Robert (Bob) W. Beasley
Robert (Bob) W. Beasley
Robert (Bob) W. Beasley was born May 5, 1931, in Libby, Montana.
He was the youngest son of eight children born to Neal and Estella Beasley. Bob passed away Friday, July 8, at his home on Bull Lake.
Bob lived the majority of his life in Libby, except his high school years, where he lived in Spokane, graduating from Lewis and Clark high school in 1949. He had to work through his school years to help support his Mom. He had two paper routes and his brother Ron got him involved in repairing pinball machines and jukeboxes. So starting Bob in a lifetime career.
Bob remained in Spokane, working and attending Gonzaga University when he met and married his first wife, Patricia (Pat) Bayne. Together they moved back to Libby, where Bob went to work at the mill. They had two children, James and Jeanette.
Later divorcing in 1972, Bob didn't like working at the mill, so he saved money and slowly built up his own business, Beasley Amusement. This was a coin machine business, providing gaming machines, jukeboxes and pool tables in area bars and later casinos. He loved to tell people he put his first jukebox out in the whore house in Troy. When he had his business built up enough, he was able to quit his job at the mill. He did so, despite the advice of his older brothers who also worked at the mill.
His brothers told him that he was crazy and that he would never amount to anything pursuing that course. He proved them wrong!
With the proceeds from that business, Bob was able to save up enough money to buy his first homestead in the Yaak. It was beautiful land that had over a mile of river frontage.
Everyone at the time said he was crazy to buy valueless land in the Yaak, but Bob was blessed with foresight and he believed in the value of land. He later began developing and sub-dividing much of Lincoln County with various different business partners.
In addition to his land endeavors, Bob started Blue Mountain Radio Co., making it possible for people to reach him while he did his coin machine route. The radio business answered a big need at the time because loggers were able to keep radios in their trucks, making it possible to stay in contact with others while they were in the woods, far from town.
Bob loved Bull Lake and moved there permanently in the 1970s after selling Beasley Amusement.
Together with his brother George, they built cabins at Bull Lake where they had bought lots back in the 1950s, later becoming known as "The mayor of Bull Lake."
In 1980, Bob met Gloria. They went on a first date and it was an instant love that has lasted some 42 years. After 17 years of living together, they finally got around to marrying and they continued that remarkable marriage until his passing.
In 1985, after gambling was legalized, Bob resumed his amusement business. He loved doing his route, where he could keep track of all of the goings on in Libby, and he loved seeing and meeting new people. Bob never knew a stranger. He finally retired for the second time at the age of 75, when he turned Beasley Amusement over to his son "Jim."
After retiring, Bob and Gloria did a lot of traveling, first in their motorhome to Arizona and then many trips to places including Mexico, Alaska, Canada and New York City.
They cruised around South America, all the way to Australia and made several trips to Europe but Bob always loved Bull Lake the best.
Bob lived an amazing life, touching many people. He was a brilliant man, a man of honesty and integrity, treating others with kindness and respect. He had a "wicked wit" and a heart of gold. He was a wonderful husband and father. When he and Gloria got together, Bob accepted her three daughters as his own and he adored them as they adore him.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Neil and Estelle Beasley, three brothers, George, Ronald and Louis, four sisters, Ethel, Norma, Genaria and Louise.
He is leaving behind his loving wife, Gloria, his children and their spouses, Jim (Kerry) and Jeanette (Andy) and step daughters Lana Richards, Tana Roy and Diana Clemons.
Grandchildren Brandon, Tricia, Michelle, Melanie, Ryan, Chris, Andrew, Jeremy and his special baby Taylor, along with 17 great grandchildren and his best friend (and adopted son) Mike McNew.
Bob will be dearly missed forever by all his family and friends that he was so good to during his life.
A special thanks to Lana, Tana and Diana for making sure one of them was by his side 24/7 until the end. A special thanks to his grandson Chris, for always being there to help whenever he was needed.
Services will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 16, 2022, at Milnor Lake Cemetery in Troy. A reception will follow at The Silver Spur in Troy at 2 p.m. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby.
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