Robert W. “Bob” Brookie, age 71 of Helena

Memories

Read the thoughts and memories, then feel free to add your own.

1. Juliann Lancaster says

   November 6, 2019 at 11:11 am

   I didn’t know Bob for very long as I just started my job at Opportunity Bank, Prospect. From my first day on the job, he was a joy to talk to, helpful, and always had a smile on his face. Every day someone would say, there is the white van…..Bob’s here. We all will miss his happy face and warm greetings. We are so sorry for your loss. He was just one of “those” guys, I will never forget.

2. Buddy and Marnette Phillips says

   November 7, 2019 at 12:05 pm

   Bob was a great guy! We came to know both he and Sue when we used Postnet as our mail distribution center. He seemed to enjoy everyday and always had a smile on his face. We’d like to send our condolences to Sue and his family. He will be truly missed!
   Buddy and Marnette Phillips

3. J. Mulhauser says

   November 7, 2019 at 5:08 pm

   My BEST and only true friend over the last 42 years. Bob was not an acquaintance, co-worker, or social connection…but my friend. Sue and the girls are in our prayers. J. Mul-

4. Debi says

   November 7, 2019 at 5:14 pm

   Bob really was a delightful guy, always smiling and ready for a visit. I will sure miss him, and my thoughts and prayers are with Dina, Tom, Sue and the entire family.

5. Diane St. Claire says

   November 8, 2019 at 11:24 am

   A twinkle in his eyes, a smile on his face, a cheerful countenance, and going the extra mile to help, (even if it means skiing to help!) Bov will be missed, for sure. Sue, you & Bob both have been bright lights, in the these difficult years for me. Thank you both. May God grant you & your family peace, comfort, & strength through this difficult time. God bless.

6. Amy & G.R. Mulhauser says

   November 10, 2019 at 3:18 pm

   Bob Brookie

   With deepest regrets I am collecting my thoughts about my friend Bob Brookie; I have put it off describing this tremendous loss for a week. Some 42 years ago my family was enticed to move to Saco, MT – AKA the mosquito capital of Montana. It was there that I got to know the Brookie family; his friendship was the best part of moving to Saco. As we were moving in, it became apparent that the small house we were renting was inadequate to store our possessions; so, we decided to put up a small metal storage building. Lacking the proper drill attachment to drive screws, I went to the local hardware store, Pippin Lumber Company, and inquired about a reduction unit for my drill. Bob told me that he didn’t have one for sale, but he generously offered me one in the store to use at my leisure.

   Coming from the western part of MT, Bob’s was an act of kindness that was quite unusual for a businessperson focused on profit. From that point on, Bob and I became great friends. Our families went exploring northern Montana together… often right up to the US / Canada border. We looked at old homesteads, unique buildings, railroad lines, and scouted game for hunting season. Our friendship became further cemented when I met Bob’s parents. I had asked his younger brother, Russell, to stay after school and being the new guy on the school staff, I didn’t realize that I caused Russell to miss the after school bus. Clearly, my only option was for me to drive Russell home. It was a rather long drive ending with my apology to his parents for causing him to miss the bus and be late getting home. Apparently, it was quite the talk of the town – for the new teacher to meet parents in that manner. Getting to know them was also a privilege.

   Bob and Sue’s two daughters, C & D, were also my students at the local school. Boy do I remember Bob giving me a hard time when I would wear my orange and black tie to represent the school colors. My tenure there as a teacher was short-lived when the administration tried to force me into a coaching position. Again, Bob told me that it was the talk of the town when I left that teaching position but stayed in Saco. That left even more time for us to spend together. I remember when he knocked at our front door one day (we did not have a telephone and cells were not yet invented) and asked me if I wanted to go for a ride with him – south of Malta to deliver some corral / ranch lumber. It was a great time – the first of many – and he talked me into joining the fire department (Chief of SVFD was just one of the many hats Bob wore). As we were talking and rolling up some fire hose, it turned out that he was also responsible for the local branch of the county ambulance service and he asked me to sign on since I was an EMT. My FRIEND Bob! Individuals that go to war together or that serve together under other periods of stress or duress build a different kind of friendship or comradeship. I remember attending to folks in various states of medical need while Bob piloted the ambulance bounding across very difficult roadways. It took a special kind of dedication to respond and assist when the patient was comatose or even covered in their own fluids. We responded and saved many lives from that little ambulance with limited medical supplies … whether making the long trip to Glasgow with sub-zero temperatures or just a short run to Malta. Bob ALWAYS had a smile on his face and in his voice when we went on those ambulance calls. He especially liked when he could come and get me out of a classroom for an ambulance “run”.
   As a native of the area, Bob knew everything about local hunting … birds, elk, deer, and antelope … all of which he kindly shared with me – guiding me to the best spots, harvesting game, and helping me season and cut / package the meat! I remember telling him on opening day as we lay in a freshly plowed field side by side – with my rifle on a bipod and a great animal centered in my cross-hairs, that I could not take the shot since it was too “easy”. I should have made that short range 100 yard shot because Bob always reminded me about when I took the longer shots made to harvest the other animals. It was hard for this mountain raised fellow to estimate accurately long distances, but Bob patiently explained the fence lines and accurate range assessment. Our hunting experiences drew us even closer together and we discussed the merits of reloading. He ordered in many supplies for me to use in reloading as well as numerous firearms. The reloading was a hobby that we would share right up until his untimely passing. We would sometime make a drive to the dump – even after dark – to check out the latest cartridge loadings. It was at that time that Bob developed a real like for a semi-auto pistol that I used for hunting and vowed that he would someday get his own Automag. We spent many nights shooting at the indoor range under the bar.

   Dogs have an uncanny ability to sense people and our Doberman Pinscher dogs, Bruner and Krimi, loved the Brookies and the Brookies loved them… so much to the point that when Bob and Sue asked about getting a “guard dog” for their business, we gave them our treasured and fully-trained Doberman, Kriminalpolizei – Krim. We left Saco the next spring just before the roads flooded, but stayed in touch with the Brookies as they, too, left Saco and moved to Helena. We got together several times visiting them and telephoning back and forth. They visited us both in western and northern Montana but one visit was very special. We went sailing on Flathead Lake. I will never forget when the girls were telling us that they could swim faster than the boat was moving. I looked over at Bob and he said “well, let them try” … one of the girls jumped into the water and you can guess the rest.
   The Brookie family then moved to Ohio for Sue’s job and we talked to them several times per year over holidays and sent cards back and forth. But were we glad when they moved back to Helena! We were all approaching retirement and hoped that they were almost there as well. Even though we were born several months apart, my wife says that Bob is my brother from a different mother. We enjoyed dinners together with Bob and Sue at their house in Helena, at our houses in Missoula and Ravalli County, different restaurants, as well as several get-togethers at McDonald Pass in our camper. Gun shows in Missoula and Ravalli County were always eagerly anticipated… although we missed the 50 mile yard sale this year. Bob often shared his treasures from yard sale-ing with us. Bob and Sue’s generosity was invaluable in delivering to us packing material when we moved from Missoula to Ravalli County. We always enjoyed shopping with them and Bob especially enjoyed the firearms stores when we would take off for a drive. Bob enjoyed photography and always had a new cloud formation photo to share with us.
   When they considered selling their business, we offered our research to assist them in finding a different location – hopefully closer to where we live. Bob and I talked sometimes for hours – almost weekly. He liked to remind me of his latest reloading activity – especially if it involved his Automag. We looked forward to retirement with the Brookies and to receiving frequent emails and calls from Both Bob and Sue … and hearing Bob’s friendly voice say ”what is going on?” Did we hit it off? No one has ever hit it off better!
   If you were ever involved with scouting, then you recognize – trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent; that describes my best friend ever, Bob – Jesus loves you and so do we.

   a & j mul-

7. Sally Russell says

   November 13, 2019 at 7:02 am

   Susan and family
   I didn’t know Bob very well but I do know every time I came in to PostNet both of u were so professional and so very friendly.
   Very sorry to read about this. My thought and prayers are with all of you, now, and the days ahead.. God Bless

8. Sharon Heigh says

   November 15, 2019 at 7:56 pm

   Sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. It was always a joy to go into Postnet to mail things and visit with Bob and Sue. Bob was always smiling. Sue and family my thoughts and prayers are with you. Sharon Baker Heigh