Robert 'Bob' Ross Gordon, 85

Robert "Bob" Ross Gordon, "our wonderful Dad, Papa, Brother and Uncle," passed away at Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland, Wash., on May 21, 2006, after a short battle with brain cancer. He joins his beloved wife, Donna, who preceded him in death in October 2000.

Bob was born June 25, 1920, to Ross and Evelyn Gordon in Minneapolis. He spent his early years at his grandfather's farm in Center City, Minn., investigating the wilds with his younger brother Bruce "Booty" Gordon. His later adventures would take him skiing to the new slopes of Aspen, Colo., and to the wilds of Alaska as he helped build the Alaskan Highway. Bob graduated from the University of Minnesota and moved to Montana, eventually landing in Billings where he met and married his wife, Donna Marie Persons.

Bob spent his career as a successful salesman and traveled extensively throughout Montana and the surrounding states. He loved sharing the history of Montana and its outdoors with his children and often took the family camping and fishing. His talent at oil painting often depicted many of the Montana places he visited. His fun-loving personality and grand sense of humor made him successful in work and life.

Bob spent his retirement years with his wife on their beloved home built on Swan River in Bigfork.

He loved watching the wildlife and river go by and cherished every moment at his river home with all his dear friends.

Bob is survived, and his memory lives on, by his two children, Chris and Betsy Gordon of Sammamish, Wash., and twin granddaughters, Anna and Chrissa Gordon; daughter, Kim and John Ramuta of Redmond, Wash.; and brother, Bruce Gordon of Silverthorne, Colo.; as well as cousins and nieces throughout the country. "Those of us who were privileged to know Bob will miss his great sense of humor, smiling face and good cheer."

A memorial service to celebrate Bob's life will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork. In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Bethany Lutheran Church - memory of Bob Gordon, P.O. Box 398 Bigfork, MT 59911.