Robert “Bob” Kelch, 56

Robert "Bob" Kelch, 56, passed away March 11, 2008, at the Brendan House in Kalispell. He was born March 17, 1951, in Whitefish to Everett and Edna Kelch.

Bob grew up in the Bissell community at the beginning of the Tally Lake Road. He went to Bissell School for eight years and then to Flathead High School were he graduated with the class of 1969. In high school he enjoyed auto mechanics and working on cars.

As a kid he enjoyed fishing, hunting and working on the family farm. He was involved in 4-H and Youth Grange. He also loved to go to the country dances at Bissell and Northwest Halls.

The year he graduated from high school he was married to Leilanie Siedel and from this marriage four children were born.

He worked in the woods as a sawyer for Royal Logging. He and Leilanie built a log home on their property on the Farm to Market Road west of Whitefish.

After being disabled Bob moved to Kalispell where he had lived ever since.

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Everett Kelch and stepmother Tiny Kelch; his brother, John, as an infant; older brother, Larry Dean Kelch; brother-in -law, Dave Creighton; and his nephew, Jason Madsen.

He is survived by his mother, Edna Kelch, of Kalispell; his children, Darla Kiser of Georgia, and Connie Kelch, Richard Kelch and Jessica Muench, all of Florida. Bob has six grandchildren, Kayleigh, Alyssa, Sarah, Heather, Nathan and Paige. He is also survived by his sisters, Ellen Creighton, and Sherry Madsen and husband Gerald; his brother, Lloyd Kelch, and wife, Marcia; and sister-in-law, Evelyn Kelch. He is also survived by his former wife, Leilanie, of Washington; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Bob will be missed by all of us that knew him. His kind spirit will live in all of our memories.

Graveside services will be announced at a later date.