Bob died April 19, 2014, of natural causes. Born in Livingston on Dec. 7, 1952, he grew up in Livingston and the Missoula and Alberton areas, graduating from Hellgate High School in 1971.

He graduated from Flathead Community College and Montana State University with degrees in agricultural production and obtained a master's in forestry and range management from Washington State University in 1982. In 1995 he earned a physical therapy degree from the University of Montana.

He was a man of many talents: smokejumper, sawyer, range scientist, physical therapist and rancher. Bob jumped at Missoula 74, 79, 92-94 and West Yellowstone 75-78 and 1981.