Robert T. ‘Bob’ Sterling
Posted 03/17/06
POLSON — Robert T. ‘Bob’ Sterling, 90, passed away Friday, March 10, 2006, at his cabin on Flathead Lake in Polson due to heart failure. He was surrounded by family and died facing the Flathead Lake that he loved.
He was born July 4, 1915, in Ronan to Addison M. and Bessie Farrell Sterling.
Bob graduated from Ronan High School and enrolled, at age 17, in Carroll College in Helena and graduated in 1938. He also attended the University of Montana and he attended the University of Montana Law School from 1938 to 1939.
On Sept. 9, 1940, he married Clara Cornelius. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary Sept. 9, 2005.
In his younger days he enjoyed hunting trips into the Bob Marshall with area outfitters, trips with his hunting partners in the St. Regis area, as well as many duck, goose and pheasant hunts. He took great pride in teaching 12 grandchildren to water ski and coached “some 300” first time skiers. For several years following retirement they went to Scottsdale, Ariz., in the winter and spent summers on Flathead Lake. They wintered in Missoula for several years and then moved to St. Joseph Assisted Living in 2004.
In 1905 his father, A.M. Sterling, purchased the trading post in Ronan, received a government Indian Trader’s license and established the A.M. Sterling Company. He enlarged the store and built the Sterling Hotel and became the first major business man of the area. After his father suffered a stroke in 1939, Bob ran the store until 1962. The family moved to Medford, Ore., for a year then moved back to their beloved Montana in 1963. He worked in Missoula for 16 years in the right-of-way acquisition area of the real estate department of the Montana Power Company.
Bob was active in a number of organizations including the Ronan Lions — president one year; Ronan Chamber of Commerce, secretary two years and president one year; and the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department. He was instrumental with others in organizing and establishing the Lake County Junior Fair. He worked tirelessly on this project until he moved from Ronan in 1962. He was a member of the Montana Hardware and Implement Association, president one year; the Montana Citizens Freight Rate Association, director for two years; and the National Council of Catholic Men, Kalispell Deanary, president 1961.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, George; sister, Margaret Brooke and grandson, Dan Sterling
He is survived by his wife, Clara; six children, son Rob aka Robin (Peg), Missoula, their children Rob, Beth, John, Ann and Thomas; daughter, Janet (John) Fine, Helena, and their sons David and John; son Jack (Carol), Billings, and their children Amy and John; son Joe, Billings; son Cory aka Neil, Milwaukee, Wis.; and daughter, Mary (Tom) Moe, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and their children Anna Marie and Bill; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Lawrence and Lorraine Cornelius and Myrtle Hawkins.
The family would like to thank Dr. David Gorman and Dr. George Reed, the nursing staff at St. Joseph Hospital, the staff at St. Joseph Assisted Living and Lake County Hospice for their care.
Funeral services were held March 14 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Polson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Loyola Sacred Heart Foundation, 300 Edith Ave., Missoula, MT 59801 or the charity of one’s choice.
POLSON — Robert T. ‘Bob’ Sterling, 90, passed away Friday, March 10, 2006, at his cabin on Flathead Lake in Polson due to heart failure. He was surrounded by family and died facing the Flathead Lake that he loved.
He was born July 4, 1915, in Ronan to Addison M. and Bessie Farrell Sterling.
Bob graduated from Ronan High School and enrolled, at age 17, in Carroll College in Helena and graduated in 1938. He also attended the University of Montana and he attended the University of Montana Law School from 1938 to 1939.
On Sept. 9, 1940, he married Clara Cornelius. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary Sept. 9, 2005.
In his younger days he enjoyed hunting trips into the Bob Marshall with area outfitters, trips with his hunting partners in the St. Regis area, as well as many duck, goose and pheasant hunts. He took great pride in teaching 12 grandchildren to water ski and coached “some 300” first time skiers. For several years following retirement they went to Scottsdale, Ariz., in the winter and spent summers on Flathead Lake. They wintered in Missoula for several years and then moved to St. Joseph Assisted Living in 2004.
In 1905 his father, A.M. Sterling, purchased the trading post in Ronan, received a government Indian Trader’s license and established the A.M. Sterling Company. He enlarged the store and built the Sterling Hotel and became the first major business man of the area. After his father suffered a stroke in 1939, Bob ran the store until 1962. The family moved to Medford, Ore., for a year then moved back to their beloved Montana in 1963. He worked in Missoula for 16 years in the right-of-way acquisition area of the real estate department of the Montana Power Company.
Bob was active in a number of organizations including the Ronan Lions — president one year; Ronan Chamber of Commerce, secretary two years and president one year; and the Ronan Volunteer Fire Department. He was instrumental with others in organizing and establishing the Lake County Junior Fair. He worked tirelessly on this project until he moved from Ronan in 1962. He was a member of the Montana Hardware and Implement Association, president one year; the Montana Citizens Freight Rate Association, director for two years; and the National Council of Catholic Men, Kalispell Deanary, president 1961.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, George; sister, Margaret Brooke and grandson, Dan Sterling
He is survived by his wife, Clara; six children, son Rob aka Robin (Peg), Missoula, their children Rob, Beth, John, Ann and Thomas; daughter, Janet (John) Fine, Helena, and their sons David and John; son Jack (Carol), Billings, and their children Amy and John; son Joe, Billings; son Cory aka Neil, Milwaukee, Wis.; and daughter, Mary (Tom) Moe, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and their children Anna Marie and Bill; and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Lawrence and Lorraine Cornelius and Myrtle Hawkins.
The family would like to thank Dr. David Gorman and Dr. George Reed, the nursing staff at St. Joseph Hospital, the staff at St. Joseph Assisted Living and Lake County Hospice for their care.
Funeral services were held March 14 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Polson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Loyola Sacred Heart Foundation, 300 Edith Ave., Missoula, MT 59801 or the charity of one’s choice.
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