Robert Lee Boegler, 68
Robert Lee Boegler, 68, passed away Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007, in his home surrounded by family.
He was born Aug. 21, 1938, to Ernest William Boegler and Matilda Jeannette (Olson), joining two sisters in the family home in Glasgow. They moved to Absarokee, Mont., shortly thereafter and the Beartooth Mountains became his playground and the love for them never left him.
Hiking, camping, fishing and hunting were his loves, and he spent as much time out-of-doors as he could. His family later moved to Billings, where he attended school and graduated from Billings Senior High in 1956.
He married Judith Mae Haun on Sept. 21, 1957, and they moved into a home in Billings, where he worked in the retail grocery industry. He remained in that industry with a brief break, during which time he sold Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance in Tucson, Ariz., and Albquerque, N.M. They then moved to Southern California and purchased a convenience-store franchise from Southland Corporation. After that, they purchased their own small supermarket in San Diego and did that for many years. During this time, they had two daughters.
In 1973, they then decided to return to Montana and settled for good in the Flathead Valley near Bigfork. They purchased the Woods Bay Market and later operated the Blue Bay Resort and the Camino Bar in Polson. After some medical difficulties, he then semi-retired, and owned and operated an Internet wholesale stamp business out of his home and continued that until his passing.
During his later years, his love of sports shined through as he followed all the NASCAR, basketball and football teams. He was the fantasy-football commissioner for a Bigfork league for the past 14 years. He also loved to play poker with the "boys."
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his sisters, Virginia Marie Lorenz and Adele Opal Milohov.
He left behind his wife of 49 years; daughters, Debi and her husband, John Singer, Denise and her husband, Joe Hamilton; grandchildren, Jennifer Lee Singer (Heidema), Amanda Gayle Singer (Buttars), J. Zachary Hamilton, Matthew Ron Singer, Rhiana Jeannette Singer, Cassondra Nicole Singer, and Jillian Marie Hamilton; five great-grandchildren; best friend, Jim Craft; his dogs, Lady and Lassie; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 27 in the chapel at the Bigfork Funeral Home.
The Boegler family would like to thank the nurses and aides of hospice for their wonderful care and concern during this time. The family suggests memorials be sent to the Flathead Chapter of Hospice.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.