Randy Edmisson

Randy Edmisson, 68, of Essex, Montana, died Sunday, March 17, of a heart attack. 

C. Randall “Randy” Edmisson was born in Shelby, Montana, in 1955, to Bill and Dolores “Dee” Edmisson, joining older brothers Mike and Billy. Randy became an older brother himself to John, Byrne, and Patrick. 

 Randy was an accomplished self-taught guitar player and played in a band in high school, but he was capable of picking up a bass or sitting at the drums if need be. He enjoyed the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. Once, after being threatened with expulsion for his hair being too long, Randy dutifully had it cut. But he quickly regretted the decision and went back to the barber shop to demand the barber put it back on. 

 Randy graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1974. Started working on the rigs after high school, sometimes working on drilling and service rigs at the same time. A roughneck through and though, he quickly became a driller, then a tool pusher. 

 Randy followed his father into the oilfield and worked on service rigs in the Cut Bank area before moving to California to work on offshore oil rigs. He worked on several large drilling rigs, including Platform Harvest and Offshore Ventura. 

 Randy preferred Montana to California, so he returned to Kalispell in 1994, and went to work drilling water wells. He enjoyed hiking and cross-country skiing. In 1996, Randy reconnected with Lisa, whom he had known years before. They married in September 1997 in a ceremony on the front lawn of the Izaak Walton Inn. He became stepfather to Shelly and Briana Wipf and resident tech support on the same day. 

 In 1997, he began working on offshore oil rigs in the South China Sea and later in Alaska. When Rolling Stone magazine did a story on the project he worked on in Alaska, he joked, “I was in Rolling Stone. I can die now.”

 Randy loved Essex. He purchased a lot in 1978 hoping to build there someday. Finally, in 2016, he and Lisa began that project. He enjoyed getting to know his neighbors and going to coffee with friends. The cabin was a work in progress – Randy was continuing the finish work when he died – but it was his pride and joy.  

Randy loved dogs. He and Lisa adopted two Rottweilers, Spangle and Annie, and later two Newfoundlands, Duncan and Lily. He disliked cats but lived with several over the years. 

In 2021, Randy and Lisa moved to Pittsburgh part-time to be closer to their daughters, Shelly and Briana, and their families. He enjoyed time with family, especially Shelly’s son David, for whom he acted as babysitter, assistant railroad engineer, checkers player, and shuttle driver.

 In Pittsburgh, Randy enjoyed city life. He saw the Rolling Stones at Heinz Field, went to a Pittsburgh Penguins game, and went to numerous museums and exhibitions. 

Randy split his time between Essex and Pittsburgh. He was preparing to go to for his next visit when he died, excited to spend Easter with family, drive to Virginia to see his brother Bryne, and visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

 Randy is survived by his wife, Lisa, of Pittsburgh, PA; stepdaughters, Shelly (David) Larson, of Pittsburgh, PA; Briana (Jesse Geleynse) Wipf; grandson, David; brothers, Billy (Deb), Denver, CO; John (Julie), of Colorado Springs, CO; Bryne (Linda), of Portsmouth, VA; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Mike and Patrick; and granddaughter, Adelaide. 

 Services will take place at Asper Funeral Home, 130 6th Ave SE, on Friday, March 22, at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, please make donations to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, or charitable organization of your choice.