FARMER, ROBERT L.
Robert Lester Farmer, 73, of Corvallis, died at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1996.
He was born on July 1, 1923, to Birch and Sara Lavina Joseph Farmer in Stevensville.
He was raised in Stevensville and graduated from Stevensville High School. Robert joined the Marine Corps right after Pearl Harbor. He was a member of Carlson’s Raider Battalion and was awarded a Purple Heart; he later added three clusters. He also received a Presidential Citation.
He married Marjorie C. Cook on July 14, 1944, and moved to Great Falls, where they raised their family. He was the service manager for the Buick garage there for 26 years. The couple moved to the Gallatin Canyon in 1975 and owned the Corral Bar and Restaurant until 1979, when they moved back to the Bitterroot.
Robert devoted his life to family and kids. He was active in Boy Scouts for 25 years as a cub master, scout master and council commissioner. In 1968, he was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest award presented to adult scouters. He coached baseball from Little League through American Legion in Great Falls and Hamilton. In 1967, he was named Junior Chamber of Commerce man of the year for his work with youth.
He was a member of the Corvallis Methodist Church, the American Legion and the Elks.
He was preceded in death by his father, Birch, in 1977.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, of Corvallis; one daughter and her husband, Jerrie and Ted Beyrodt of Livingston; three sons and their wives, Albert “Skip” and Liz Farmer of Great Falls, Steven and Susan Farmer of Nashville, Tenn., and Brian and Jeannie Farmer of Moscow, Idaho; one foster daughter, Judy Hake of Hamilton; mother Lavina Farmer of Stevensville; sister Betty Davis of Spokane, Wash.; and 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be conducted at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville on Saturday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Kathy Jury officiating. Military graveside services will be conducted at Riverview Cemetery in Stevensville.
Memorials may be made in his honor to the Corvallis Methodist Church, the American Legion or the Boy Scouts of America.