Robert Fred 'Bob' McAtee, 85

Robert Fred “Bob” McAtee, 85, of Kalispell, passed away at home on Dec. 2, 2019. He was at home until the end, and died of natural causes.

Bob was born on Aug. 22, 1934, in Kalispell, to Donald “Slim” and Ester McAtee. Bob was the oldest child, followed by a sister in March of 1937 lost at birth, Donna Rose. Juanita “Nita” Carol came next in June of 1939, and last but not least was Lawrence “Larry” Duane in June of 1941.

Bob’s early school days started in 1940 and were spent at Boorman and Batavia Schools in Smith Valley. In 1942, the family moved to town and he continued his schooling at Elrod, then Linderman, and concluded at Flathead County High School in the class of ’51. Uncle Sam came calling in 1956, and he answered the call to join the U.S. Army in October that year. His basic training was spent at Fort Carson, Colorado. He was then sent to New Mexico, and then Germany in 1957. Most of his Army days were spent as a truck and Jeep driver, as well as a mechanic. Bob was honorably discharged from active duty in September of ’58, and then spent two additional years in active Reserve.

Shortly after his Army stint, Bob met Kay Ness from Fortine through some family connections. In September 1960 Bob married Kay, and they adopted Jeff Fred McAtee in November 1966. The family settled in the Smith Valley area west of Kalispell. After a lengthy illness, Kay passed away in September of 1969. Later, while serving as president of the local Parents Without Partners organization, he met a fellow single parent, Carole Kaylene (then) McMannamy. They dated for four months and were married in November of 1973. This joined two families, including Jeff, and Carole’s children Robert and Pamela McMannamy. In June of 1976 they welcomed a new addition, David. After a short stay on the outskirts of Kalispell, they settled back in Smith Valley on the property he lived on until his passing.

As his young family had grown and matured, Bob served on the Boorman School Board for nine years and became a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in 1974. He supported his family as a logger, working for several companies until finally working with several cousins logging their own properties. Additionally, he ran his own lumber mill with cousins, and could be found every spare minute each fall cutting Christmas trees. He cut trees on his own property, as well as several plantations around the Flathead Valley.

Bob’s favorite time when not with his family was in the woods, where he could commune with God, nature, and his own thoughts. Incredibly, he was cutting trees professionally in one way or another even after his 80th birthday.

Bob was preceded in death by sister Donna Rose, brother Larry, first wife Kay, sister-in-law Patricia, mother Ester and father Slim.

He is survived by his wife Carole, sons Jeff, Robert, and David and his wife Heidi, daughter Pamela, grandkids Darin Owens and his wife Holly, Austin McAtee, Kyrstin McAtee, Brady McAtee, Parker McAtee and Cooper McAtee, additionally, great-grandsons Lucas, Salo and Marcus.

The funeral for Bob will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Trinity Lutheran Church. This will be followed immediately by a reception at Trinity. There will be a full military honors burial at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery after the reception.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.