Robert Milliron, 92, died December 25, 2012, with his daughter by his side in Helena, Montana.
He was born May 4, 1920, on Camas Prairie in Sanders County Montana to George and Marguerite Milliron.
Shortly after his 2nd birthday he moved to the Lincoln area with his four older siblings in a covered wagon pulled by a team of horses driven by his mother. He remembered peering out of the back as they drove through Missoula. He grew up in the mountains east of Lincoln. He attended summer school in a one room school where most of the time the only other students were his brothers and sisters.
After taking the state exam to pass the 8th grade at 14, he struck out on his own as a sheep herder to support himself and help his family out. From then on he was always gainfully employed on ranches, in saw mills, and in mines around Lincoln.
He married Louise Roe in a simple ceremony at a minister’s house on April 7, 1942. They began their 70 years of marriage in a tent outside of Lincoln while they built a cabin to live in. They later bought a house in Lincoln that he had to install a bathroom in. In fact, he installed a bathroom in four of the seven houses they lived in. While living in Lincoln, he continued to be a jack of all trades. They owned a store for a time and for three years he drove the “Lincoln Stage” to Helena and back every week day. He was responsible for the mail, picking up and delivering orders for groceries etc, and transporting passengers. He and Louise owned ranches in Boulder, Helmville, and Corvallis. He also worked on the road crews for Jefferson and Powell Counties as well for a road construction company for a time. He spent his vacations putting up the hay.
He took great joy in being a dad to his children Penny, Viki, and Gordon. He always found time to love and support them no matter what came along. He and Louise also provided a home for her grandmother Lulu, her brother Bob, his nephew Jim, and others who stayed off and on with them throughout the years. He supported his parents and siblings anyway he could. His five grandchildren always knew they could count on their “Grampa Bob”.
Bob was truly a cowboy. He helped start and was a charter member of both the Lincoln and Helmville Rodeo Clubs. He was even a pick-up-man for a time. He trained many horses and drove many teams in his life time. When he was younger, he enjoyed horseback trips into the Bob Marshal Wilderness with his family. After he retired, he enjoyed RV camping with family and RV trips with friends. He especially enjoyed the RV trips with Louise, daughter Penny and her husband Dick.
He liked family gatherings and a good party. He played many, many games of pinochle with family and friends, always complaining that he was dealt a bad hand. He loved to dance; he often said in the past year that he missed that the most. He probably had the biggest wood pile in Helena.
He is survived by his daughter Viki (Hugh) Spencer of Plains, brother Lawrence Milliron, and son-in-law Dick Foote of Helena. His grandchildren, Tom Dickinson, Bob Dickinson, and Debbie Watson all of Helena, Benjamin (Ashleen) Spencer and Brittany Spencer of Missoula. He is also survived by six great grandchildren, and four great, great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Louise, daughter Penny Milliron Foote, and son Gordon Milliron. His brothers Dan and Lynn Milliron, and sisters Flora Milliron, Hazel Miller, Dorothy Carter, and Madge Keough.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., January 2, 2013 at Retz Funeral Home. A Reception will follow at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home Banquet Hall, 3750 N. Montana Avenue. To offer a condolence or share a memory of Bob, please visit below.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday January 2, 2013
Retz Funeral Home
315 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Following the Memoriial Service
Wednesday January 2, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Banquet Hall
3750 North Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:00 p.m.
Wednesday January 2, 2013
Retz Funeral Home
315 East Sixth Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Following the Memoriial Service
Wednesday January 2, 2013
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Banquet Hall
3750 North Montana Avenue
Helena, Montana 59602
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Darlene Miller Scott says
Bob was such a gentle giant. He and Louise were always so soft spoken. They were wonderful friends to our family, especially when I was a little girl and we lived in Lincoln. We had many great days together. Bob was a great friend and buddy to my Dad. I’m sure Bob and Louise are happy that they are together once again. After all, they had a relationship made in Heven. RIP Bob.
Darlene Miller Scott
Jim Davy says
We will miss you Uncle Bob. With you and Aunt Louise gone it would just not be the same visiting Helena. We love you and am sure you are with Aunt Louise again, the love of your life. God Bless you and rest in His care.
Jim and Yvonne Davy
Sherry Carlson, Jeffeson County Museum says
I had only met Bob a couple of times, but one of the best afternoons I have had in a long time was listening to him recount his memories of living in Jefferson County, and of his wife and her grandmother. Bob told me some of his parent’s history in Elkhorn and Basin and several tidbits of history that I had not heard before. He was a most interesting man.
Sherry Carlson, Jefferson County Museum
Marilyn jurenka says
I loved your mom and dad…We had so much fun at your house when we were growing up. I can hear your dad’s laugh when he would joke with us…So many fun times with them and the Sallees…My thoughts are with you…love, Marilyn
Tanna Holbrook Camper says
I went to high school with Gordon in Corvallis and spent a lot of time at his house with Bob and Louise, I used to help hay in the summer time and Bob would let a bunch of us pile on top of hay wagon and off we would go flying down the highway on top of that hay when we asked him if we got paid for helping he said we were lucky we didn’t have to pay him for goofing off so much.He was a great Guy. RIP Bob u will be missed.