Robert Gary Virts

Robert Gary Virts, 74, passed away at Community Medical Center on Thursday, June 27, 2013.

Bob was born on November 8, 1938 in Missoula to Lucile (Edmonson) and Robert Damon Virts. Bob grew up in Missoula and graduated from Missoula County High School in 1956. He attended the University of Montana for a short time, and then went to work for Montgomery Ward where he worked for five years. He then decided to follow the family and began his career at the NP and Burlington Northern Railroad where he worked as an electrician until his retirement in 1983.

He married Jerry Hendrickson and together produced three beautiful children, Mark, Darla and Kristy. They later divorced.

He then married Karen Bakke, who with her son, Keith Pickens, formed a special family with four kids. Bob and Karen then went on to extend the family and had another daughter, Shandra Virts, completing the family to yours, mine and ours.

Bob enjoyed several hobbies throughout his life, which formed many lifelong bonds with family and friends. Besides hunting, fishing, camping, and tinkering in the garage, Bob was one of many who helped form the Missoula Auto Racers, where he was a flagman, club President and race car driver, who proudly supported the Missoula Crippled Children's Center. In later years, Bob and Karen shared their love of NASCAR racing, which included many years of going to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Wanda Galland.

Survivors include his brother, Dale (Mary Ann) Virts, wife Karen, son Mark, daughter Darla (Brent) Nokleby, daughter Kristy (Keith) Kominek, son Keith (Kim) Pickens and daughter Shandra (Pat) Lindburg. Grandchildren include Damon Virts (Havre), Jourdan and Amanda Nokleby (Missoula), Austin and Dylon Kominek (Frenchtown), Kody and Kaden Pickens (Lolo) , a niece and two nephews, and many many friends.


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