Robert Marshall Orser, 82
Robert Marshall Orser "went to be with his Lord" on Aug. 15, 2005. He died peacefully with family members present at the Immanuel Lutheran Home.
He was born in Kalispell, to Dr. Clarence M. and Mary Luella (Logan) Orser on Aug. 11, 1923. He met and married Delores Marken, the love of his life, on Sept. 2, 1948. They were married 50 years until her death in 1999.
Dr. Bob, as he was most well known, graduated from Flathead County High School in 1941 and went on to receive his doctorate in dentistry at the University of Michigan. He practiced dentistry in Kalispell for 47 years; the first 20 with his father and the latter 27 in partnership with Dr. Fred Allen. He served as a dental officer in the Army from 1951 to 1953 in Germany.
He was appointed to the State Board of Dental Examiners from 1961 to 1965, serving as president in 1965. He became a member of Rotary International in 1954. Within this organization he served both as president in 1958 and was the scoutmaster for their Boy Scout troop for many years. He was very involved in the community and served as a member of the school board for nine years.
After family and friends, his first loves were music, fly-fishing (with a rod … not a pole!), floating, fly-tying, golfing, camping, hiking, hunting, skiing, woodworking and traveling (as long as the destination included golf and/or fishing). His life-long love of music inspired him to be involved with a number of groups including a student/faculty quartet at University of Montana with his voice instructor, the late John Lester, the University of Montana Glee Club, the Michigan Choral Union Society, Philharmonic Symphony under Eugene Ormandy, and the First Presbyterian and Northridge Lutheran Choirs. Most recently he sang with both the Glacier Symphony and Chorale and the Montanaires as a charter member.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Delores Marken Orser; his parents; and his brother, John Logan Orser.
He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Jane Orser Groose of Kalispell; as well as his children, Susan Friess and her husband, Robert, of Columbia Falls, their four children, Logan Friess and his wife, Anna, of Sauk Centre, Minn., their two children, Nina and Nathaniel Friess; Brian Friess of Kalispell; Lindsay and Michael Davis of Dickson City, Pa.; and Daniel Friess of Clarks Summit, Pa.; Scott Orser and his wife, Amy, of Helena, and their two children, 1st Lt. Marken Orser and his wife, lst Lt. Christy Orser, both serving in the Army in Iraq; Marisa Orser of Bozeman; Malcolm Orser of Atlanta, Ga.; and Marsha Wilson and her husband, Dan, of Kalispell, and their son, Blake Wilson; as well as brothers-in-law and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, at Northridge Lutheran Church with Pastor Dan Heskett officiating, with a reception following services. Interment will be held at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday after the luncheon.
The family suggests any memorials to be sent to Northridge Lutheran General Church Fund, 323 Northridge Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901, The Montanaires and or Glacier Symphony and Chorale at 140 Main Street, Kalispell, MT 59901 or YWAM (Youth With A Mission), 501 Blacktail Road, Lakeside, MT 59922.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Robert's family.