Frank McKay Tobin, age 89, passed away at his Helena residence on Sunday, November 8, 2015 due to natural causes. Cremation has taken place and his funeral service with military honors will be held at Fort Harrison at 1:00pm on Monday, November 30, 2015.
Born in Helena, on May 9, 1926, to Frank and Dorothy (Cooper) Tobin, Frank attended Broadwater and Hawthorne grade schools and graduated from Helena High School in 1944. He joined the army reserves while still in high school and served from 1944-46, returning to Helena as a 1Lt.
He attended Carroll College from 1946-1948, transferring to Montana State College in 1949, graduating in 1951 with a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering. He was then recalled to the Army and served in the 7th Armored Division at Camp Roberts, California. Frank married Barbara Sanford March 7, 1948 and they had two children, Patty and Michael. They later divorced but remained friends.
Frank worked for the Great Northern Railway Co, Montana State Highway Department, Tobin Construction & Development and Ken R. White, Inc. Throughout his career he built many Highways and Bridges throughout the state, especially between Bozeman and Billings. If you’ve ever traveled around Montana chances are that he helped design the road you were on. After retirement his favorite hobby became his grandchildren – he never missed a sporting event or musical activity that any of them participated in – and there were many! He could be seen at football, soccer, or basketball games as well as track or gymnastic meets. He was the kid’s biggest fan at their choir and orchestra concerts and was a proud spectator of the various high school and college graduations. He became such a fixture in the lives of his grand kids that even most of their friends referred to him as Grandpa Frank.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Dorothy Tobin, older brother Bob, sister Mary Lou (Schmitz), brother-in-law Tom Schmitz and son-in-law Joe Mazurek.
He is survived by his younger brother John of Missoula, daughter Patty Mazurek of Helena, his son Michael (Peggy) Tobin of Sunburst, his grandchildren Tom (Katie) Mazurek of Bozeman, Jeff (Danielle) Mazurek of Helena, Dan (Melissa) Mazurek of East Helena, Michelle Tobin (Shaun) Huck of Spokane Valley, WA and Meghan Tobin (Travis) Barnes of Olivehurst, CA, and great grandchildren Elle & Sophie, Tyler & Kylie, Kasen and Deven and several nieces and nephews.
Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Frank.
Service Schedule
Burial with Military Honors
1:00 p.m.
Monday November 30, 2015
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroes Rd.
Ft. Harrison, Montana 59636
Service Schedule
Burial with Military Honors
1:00 p.m.
Monday November 30, 2015
Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Heroes Rd.
Ft. Harrison, Montana 59636
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Kristi says
We are so sorry to hear about Franks passing. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Lee & Kristi
KATHRYN L SANFORD says
FRANK WAS MY UNCLE AND I REMEMBER HIM WITH FOND MEMORIES. MY DEEPEST SYMPATHIES TO PATTY & MIKE.
Roger Skartveit says
Mike, Peg and family. So sorry to see read about Frank. Thoughts and prayers are with you
RD Smith says
My condolences to the family. My first engineering job was at Ken R. White from 1968 -1972 and Frank would let me off for the summer so I could ride race horses. He loved to bet on the races. Thanks for the memories, Frank.