Obituary - Robert M. King

Robert M. King, 88, of Fort Belknap, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2015, at his home of natural causes surrounded by his family.

Wake services began at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2015, at the St. Paul Mission Recreation Center. A rosary was said at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Mission Rec Center, and funeral Mass was to be held at 11 a.m. on today, April 20, 2015, at the St. Paul Mission in Hays. Burial will follow in the Mission Cemetery.

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

Robert was born on Oct. 20, 1926, in Fort Belknap to Richard and Cora Belle (Wind Chief) King. He was raised in Fort Belknap, attending school in Harlem and Hays.

He entered the U.S. Army in 1945, and served for three years, including in the South Pacific during World War II.

Upon his discharge, Robert returned to Fort Belknap and married Ramona Werk, and the couple's union was blessed with 12 children. They lived along the Milk River until 1952, when they were flooded out, and they then moved to Bear Gulch, where they resided until 1955. The family relocated to Hays, where they remained until 1966, when they moved for the final time, this time to Fort Belknap.

Robert worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Range Department for most of his life, retiring in 1993. After his retirement, he rode horses and cared for his grandchildren.

Robert enjoyed watching old cowboy movies on TV, rodeos, boxing, ranching, completing word search puzzles, reading, especially western novels, and listening to older country music. His family was his life. His children believe his first love was his family, and his second love was horses.

Robert was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 40 years, Ramona King; his son Sidney John King; his grandson Weldin Knight; his great-grandson Cooper Healy; his parents, Richard and Cora Belle King; his brothers Richard and Thomas King; his sisters, Serena King Laroque, Alice Fleury and Olive and Ruth King; and his son-in-law Victor Singer.

He is survived by his children Richard (Martha) King of Bear Gulch, Robert "Kim" (Christine) King of Great Falls, Janice Singer of Crow Agency, Mitch (Tracy) King of Bear Gulch, Harvey (Avis) King of Hays, Tracy "Ching" (Anna) King of 3 Mile, Julie (Charlie) Kulbeck of Harlem, Keith (Tammy) King of Billings, Judy King of Fort Belknap, June (Donovan) Bullinsight of Fort Belknap, and Brent (Holly) King of Lodge Pole; his 44 grandchildren; his 56 great-grandchildren; his three great-great-grandchildren; his brother Leon "Duke" (Norma Jean) King of Hays; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.