ROBERT NORMAN CHRISTOPHER

   BOB CHRISTOPHER

Robert Norman Christopher was born March 29, 1921 in Medina, North Dakota. He was the 9^th child born at home to Inga Lydia (Olsen) and Carl Christopher. Glenn Arthur, Bob's oldest brother was 17 at the time; Alfred Clifford, was 14, Roy Willard, was 11; Ruth Lillian, was 9; Lauren Ivan, and Lester Carl, were 7. Kenneth Orvin, was 5; Otto Vernon,  was 2. After Bob two more children joined the family: Doris Esther, and Donald Edwin.

Bob was raised on a small farm just outside of Medina, North Dakota in Peterson Township. Around 12 years old he had a job as a sheep herder for about a month. He was off by himself with just a dog and gun guarding the sheep. When Les and Lauren picked him up, he got paid so much that he had money hanging out of every pocket. Around 1933, when Vernon, Bob and Doris and Don were the only children left at home, Carl sold the homestead and lived on the Olsen Family Homestead in Minnesota for a while. Bob remembers going to high school with the Evans boys at Pequot Lakes. Then in 1936, they moved to Arlee, Montana where Lauren, Lester and Ken had settled. Bob attended Arlee High School. He was the manager of the basketball team and was proud to earn an Athletic Letter. He had lots of friends and enjoyed life.

When Bob was only 15, he was in a motorcycle accident at the Missoula County Fairgrounds.  His friend driving the motorcycle was killed and Bob's leg was damaged so severely, it had to be amputated. He wore a leg prosthesis for the rest of his life, but very few people knew he wore it. His swaggered walk was typical cowboy and went right along with the cowboy hat he always wore, and added to his character and charm.



 Bob met Beulah Winner (1921-)

 at high school and they were married 
July 25, 1939. They divorced later in 1944. They had two sons, 
Robert Carl (1940-1944) and 

Bob with Bobby

Harry Eugene (1943-2011) . 

Gene

Bob was in Richmond, California during WWII to work at the Kaiser shipyard. 
Bob was a supervisor of a welding crew. One of his biggest disappointments in
life that he could not be in the military and go to the Philippines with some of
his friends, because he was an amputee.

When the war ended, he returned to Arlee. In 1945 he became a
driver/salesman for Eddy's Bakery. He drove the Arlee to Polson route. 

Bob and his siblings were all together after the memorial service for his mother
 who passed away in 1949. 

      Bob

Glenn, Lauren, Lester, Ken,m Bob and Don

Bob met Juanita Roberts (Mary Juanita Mace, b. April 25, 1925) through Ellen Morin. Ellen was a co-worker at the Missoulian, where Juanita worked, and her husband Alvin had known Bob since high school. They were married October 14, 1950. 

Juanita's daughter, Brenda,  Bob and Juanita lived in Arlee for a while, but shortly thereafter moved to Missoula when Bob's delivery route changed to the Missoula- Drummond-Pillipsburg area.

He ended up delivering far more than just bread. He took bank deposits for most of the businesses in Drummond to the Phillipsburg Bank. He delivered turkeys to stores who had ordered them form a local grower. He even took laundry/dry cleaning from Missoula to Drummond and Phillpsburg customers. He did favors for everyone and in return everyone appreciated him and gave him free breakfasts, candy, turkeys and all sorts of gifts from the various merchants.

Jill Marie joined the family in March 16, 1955. Gene stayed part time with them and part time with his mother. They attended Missoula schools. Bob was offered to change routes again in 1972. This time it was to the Thompson Falls area. He wanted that route so he could move back to Arlee. He had bought property there several years before and had been spending weekends raising horses and farming the land. He was now free to pursue his dream of raising and breeding quarter horses. The kids loved being on the ranch.

He retired from Eddy's Bakery after 32 years of service, but he never retired or ever became tired of working on his ranch. Bob loved talking to his brothers and often told tales of his childhood and adventures they had growing up together. 

Lauren, Bob and Ken in back, Lester and Glenn in front

Glen, Ruth, Lauren, Lester, Ken and Bob

Bob enjoyed family reunions whenever he could and always made relatives 
and visitors to his ranch feel welcome and right at home.  Bob was involved
in Arlee's community in many ways, such as delivering meals from the Arlee
Senior Center for 12 years.

Bob and Ken at Arlee War Memorial

Juanita, Bob with Goldie Indreland and Blondie Rasmussen

Gene grew up and married Beverly Shelton in 1942. 

They lived in Hermiston Oregon and had two sons: Robert and Terrance 

and later six grandchildren: 

                                                                             

Robert with Aunts Jill and Brenda and grandmother Juanita

                                                                                   

Terrance with cousins Dawn Wahl and Resena Christopher

                                                                           

Gene and Beverly with grandkids

Brenda married John Beers in 1965 and they had three sons: 

Brian, Christopher and Gary and later two grandaughters, Breanna and 

Blakeley, daughters of Brian and Elizabeth:

John, Elizabeth wife of Brian, Brian in back
Gary, Brenda with Blakeley,  and Chris with Breanna

Jill married Michael Spieker in 1978 and they had two girls, 

Amy and Angela.

Jilll, Angela and Amy

Bob, Juanita, Jill, and Anglea

 Juanita and Bob shared 54 years enjoying their children, their grandchildren, their Montana home near Arlee and the comfort of each other. Bob always had a dry sense of humor and a smile a mile wide. He was admired and loved by all who knew him.  Bob was 83 years old when he passed away on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2004 in Missoula, Montana. 


MOST CHRISTOPHER COUSINS STILL PICTURE UNCLE BOB THIS WAY, WEARING IN HIS FAITHFUL BROWN STETSON HAT. 

Anyone wanting to add photos or stories to this post can email

 them to me at  lana.rankin@yahoo.com and I will add them on the next update of this blog.