Obituary - John R. Roberts

John R. Roberts of Havre, 73, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014, at the Big Sandy Medical Center due to cancer.

A visitation will be held from 5 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, at Havre Assembly of God Church. Interment will follow in Highland Cemetery. John requested that memorial donations be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children or the charity of the donor's choice.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit John's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

John was born on July 29, 1941, in Shelby, Montana, to John W. and Anna (Jacobs) Roberts. He was raised in the Flathead area, attending schools in Columbia Falls, Evergreen and Kalispell.Following his school years, he moved to Havre. John met his beloved wife, Joyce Buethe, in 1964, and the couple later married in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Their union was blessed with nine children. 

John and Joyce remained in Havre, where they raised their children. Before moving to Havre, John worked as a sawyer/logger and truck driver. John worked for several companies over the years, including Massey Ferguson and Havre Tire.

In 1977, John established his first business as Johnny's Auto Repair where he spent time repairing vehicles, which later became Big Sky Exxon U-Haul. In 1984, he became a U-Haul dealer. In 2002, John moved his business east of town and became Roberts Big Sky Repairs and U-Haul with his family. He was a member of the Moose Lodge 1922 in Kalispell, the Eagles Aerie 166 and was a former Elks member.

  John loved to go camping, hunting and fishing, but his true joys were spending time with his family and singing and playing in Montana Wranglers with his beloved Joyce. John was a very musical man who excelled at playing most any musical instrument.

John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joyce (Buethe) Roberts in 2013; his parents, John W. and Anna Roberts; his stepson, Larry Hardy; his sister Rose Marie Bitz; and infant granddaughter, Rebecca Gallagher.

He is survived by his daughters, Peggy Gallagher, Colleen (David) Clements, and Cindy (Randy) Stidham, all of Havre, and Rosetta "Rosie" (Greg) Klemosky of Crestview, Florida; his stepdaughter, Faith Reid of Tacoma, Washington; his son, John R. (Teresa) Roberts of Havre; his stepsons, Winston Hardy of Bellingham, Washington, and Arnold Hardy of Geno, Colorado; his 22 grandchildren; his 23 great-grandchildren; his brother James W. Roberts of Priest River, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.