Arnold Kober

MISSOULAâ�,��**– Arnold Victor "Arnie" Kober, 83, of Missoula, passed away Sunday, June 2, 2013, at The Springs of Missoula.

Arnie was born at home on the family farm in Young's Point, just west of Park City, on Nov. 19, 1929. He was the youngest of six children born to Elizabeth (Walter) Kober and Lewin Kober. As a young boy, he worked on the family farm and graduated from Park City High School in 1947. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Fort Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska.

After his discharge, he returned to Montana and enrolled in what is now the University of Montana in Missoula, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1957. Upon his graduation, Arnie went to work for the Carter Oil Co., now Exxon Mobil, until he retired in 1983. After retiring, he stayed active in various business endeavors.

On Dec. 18, 1954, he married Ida Mae Rademacher from Molt. They were married for 39 years and had three children together. They resided in Bozeman and Missoula. Ida preceded him in death in 1994.

Arnie remarried in 1999 when he wed Pauline J. Garner. They were married until Pauline passed away in 2012.

Arnie was an avid fan and supporter of Montana Grizzlies athletics, attending most of the home football and basketball games. He was also a vocal supporter of the New York Yankees and attended the final games of the 1998 World Series. Arnie became a supporter of University of Montana academics when he established an endowed scholarship at the School of Business Administration as a memorial to Ida.

Besides sports, Arnie enjoyed gardening, traveling, playing cards, collecting coins, stamps and baseball cards, and attending Kober family reunions. He loved playing games with his grandchildren and would try to keep any kind of competitive edge. He will be remembered for his sense of humor. He will be missed.

In addition to his two wives, Arnie was preceded in death by his three older brothers and their spouses, Thomas and Mary, Albert and Janice, and Johnny and Marge; his sister, Gertrude; sister-in-law, Helen; brothers-in-law, Al and Guy; and grandson, Nathan.

Arnie is survived by his sister, Marie and her husband Art Halvorson of Lakota, N.D.; and sister-in-law, June Butler of Billings. Other survivors include daughter Vicki Kober and granddaughter Amelia Rose of Missoula; son, Tim, his wife Valerie and grandsons Michael, Alex and Andrew of Butte; and son, Steve, his wife Stacy and granddaughter Olivia of Sidney. In addition, Arnie is survived by two stepchildren and their families, Walt and Karen Garner of Butte and Rosie Garner of Missoula. Arnie, blessed with a big family, also is survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at Atonement Lutheran Church, located at 2205 34th St. The family would like thank The Springs and Hospice of Missoula for their kind and loving care.

Read Arnold Kober's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.