Obituary for Robert W. Edwards The sweetest, kindest, gentlest man left us on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 2, 2018, leaving us with wonderful stories, treasured memories and shared wisdom. Robert W. ‘Bob’ Edwards was born in Butte on April 11, 1930, the youngest of six children to LeRoy and Emily (Medlyn) Edwards.
Bob attended Emerson Elementary School and Butte High School, where he was a standout athlete in baseball, boxing and football. He lettered in boxing and football in 1947 and played All-State second string offensive and defensive end. He was inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 with the 1967 Silver Bow Parks baseball team.
In 2005 he was again inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame with the 1969 Butte Buzzies semi-pro football team. He played end in all games with the Buzzies, including the 7-0 loss to the Seattle Ramblers in the Queen Anne Bowl game in Seattle. He was also honored with the Silver B’s and Golden B’s.
He later played softball in the Old Ozzies league in Butte and was referee for many hockey games in Butte. He joined the U.S. Navy in December 1948 and received an honorable discharge in February 1952. He was grand master of Mount Moriah Lodge #24 AF&AM in 1967.
He married Jacqueline Dunn in 1952 and they had four daughters. They later divorced. On July 30 1974, he married the former Bonnie Watkins, and together they shared 44 years of memories.
Bob retired as chief inspector of the Butte Water Co. in 1995. He enjoyed camping, fishing and four-wheeling with family and friends. He was an accomplished golfer with two lifetime holes-in-one.
He was self-taught on various musical instruments, playing the harmonica, organ, accordion and several others. He loved listening to jazz music. Bob is survived by his wife, Bonnie; daughters and sons-in-law, Shelly Johnson of Santa Ana, Calif.
, Marty and Brad Phillips of Custer, S.D., Kristie and Jim Constantine of Butte and Lori and Bill Keller of Rapid City, S.D.; sons and daughter-in-law, Doug Billman and Russ and Karen Billman, all of Butte; grandchildren: Jessica (Kevin) LaFond of Butte, John (Nina) Constantine of Salt Lake City, Matty (Cody) Mehlhaff of Rapid City, Wendy Johnson of Santa Ana, Sam (Liz) Johnson of Bend, Ore. , Abby and Jeff Wientjes of Plano, Texas, Mike (Summer) Salkowski of Bozeman, Katie Salkowski of Rapid City: great-grandchildren: Chloe McClain, Sicily Staley, Aja Constantine, Livia Constantine, Callin Constantine, Matthew Claytor Johnson, Macy Mehlhaff and Carter Mehlhaff; sisters and brothers-in-law, Agnes Gant of Alaska, Ken and Carol Jensen of Washington, Sally and Keith Dyas of Denver and Dean and Alice Watkins of Washington; numerous nieces and nephews and special friends, Liz Beaudry, Mike and Maria Pochervina and Peyton Sue Huntington (Bob’s special little Bud). He was preceded in death by his son, Richard Edwards; granddaughters, Trisha Billman and Brandy Billman; sisters, Viola, Verna, Dorothy and Bessie; brother, Harold; son-in-law, Dennis Johnson and brother-in-law, Preston Gant.
We’ll see you on the green with a chip and a chip and a putt, putt, putt. Memorials to Highlands Hospice, 3703 Harrison Ave. , in Butte.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert W. Edwards please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Service , SEP 7. 02:00 PM Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home 1800 Florence Ave Butte, MT, US, 59701 wayrynen-richards.com/ Order Flowers for the Service Guaranteed delivery before Robert’s Service begins.
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