Gary Douglas Kober, 64

Gary Douglas Kober, loving and devoted husband and dad “departed this earthly world to be with our heavenly Father” on July 31, 2015.

Gary was born in Billings on March 27, 1951, the son of Sol and Virla Kober. The oldest of four, he learned work ethics at an early age on the irrigated cattle farm he grew up on in Park City. Gary loved football and was proud to be a PC Panther when they took the 1968 Southern Division Championship. He continued playing at Rocky Mountain College on a football scholarship. On Sept. 1, 1970, he hired out for the Burlington Northern Railroad where he was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1978, receiving the highest score to date on his training exam.

 Gary was always dedicated to his community, as a fireman and later as fire chief on the PC Volunteer Fire Deptartment, served on the PC School Board, coached both boy’s baseball and women’s softball teams. He loved dressing up as Santa for all the local kids at Christmas.

Gary, known as “the Kob” to his friends; loved to make people laugh, spending time with his pets, fishing, farming, carpentry, auctions, welding, and crafting new uses for old horse shoes for his booth at the Whitefish Farmers Market. Gary was always the first in line to help his family and friends with anything and he always thought of unique nicknames to make everyone feel special.

In 1971 Gary married his high school sweetheart, Catherine Ione Linger, and for the next 44 years, they were inseparable. This union was blessed with two children, Carrie Catherine and Lance Gary. In November 1987 Gary was transferred to Whitefish and they made their home up in the trees just south of Olney.   Gary served as Treasurer of the Olney Fire Board up until his diagnosis of cancer in October 2014. Gary was a big cowboy and a big flirt; anyone who knew him also knew he was full of bull! If you met him he was your friend. He tried hard not to lose his humor during his fight.

Gary was “met in heaven” by his parents, Sol and Virla Kober; brother, Tim Kober, in-laws, Lloyd F. and Evelyn Linger, and son-in-law, Evan F. Schneider.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine; daughter, Carrie C. Schneider of Bozeman; son, Lance G. Kober and daughter-in-law Krista Oge Kober of Whitefish; adopted grandson, Benjamine Krell of Cheney, Washington; sisters Kathy and Mike Alexander of Park City and Laurie Kober of Midland, Texas; sister-in-law Sharon and Wayne Roller of Park City; brother-in-law, Earl and Kathleen Linger of Laurel; sister-in-law Marsha and Randy Robertus of Billings; many uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Services will be held for Gary at 11 a.m. Aug. 15 at Depot Park under the tree where he set up his Farmers Market booth.

An additional service will also be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 22 in the Park City Civic Center.

Donations can be made in Gary’s name to the Olney Volunteer Fire Department or a charity of your choice.

To send a note of condolence to the family, go to www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.