Robert “Bob” Andersen passed away at home on Friday April 28, 2017 at age 81.
He was born June 21, 1935 in St. Paul, MN to Genevieve Andersen. The family later moved out of the big city to Lake Elmo, sparking what would become Bob’s lifelong love of the outdoors.
At age 18, Bob road his motorcycle out West to visit his aunt and uncle, Josephine and Dorie Halter, in Helena. He immediately loved this area, making it his home. Initially, Bob worked for his Uncle at the Helena Typewriter Shop. In 1962, he went to work at the Montana Highway Department, completing ten years of service before starting his own excavating company.
Bob’s personal interests included showing and raising quarter horses and bird hunting dogs. He was a team roping enthusiast and often participated in local rodeos and jackpots. Bob was an avid fisherman and fly tier who especially enjoyed fishing the streams, rivers and lakes in Western Montana. He belonged to the Helena Trap Club where he was a competitive trap shooter, winning various awards. Bob ran his own outfitting company, leading backcountry hunting and pack trips in the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness.
Bob married Carol Pickering on February 1, 1963 at St. John’s Lutheran Church. Together they enjoyed farming and ranching in the Helena valley as well as horseback activities. Bob built the family home near Lake Helena where they lived for a number of years. Later, Bob and Carol moved to a Cabin along the Missouri River near Cascade to be closer to hunting and fishing for two years before returning home to the Helena valley.
He is survived by his wife, of 54 years, Carol; daughters Tiffany and Janeen; and grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 5, 2017 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1000 Helena Ave., Helena, MT 59601 with a reception in the church immediately following. Memorials in Bob’s name are suggested to Hospice of St. Peter’s, 201 S. California St., Helena, MT 59601.
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Dirk Andersen says
Good bye Father. May God keep and receive you into his kingdom. Prayers from your son Robert Dirk Andersen