Regina "Bobbie" Presthus

Regina Harriet "Bobbie" Presthus, 91, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, at the Springs Retirement Community in Missoula.

She was born on Jan. 3, 1922, in Glendive to Norwegian immigrant parents Rasmus (Robert) Henning Garmoe and Janna (Jennie) Boe Garmoe. Following her older sister, her father was convinced that their second child was going to be a boy who would be named after him, so she soon was known as "Bobbie." She grew up in Glendive and was baptized and confirmed in Zion Lutheran Church. She graduated from Dawson County High School in 1939.

She attended college in Ames, Iowa, majoring in home economics, and after a short time transferred to Montana State University in Bozeman. Although a longtime Griz fan, she always said that the Cats weren't all that bad. During the war she returned to Glendive and worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad as a stenographer.

On Oct. 31 , 1944, she married Elmer John "Pike" Presthus at Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive. They were married for 64 years until his passing in 2009. Both of their children, Robert John and Sharon Kay, were born in Glendive. Pike also worked for the Northern Pacific, and he and his family were transferred to Duluth, Minn., then to Tacoma, Wash., and finally to Missoula in 1961.

While involved with her children's school activities, Bobbie went back to work while in Tacoma and was the assistant to the director of the Tacoma grade school lunch program. After moving to Missoula, she went to work for the University of Montana and was responsible for ordering all the supplies for the Dining Room Food Services. While at the university she decided to take advantage of the reduced tuition offered to employees and resumed her pursuit of her home economics degree. She soon quit her job, changed majors and went to school full time and earned her elementary education degree in 1968 at the age of 46 – not that common in those years. That fall she began a very rewarding teaching career at Target Range School.

After retiring in 1981, she and Pike spent the summers at their cabin at Yellow Bay on Flathead Lake, the fall and winter attending Grizzly football and basketball games and going south to visit friends and relatives – but only after the basketball season was over. Bobbie loved to travel and she and Pike visited Norway in 1973 to renew ties with their aunts, uncles and cousins there, with Bobbie returning several times with her daughter.

Bobbie was a very social and outgoing person who loved to entertain in her home. She and Pike belonged to the Missoula Formal Dance Club and loved attending the dances at the Elks Club. Bobbie was an avid bridge player and was active in several bridge clubs up until just a few years ago. When not playing bridge she could be found with a needle in her hand creating beautiful cross-stitched pictures and knitted afghans and quilts. Christmas was her favorite holiday and she enjoyed sharing her beautifully decorated home by hosting holiday parties. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Chapter AM P.E.O., Sons of Norway, ADK Women Educators Organization, Daughters of the Nile and both MSU and UM alumni associations.

Bobbie was fond of animals and always had a kitty in the house. For many years she and Pike got their daily exercise by walking Sharon and Rolf's greyhounds around the Linda Vista area.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents; husband Pike; sister Grace Lunde, her husband Norman Lunde and Grace's son Gar Amundson; brother Robert Garmoe and his wife Jean Marie Popham Garmoe and nephew Jimmy Garmoe.

She is survived by her son Robert "Bob" Presthus and daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Rolf Tandberg, all of Missoula; youngest brother Jim Garmoe and wife Sue of Salt Lake City; and many cherished nieces and nephews and their children.

Many thanks to the caring staff at the Springs Footsteps for their special care of Bobbie over the last few years – we hope you know how important and special your work is, and how much you are appreciated.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 202 Brook St., with Pastor Chris Flohr officiating. In honor of her Norwegian heritage, and if you have one, please wear your Norwegian sweater to the service.

In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that memorials be given to either the University of Montana Foundation (with checks mailed to the UM Foundation, PO Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807-7159, and noted for the Chapter AM-P.E.O. Scholarship in memory of Bobbie) or the Humane Society of Western Montana.

Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.

Read Regina Presthus's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.