Tobi Mikkel Lehman, 41

Tobi Mikkel Lehman, 41, passed away during his sleep on March 9, 2017. He died accidently from his seizure disorder.

Tobi was born July 24, 1975, in Billings to Richard A. and Dyanne J. Lehman. At 4 years old, he moved to Kalispell with his mother. He attended elementary school at St. Matthew’s and Peterson School. Tobi went through junior high school and attended Flathead High School. He received his GED after leaving Flathead High School.

Tobi was known as a “social butterfly” during his school years and was very interested in art in any form. A work he did as a young teen was shown at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Tobi’s greatest loves were art, collecting anything, animals and playing sports. He started skiing on Big Mountain very young and went on to be a fearless downhill skier and later a snowboarder. Tobi wrestled in his younger years, played youth football and had the greatest love of playing baseball.

As soon as the snow melted in town, he was outside catching grounders and finding somewhere to play. He played on a 13-year-old All-Star Team, the championship American Legion Babe Ruth team that won state and went on to Regionals in 1990. Tobi spent a summer with his dad in Billings and played for the Billings Blues. Tobi played for the Kalispell Lakers in his last year. Tobi loved playing softball and played on numerous teams at the Conrad Complex. In his last years playing softball, he played with all his friends on the “Tie-Dye” team and had many fun and great games. In July of 1996, Tobi suffered a traumatic brain injury and his and his mother’s softball friends were very supportive during his recovery here and in Billings.

Tobi struggled for many years with alcoholism and had many good friends in and out of recovery. At the time of his death, he had been sober and straight for over three years. He was very straightforward about being in recovery. Tobi’s attitude was that everyone needs to be responsible for his or her own recovery.

Tobi was preceded in death by many family members, his Aunt Sherry Halvorson, Uncle Jeffrey Halvorson, Grandpa “Indy” Halvorson, Gramma Lorna Halvorson, Grandpa Leonard Lueck, Gramma Ingebjorg Lueck, Grandpa Walter Lehman and Gramma Elizabeth Lehman.

Tobi is survived by his mother, Dyanne Lehman of Whitefish, and his father Richard Lehman of Red Lodge. He is also survived by his son Johnathon Lehman of Lancaster, California, and his two younger half brothers, Jacob and Richard Lehman of Billings. Tobi is also survived by his loving partner, Beth Huston, of Kalispell. Tobi’s Aunt Colleen Lehman of Santa Barbara, California, Aunt Gloria and Uncle Tim Robertus, along with Uncle Tim Lehman of Odessa, Texas, will especially miss him. He is survived on his mother’s side by Great-aunt Agnes and Great-uncle Jim Nielsen and their three sons Curt, Christopher and Mikkel Nielsen of Missoula.

Tobi’s celebration of life is from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, at the Pavilion at Woodland Park in Kalispell. There will be burgers, salad and soda. Refer questions to his mother, Dyanne Lehman, on Facebook. Come share pictures, videos and stories about Tobi with friends and family.