Robert John Bennett, 75, of Libby

Robert John Bennett, Newport, passed away peacefully at home on July 15, 2016, after a long battle with Frontal Temporal Lobe dementia.

He was born at home on Aug. 8, 1940, in Troy, to Robert Bennett and Edith Yeager and joined sisters Patsy and Nancy. Robert’s brother Don was born two years later. Robert grew up in Libby where he developed his life-long love of hunting and fishing. He had a special love for the Yaak and in 1992 fulfilled his dream of buying property there and building a log cabin. After he retired, Robert spent summers in the Yaak working on his cabin until dementia began stealing his mind in 2008.

After a stint in the Air Force, he returned to the Pacific Northwest to live. Robert had several careers, working for Albertson’s, General Telephone as a repairman in Libby, Kalispell and the Yaak, and finally as a welding instructor for Columbia Basin Job Corps in Moses Lake, Wash. Robert influenced the minds of many of his students and developed strong friendships with them that continued long after they graduated. He retired from Job Corps in 2002 and moved to Newport, Wash.

Robert graduated from Big Bend Community College in 1977 with two A.A. degrees, one in Welding and one in Aviation in which he earned his private pilot’s license.

Robert married Kathy Hoye on April 21, 1981, in Ephrata, Wash., and they made their home in Moses Lake until moving to Newport.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, sister Patsy Arndt and brother Don Bennett. He is survived by his wife Kathy of Newport, sister Nancy Sofie of Murdock, Wash., son Robert Bennett of Chico, Calif., daughter Stacy McCuen, Newport, grandchildren Jillian McCuen and Chelan McCuen, Newport, and Hannah Tecza, stationed with the U.S. Navy in Japan.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20th at the Libby Cemetery.

Sherman-Knapp Funeral Home in Newport, Wash., is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at sherman-knapp.com.