Robert Lingle Sr.

Robert "Bob" Lingle Sr., 86, went to be with his Lord, Oct. 4, 2014 at his home in Kalispell with his family at his side.

He was born in Wolf Point on June 5, 1928. Bob attended schools at Elmont, Pasture Creek and Prairie Elk. He did many different things during his life, including working cattle in the Bear Paw Mountains, fixing fences and farming.

In 1950, Bob joined the military and served time in Korea. When he returned from the military, he worked construction at Glasgow Air Force Base, at Fort Peck Dam and on the highway through Glasgow.

In 1960, Bob moved to Columbia Falls, where he worked for the Forest Service, Superior Lumber and Columbia Falls Aluminum Co., from which he retired in 1993.

In 1981, Bob married Ardith Spicher Tompkins in Columbia Falls. Bob and Ardith liked music, dancing and traveling.

In 1993, they became snowbirds, going to Quartzsite, Ariz. until 2007, when they moved to Mesquite, Nev. for the winters. Home was Montana in the summer.

Bob was a member of the Columbia Falls Saddle Club, Back Country Horseman, Whitefish Moose, Kalispell Eagles, Kalispell Lions, Rocky Mountain Rollers and the Northwest Montana Accordion Association, where he really like the two campouts at Lone Pine for a weekend of friends, music and camping. He was also a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls and Mesquite Lutheran Church.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Goldie Lingle, brother Alvin and grandson Brandon.

He is survived by his wife Ardith; children Bill Neiss (Trish), of Sidney, Robert Jr., of Arizona, Mike, of Columbia Falls, Rhonda Appleton (Clayton), of Columbia Falls, and Mark (Rachael), of Chandler, Ariz.; stepsons Brian Thompkins (Diane), of Helena, Mike Thompkins (Kara), Lakewood, Wash., and Mark Thompkins (Carmen), of Friday Harbor, Wash.; sisters Beaulah Monroe, of Kalispell, and Mary Bates, of Wolf Point; and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A celebration of life will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 401 Seventh Street West, in Columbia Falls, on Saturday, June 20, 2015 at 10 a.m. Burial of ashes has taken place at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to a charity of choice in his name. Military Honors will be performed by the United Veterans of the Flathead.