Birth date: May 25, 1947 Death date: Jul 29, 2025
Richard Walter Behling, 78, passed away on July 29, 2025, following a prolonged illness. He was a son of the late Robert T. and LaVerne Behling of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Growing up, he was a Boy Scout and was proud to earn the rank Read Obituary
I was lucky to meet Dick at the beginning of my career in oil and gas. He was a fantastic friend and mentor to me early on and I'll never forget how kind he was. Every week he'd leave coupons for discounts on Reasor's steaks on my desk, and if you knew Dick, you'd know him sacrificing those coupons meant he must like you. Was a wonderful man and he'll be greatly missed!
Dick Behling as remembered by his friend Lyle Bruce
I first met Dick in August, 1974. We were both young exploration geologists at Texaco in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was taking law classes at night and passed the bar in a year or so. However, he primarily practiced geology. Dick introduced me to the “paycheck Friday” penny-ante poker games with other geologists such as John Ravenscroft, Haden Holcomb, Rob Lyon, Clyde Wootton and a few others. Winning or losing a dollar in one night was a big deal (no pun intended). As the years passed, we all went to work for other oil exploration companies in Tulsa, but kept up the poker games as best we could.
In the mid-1980s Dick and I and John Ravenscroft shared office space in the old Atlas Life building where each of us ran our own independent one-man exploration companies. Life was good until the oil bust. By 1989 or 90 we gave up the office space and went our separate ways.
I left Tulsa in 1996 pursuing a different career. However we old friends kept in touch, visited on occasion and even went on a few cruises together to places like Alaska and Europe.
Dick was a good man and a good friend. I will miss him.
Our Thanksgivings and Christmas Eves in Tulsa always included Dick and Julie. We think of them fondly on every holiday and will miss Dick's holiday emails!
Lyle and Nancy Bruce
For several years we attended the Milwaukee Rep with Dick and Julie. Frequently the evening would end with a stop at Rieder's for a Berliner Weisse. Many Memories of those days.
Rest in peace, Behls.
Bob Thiel and Ruth Holst
For several years we attended the Milwaukee Rep with Dick and Julie on Sunday evenings. Frequently, the evening would end with a stop at Rieder's for a Berliner Weisse. Many memories of those days.
Rest in peace.
Bob Thiel and Ruth Holst
RIP Dick. We were best friends from Grade School through College. Dick was the Best Man at my wedding. We had many good times together, some great and some very questionable. Will miss Dick very much even though we live in separate states.
Paul Gruenwald
Grilling marinated chuck roasts and drinking wine and beer through strawberry licorice straws at Milw parks.
Craig and Mary Witte
