward Bredeau and wife, Carrie, Wade Bredeau and companion, Debra Peters; daughter, Janet Bredeau White and husband, Dennis, Janice Bredeau , Joyce Bredeau Clark and husband, Carroll —all of Phillips, Dene White Stevens and husband, Matthew of Strong; brothers, Clinton Abbott and wife, Jackie, Gerald Abbott and wife, Sandra of Smithfield; sisters, Jane Abbott and Reta Gleason; sister-in-laws, Mertie Abbott and husband, Lewis, Velma Cousineau and friend, Jack Hinkley; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Derek White and wife, Laura Rose, Daren White and wife, Laura J., Colby Bredeau, Casey Bredeau and companion, John Pillsbury, Jenna Hardy, Josh Hardy, Alex and Sara Clark, Dawson Bredeau, Mason Stevens, Madison and Michael White, Nathan and Lindsey White, Aleksis and Ansen Pillsbury, Hailee and Marcus Rowe, and Bryson Clark; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of donations, the family wishes to leave you with these thoughts: People that knew him will remember a man that when asked help for, he would put his gloves and boots on, never asking what you needed, just saying “Lets go get it done.” Spend time with your families and per a children’s book given to him by his grandson this past Christmas “Little Bear ran straight up a tree” — ”Grandpa smiled (with a spark in is eye), ‘I can remember when I could climb as well as you,’ he said. ‘My arms were strong, but now I don’t need to run away.’ ‘Really, Grandpa?’ asked Little Bear, ‘What do you do instead?’ ‘Well,’ replied Grandpa, ‘I’m bolder now.’ When eagle swooped again, Grandpa barked in his deep, gruff voice. He roared, and eagle swerved away over the mountains. ‘Wow!’ said Little Bear, ‘I love you, Grandpa, you’re so brave!’” Love and miss you Dad, and God Bless!

A gathering of remembrance for family and friends will be held in the summer at the home of Richard and Betty Bredeau and will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation and Funeral Service in Farmington.