Robert Edward Bottomley, age 87, of Townsend

        Bob passed away at the Broadwater Health Center in Townsend, Montana on the evening of September 7, 2013 comforted by his wife. He had been under treatment for chronic leukemia for ten years or more at St. Peter‘s Cancer Center.
           Robert Edward Bottomley was born in New London, Connecticut October 29, 1925 to Irving Robert Bottomley and Edith Mae Pennery. The family moved to Leominster, Massachusetts where he attended school.
  At the age of sixteen he joined the Navy September 28, 1943 and was honorably discharged on June 1, 1946 in Bremerton, Washington. He reenlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve for a period of four years.
             He worked in Tacoma, Washington as a Title Clerk during that time. Later he pursued other types of employment, eventually retiring from The U.S. Postal Service after 30 years of service at the Seattle Tacoma Airport facility on January 31,1989. For the last sixteen of these years he also drove school bus for the Auburn, Washington School District and served as President for the bus driver’s union.
              Bob had been a teacher of ballroom dancing in a Fred Astaire studio in Tacoma, Washington in his youth and met Jacqueline dancing in 1976.  Robert married Jacqueline Lee Myers Backer January 29, 1977 in Sumner, Washington and lived there until 1992. They moved to Montana living in East Helena for ten years then moved to Townsend.
            As a member of the Alliance Bible Church Bob faithfully served as a deacon for many years greeting everyone each Sunday and helping the treasurer keep account of the tithes.
He loved fishing most of all and never missed an opportunity to go hunting elk and deer.
Bob was a member of the Broadwater Rod and Gun Club and worked with businesses in Townsend for the club’s fundraising events.
              He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Martha Helen Valeri, brother James Frederick Bottomley, and Phyllis Rose Bottomley, the mother of his children Robert and Kelly.
               Robert is survived by his brother Theodore Joseph Bottomley, and by his wife, Jacqueline; daughters Michelle Marie Bottomley Othus (David) and Theresa Jokiel (Jon), sons Robert Edward Bottomley Jr. (Cinthia) and Kelly RayBottomley.  Stepchildren of a previous marriage to Barbara Visser Bottomley,Reno Kane and Shelly Kane.  Also, Jacqueline’s children, Keith Backer, Bruce Backer (Kathleen), and Trilby Backer Kosola (Douglas). Thirteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
                Bob will be missed by his family, our church family, and so many dear friends until we join with him and our Heavenly Father.
               A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m.  Monday, September 16, 2013 at Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 212 Broadway, Townsend, MT.  A reception will immediately follow the memorial service at the Alliance Bible Church, 110 E St Townsend, MT.  Burial with military honors will follow the reception at 2:30 p.m.  at the Montana State Veterans cemetery at Fort Harrison in Helena.  Memorials in Bob’s name may be made to the Alliance Bible Church, the Broadwater Health Center, or the St. Peter’s Cancer Treatment Center c/o St. Peter’s Hospital, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601.

         Our many thanks to all our church family and friends for all their love and to all the wonderful caregivers at both St. Peter’s Cancer Center over the years and those at the Broadwater Health Center the past few months.

Service Schedule

Memorial Service

11:00 a.m.

Monday September 16, 2013

Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

212 Broadway Street

Townsend, MT 59644

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Reception

Following the memorial service.

Monday September 16, 2013

Alliance Bible Church

110 E Street

Townsend, MT 59644

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Burial with Military Honors

2:30 p.m.

Monday September 16, 2013

Montana State Veterans Cemetery

Heros Road

Fort Harrison, MT

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