Robert 'Bob' Roswell May, 88
Robert “Bob” Roswell May, 88, passed away on July 15, 2021, at the Billings Clinic of old age complications.
Bob was born in Great Falls on Nov. 21, 1932, to Claude and Susan (Thompson) May. He moved to Kalispell at a young age and called the Flathead home thereafter, except for two years in the Army and a few final years in Lewistown. After graduating from Flathead County High School in 1950, he married his high school sweetheart, Jackie Peterson, in 1951 and became father to two girls. Bob was a constant hard worker and was never without a project to finish into his final days. He was a mechanic for the State Highway Department and the Department of State Lands and, upon retirement, he continued repairing, building and working in his own shop. Restoring a Diamond T truck and a Reo tractor were just two of his proudest accomplishments. He was also a founding member of the West Valley Fire Department, serving as chief for a year. Antique engines were another hobby and he had a lot of fun showing them at engine shows for many years.
Spending time outdoors was Bob’s real passion and he spent many weekends camping with Jackie and their friends collectively known as the Lazy 8. In the winter he snowmobiled all over the valley and especially enjoyed the overnight snowmobile trips with his more hardy companions. Camping trips to Alaska were his favorite destination and he would share stories of all his adventures with anyone who would listen and laugh with him.
Bob was a mechanic, a fireman, an engineer, a tree farmer, a woodsman, a tractor driver, a forklift operator, a fisherman, an outdoorsman and he was a kind man who loved a good joke, a loving husband and a wonderful father and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jackie, of Lewistown; his two children, Gail Ohnstad of Orlando, Florida, and Reta (Steven) Knox of Winifred, Montana; six grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Jesse and Laberta, brothers Vernon and Conna, his granddaughter Monica, and great-granddaughter, Sarah.
No services are planned at this time, but a celebration of life will be held later in Kalispell where Bob will be laid to rest at the Glacier Memorial Gardens, which overlooks the valley and his childhood home near the Bald Rock area.
Friends may make memorials to the charity of their choice and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.