Robert M. Casey

Robert (Bob) Matthew Casey, 91, husband, father, grandfather, friend, teacher, coach, and World War II Navy vet, passed away on Tuesday, December 29th of natural causes. Bob, and his twin brother Richard were born on the family farm near Parshall, North Dakota to Edward and Leona (Lovell) Casey on August 29th, 1924.

Bob was an excellent multi-sport athlete at Parshall High School and continued playing football his freshman year at the University of North Dakota. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, it wasn't long until he, and a pack of buddies joined the United States Navy. While in the Navy, Bob rose to the rank of Petty Officer First Class and was the catapult operator on the USS Franklin and eventually the USS Ticonderoga. Bob was witness to deadly kamikaze attacks, a deadly pacific Typhoon and the Japanese surrender to General Douglas MacArthur in Tokyo Bay.

After the war, Bob returned to North Dakota where he played two more years of football while earning a degree in the physical sciences. It was in Fessenden, ND that Bob began teaching and coaching. His eyes were also focused on a stunning new elementary teacher Beverly Rise. Bob and Beverly were married in Grand Forks on July 3rd, 1952.

Bob and Bev moved to Plentywood in the fall of 1955. They settled into a life of teaching and coaching and started a family with the birth of son Jeff and daughter Joan. Bob continued to find success as a teacher and coach in Glendive, where the Glendive football team won the Montana football championship in 1960. The family also continued to grow with the addition of sons Steve and Doug.

The Casey family made one last move to Missoula in 1964 when the now remodeled and newly named Hellgate High School first opened. At Hellgate, he taught physics and was the school's first football coach. The fifth child, Don, was born in Missoula. Bob eventually stepped down as a head football coach to enjoy more time watching his own children's sports and activities. When Big Sky opened in 1980, Bob continued teaching science and assisting with sophomore football and varsity track.

In 1986 Bob was inducted into the Montana Coaches Hall of Fame.

Bob was a mentor to all that knew him. His easy smile, advanced wit, poetic limericks, and sharp memory was always enjoyed by his family and friends. Years after retirement many students and players would approach him and thank him for shaping their lives and recanting favorite memories of their time together.

As a friend he was respected and cherished and always sought after for poker parties, fishing trips, and a charter member of the Hellgate high school chicken growers association.

Bob's most rewarding role was that of husband and father. He delighted in telling stories of Bev's and his life together and glowed when he spoke of his children's accomplishments. He took joy in their lives and enjoyed watching them all grow into fine men and cherished daughter. Boasting about his grandchildren's achievements in sports and academics he often moved from one child's accomplishments to another in the course of conversation. Bob will be greatly missed by all and his memories will carry us all for many years to come.

Bob is preceded in death by his beloved wife Bev, parents Edward and Leona, brothers Jack and Richard, son Jeff, and grandson Eric Blackler.

Survivors include daughter, Joan Blackler; son, Steve Casey (Christy); son, Doug Casey; son, Don Casey; granddaughters, Krissy Blackler, Jennifer Kuntzman, Kendra Casey, Michelle Casey, Shannon Casey and Allison Casey; grandsons, Sean Casey and Robby Casey; great-granddaughter Solvei Casey; and sister Catherine Carlson.

Memorials to help Hellgate High School athletics are being coordinated and collected by the team of Ron Jones, Eric Hayes, and Bob Perrin. It is the family's wish that money collected in this fund be used to help with student scholarships and to help with miscellaneous equipment purchases as decided by the family. Please send your donation for the Bob Casey Hellgate Athletic Memorial to the attention of Ron Jones. His address is 12265 Triple Fox Court, Missoula, MT 59808.

Services for Bob are at 11am on Monday, January 4th at Atonement Lutheran Church, 2205 34th St, Missoula, MT 59801. A short reception will follow the service. An opportunity for visitation will be available at Sunset Memorial Gardens (7405 Mullan Road) on Sunday, January 3rd, between the hours of 3pm and 5pm. Condolences for the family may be left at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

Read Robert Casey's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.