Robert E. Goodson, age 75, of Miles City.

Robert “Bob” E. Goodson went home to be with the Lord after his hard fought battle with cancer on November 7, 2018. Robert was born on November 1, 1943 in Tacoma, Washington. He was one of three children born to Mable (McKee) and Robert W. Goodson. He had one brother, David L. Goodson and one sister Diana L. (Montgomery) Goodson who were born two years after Robert in Livingston, Montana. Before graduating high school in Livingston, he worked at a grocery store doing many jobs for the owner. After graduation, Robert joined the National Guard and served 13 years. In 1963, Robert and family moved to Miles City where he would then meet the love of his life, Vonnie M. (Kuchynka) Goodson. Two years after, Robert and Vonnie got married at the Presbyterian Church in Miles City, Montana on March 12, 1965. Later that year, Robert and Vonnie had their first of five children. On October 30, 1965, Robert D. Goodson was born in Miles City. Throughout his time, Robert “Bob” worked for Hines Motor Supply and NAPA. With the start of his family, he always had the mind set of providing and taking care of his family. On August 30, 1968, Robert and Vonnie had their second child, Mark A. Goodson. After Mark was born, Robert worked for L.P. Anderson as the Assistant Manager. On September 25, 1971, their third child James W. Goodson was born. The family stayed in Miles City until 1978 about a year after their fourth child, Jason S. Goodson was born. The family then moved to Laurel where Robert went to work for Carl Wisemen and sons for a better job opportunity for his family. He worked until a higher paying job with more responsibility came up. He became a traveling automotive rep that served in three states until about 1987 to 1988. In between working, his favorite hobbies were camping with family, becoming interested in satellite tv which grew into another future job, and playing pool. He loved watching his children play sports, collecting firearms which lead him to joining the NRA, and fantasizing about owning his own hot rod with every hot rod magazine read, saying one day he would own his own hot rod. In 1987, hardship hit the family when the auto industry had mass layoffs which led to Robert being out of work. He started work for NAPA for a short time before he transferred to NAPA in Livingston. For a short time, Robert lived with his Aunt Betty until he saved enough to get a family, moving in 1989. In 1991, his idea of owning his own hot rod came true while at a BBQ at his boss’s house where he bought the body of a 32 Ford pickup. He later found out, as a child going by a garage with friends watching a man work on the same vehicle that he ended up purchasing and ironically it was the gentleman that was Ted Smith, which became the Editor of Roberts favorite magazine, Hot Rod Magazine. While working on his beloved 32 on Independence Day in 1992, the Goodson family was surprised by their last child, Brian J. Goodson. Roberts wife Vonnie helped babysit a lot of kids around Brian’s birth. So when the boys found out, they thought she was joking on having another little brother. When Brian was born, it was a shock. Vonnie didn’t know she was pregnant when their “Firecracker” was born on the fourth of July. When Vonnie gave birth, she screamed for Robert. After coming inside from working on the 32, he rushed to Vonnie. He then grabbed fishing string to tie up Brian’s umbilical cord when he found out he became the father of their 5^th son. Three years later in 1995, Robert suffered his first heart attack. During his recovery, he bought a computer and started to learn about computer repair. This led to talking to his old friend from the National Guard, John Stricker, which he asked Robert about becoming partners in his Laser Printer repair business. So once again, the Goodson family moved back to Laurel in 1996. Robert purchased a home with a huge shop in Laurel which game him time to work on his hobbies and more space for his family in the country. Robert became partners with John in his business which was ran out of John’s apartment. Within a year and a half, the business was doing well enough for them to purchase a store front naming it, Laser Cycle of Montana. Seven years went by and times became tough for Robert. He decided for John to buy his half of the business and looked into a new job opportunity. During his time unemployed, Robert fell in love with sailboats. He looked online to figure out the builds of a two-person sailboat and started on a new project. Robert and his son spent many hours on his project and many times telling Brian “tools aren’t toys.” After the project was complete, Robert and Brian sailed many times in South Pound not to far from the family home and also had cops called many times from tipping over the sailboat because people on shore were concerned for them. After a while, Robert was really wanting to get back to work and finally got a call he was looking for. His son Robert D. of Miles City gave him a call about one of his friends, Tim Wagoner, concerned about his business and checked to see if Robert was interested. In 2004, Robert packed up and moved back to Miles City to run his store called Signal Butte Computers. The family followed after taking over his new business. In 2005, trouble struck the family once again. Robert had his second heart attack days after moving into the Goodsons new home. Not even two days after his successful operation, he went right back to work as if nothing ever happened. Robert ran Signal Butte Computers for three years until he got back into the auto business. In 2007, Robert started at O’Reilly Auto Parts working behind the counter. He was extremely happy to be back in the parts business and the whole family could tell. Not even two years into working, Robert became the store manager and once again, was the boss. He was store manager for about seven years before stepping down to assistant manager. Robert worked until the 26^th of October before the cancer over took the simple basic tasks he did. On October 9^th, Robert was diagnosed with liver cancer. Even through the hard times, he never let it break him. He always kept a smile on his face and worked as if nothing was wrong. He was a man of God and also became an ordained Christian minister in 2014. In 2015, he performed the marriage ceremony for his granddaughter, Erin and Tomas Roldon. In his later years, his hobbies went into buying his dream corvette and driving with his wife as much as he could. The law enforcement got to know him good to when he tested how fast he could push it. His last big dream goal was to get a large sailboat. In 2016, Brian and Robert drove to Colorado to buy his dream 26’ sailboat. In 2017, Robert and Jason took his sailboat “Serendipity” to Fort Peck for the first and only time on the water. Robert caught two large Northern Pike while making some amazing memories out on the lake. Robert loved his family and friends more than words could describe. He would go out of his way to help anyone any chance he could get.

Robert is survived by his wife Vonnie Goodson of Miles City, MT; his sister Diana (Bob) Montgomery of Sioux Falls, SD; his brother David L. Goodson of Livingston, MT; his son Robert D. (Kim Kountz) of Miles City, MT; their grandchildren Ashley (David Smith) of Columbus, MT; Erin (Tomas Roldon) of Miles City, MT; Robert N. of Miles City, MT; Keilee (Spencer Clark) of Fromberg, MT; Tieler, Tanner and Khorey of Miles City, MT; his great grandchildren Zayley, Mckenna, Lanie, Raider, Armadco, Xavier, Mateo, Lakiah, Katherine; his son Mark A. (Tiffany) of Laurel, MT; their grandchildren Brett (Brooke) of Buffalo, WY; Brittany and Kylie of Laurel, MT; his great grandchildren Bristal and Brynlie; his son James W. (Tina) of Livingston, MT; his grandchild Madison of Livingston, MT; his son Jason S. of Miles City, MT; his son Brian J. (Liz Richter) of Miles City, MT; his grandchildren Bentley and Jamie and many nieces, nephews and friends that were like family to him. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Mable Goodson, his grandparents William and Maude Goodson and daughter-in-law Kathy Beehler Goodson.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 15, 2018 at the Parlor with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

Service Schedule

Graveside Service with Full Military Honors

2:00 PM

Friday September 6, 2019

Custer County Cemetery

Miles City, Montana 59301

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