Obituary - Robert Earl "Bob" Rathbun

Robert Earl "Bob" Rathbun was born Oct. 8, 1926, at Great Falls, Montana.

He was the only son of three children born to Earl Rathbun and Eleanor Alex. Bob grew up and received his education in Hingham, where he graduated from high school in 1944. He was active in sports during his school years and was an exceptional basketball player for the Hingham Rangers.

    Bob was inducted into the U. S. Army in 1945. Due to demobilization as World War II ended, Bob received an early release from the military. After receiving his honorable discharge, he returned to Montana.

    He married Doris Stuart on Oct. 8, 1947. They lived and farmed in the Hingham community and raised a family of two, son, William; and daughter, Beverly. The couple was married 32 years when Doris passed away on Sept. 10, 1979.

    Bob wed a Hi-Line area friend, Barbara Zabaleta Sande, in 1980. This union brought two step-children into Bob's life. The couple made their home in Gildford, and Bob continued to farm at Hingham. They were married 29 years when Barb died on Jan. 7, 2010.

    Bob's health remained good and he continued to live independently in the years that followed. On Sunday afternoon, Dec. 20, 2015, his daughter and son-in-law stopped in Gildford to visit with him. Bob had died peacefully in his sleep during the night in the comfort of his home. He was 89 years old.

    Bob was a life member of the Hingham Lutheran Church, where he received his early confirmation and served on the church council for many years. He enjoyed membership in the Chester American Legion Post 88 for 34 years and the Havre Elks Lodge for 62 years. In addition Bob served as a past member and chairman of the Hingham school board. He also volunteered as a Little League baseball coach for many years with his good friend, Bob Petrick.

    The Rathbuns made many memorable trips throughout the years. Bob and Doris traveled to Hawaii, Mazatlan, Mexico, New Orleans, St. Louis and other places. Bob and Barb traveled to Alaska, Spain and Africa.

In 1967, Bob attended the World Series when Boston played St. Louis. He attended Super Bowl XIII in Florida when the Dallas Cowboys played the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bob was a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. His enthusiasm and love for Yankee baseball  passed down to his children and grandchildren. In 1963 the Rathbun family took a memorable trip to Minneapolis, where they watched several baseball legends play in a three-game series featuring the Yankees and the Twins.

Bob enjoyed personal encounters with several celebrities in a few of his travels - he had lunch with Joe Garagiola at Stan Musial's Restaurant in St. Louis, and he played golf with Joe DiMaggio in California.

    Bob enjoyed many nicknames during his life. In high school he was called Bones. As an adult he acquired the name Rackets. In later years he was simply and affectionately known as Gramps.

    Bob was first and foremost a Montana farmer, which he attributed to his good life. He loved to operate his 1150 Versatile tractor, which he considered his  baby. He was easily identified by his signature teal-colored Chevy pickup truck with personalized plates reading "Racket." For years this old truck made the daily "Trapline" - a trip from Gildford to Fraser's Conoco in Inverness, then to Columbia Grain and/or Tire-rama in Rudyard, then to Hi-Line Fertilizer and/or the Hi-Way Bar in Hingham, and then back to Gildford - a familiar circuit where Bob would stop in to visit friends, share news and stories, play cards or enjoy a beer. (Of interest is the fact that this old pickup is presently owned by his grandson, Zach.)

Bob had many hobbies over the years, including bowling, golfing.

He was an excellent bowler who enjoyed both league and tournament competition; his best bowling score was a 279 (he threw nine strikes in a row before blowing the 10th frame). His hunting adventures involved mostly birds, deer and elk, and many fun trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area.

When it came to reading, he enjoyed most anything (especially historicals) and he read the daily Tribune cover-to-cover. Playing cribbage was his passion, and he was an extremely lucky poker player.

Bob's favorite television included the news, grain reports, sporting events (mainly, baseball), and last but not least, he enjoyed watching "Dr. Phil." Bob also enjoyed politics and was a staunch Democrat throughout his life. Probably his greatest love was watching his grandchildren in school and athletic events. Bob was proud of each of them and loved being part of their lives.

    He had a fantastic memory for people and events, and he loved to share old stories from the past. When telling these stories, they were always the same each time without any embellishment. Bob had a great sense of humor with a unique laugh.

He was proud to be an independent man and deservedly earned everything he got. He was known as a man of his word and his handshake was his contract. Bob was always well-groomed and  presentable and will be remembered for his trademark suspenders, his red or blue hankies sticking out of his back pockets and his caps (which were always "cocked to one side.") Bob made friends easily. He was saddened many times over the past 10 years when many of his lifelong buddies passed before him. He's now catching up with them to share a good story or conjure up a game of cribbage.

    Bob was preceded in death not only by his parents and wives, but also by two sisters, Irene Rathbun in infancy and Carole "Kay" Anderson; and a grandson, Jason Groseclose.

    Survivors include his son, Bill and Mariah Rathbun of Hingham; his daughter, Bev and Ron Groseclose of Hingham; five grandchildren, Brandee/Brian, William/Munee, Larra, Zach/Natalie and Jeff/Hillary; seven great-grandchildren, Victoria, Alicia, Declan, Allison, Joey, Jace and Tanner; two stepchildren, Frank/Katie Zabaleta of Redlands, California, and Kitty Zabaleta of Long Beach, California; three stepgrandchildren, Allyson, Lauren and Katelyn; his sister-in-law, Irene "Shorty" Stuart of Gildford; numerous nephews and nieces; and his two loyal pet dogs, Rosie and Lillie, who have now made a new home with Bill and Mariah.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday,  Dec. 30, at the Hingham Lutheran Church with a reception to follow at Spencer's Hi-Way Bar & Grill in Hingham. Bob's ashes will be buried privately on Thursday at Highland Cemetery in Havre.

Arrangements are being handled by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.

Memorials may be given to Havre's Neighbor in Need program or donor's choice.