Robert E. Casey III, 77

Robert E. Casey III, 77, passed away at his home in Kalispell on April 19, 2018, after a courageous battle with cancer.

“Casey,” as he was known, was born March 18, 1941, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Robert E. Casey Jr. and Ottilie Schutz. He attended Glenham and Mobridge, South Dakota schools. He married Roberta Byre in South Dakota in 1963 and Ardell J. Knox in Auburn, Washington, in 1985. He left South Dakota in 1965, resided in Elko, Nevada, and worked in a gold mine and construction. In 1967 he moved to Renton, Washington, where he worked as a mechanic for the Boeing Company in Renton and Everett. He retired in 1998 and moved to Kalispell.

Casey belonged to the Glacier Street Rod Association and the Flathead Pioneer Auto Club. He was also a member of the National Street Rod Association, The Big Sky Mopar Club, Goodguys and the Gold Wing Road Riders Association. He spent his retirement hours rebuilding old cars, street rodding and going to car events locally and around the country. He also delivered commodities for the Flathead Food Bank. He enjoyed spending winters with his wife in Arizona where they resided in an over-55 retirement community.

Casey was preceded in death by two sisters, Roberta Casey and Carol Perman and Wayne of Mobridge, South Dakota; two brothers, Kenneth Casey and Phyllis of Mobridge and Dennis Casey and Betty of Rapids City, South Dakota.

Casey is survived by two sisters, Bonnie Casey of Tacoma, Washington, and Sherrie Van Orman and Leland of Park City, Montana; and two brothers, Robbie Casey and Doris of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Boyd Casey of Tacoma. He is also survived by his loving family, his wife of 33 years, Ardell, his daughters Rebecca Curtis and Gregg of Covington, Washington, Rayette Fujihara and Chuck of Renton, Washington, and his son Ryan Casey and Kathy of Puyallup, Washington, and stepchildren Bill Loehr of Bigfork, Leslie Wright of Issaquah, Washington, and John Loehr of Kalispell.

He also dearly loved his grandchildren, Nolan, Trenton and Olivia of Covington, Sebastian Casey of Renton, Jameson Fujihara of Hawaii, Dain Wright of Ronald, Washington, Summer Wright of Renton, Alicia Casey of Puyallup, Penn Wright and Brianna of Walla Walla, Washington, and Elaine Christy and Jason of Anchorage, Alaska. He was also happy to have two great-grandsons, Brycen Stover of Puyallup, and Benjamin Wright of Issaquah. His is also survived by his many nieces and nephews and all his car buddies.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 25, at Darlington Cremation and Burial Service.

Donations may be made in Casey’s name to the Flathead Food Bank or Home Options Hospice.

Darlington Cremation and Burial Services is caring for Casey’s family.