Robert Lausch

Visitation: Thursday, May 4, 2006 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral service: Friday, May 5, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Interment: Custer County Cemetery with Military Honors

ROBERT EUGENE LAUSCH past away gently in his sleep early in the morning of April 23, 2006 at his home in Kalispell, Montana where he lived with his son Bobby Lausch and his youngest daughter Linda and her husband John Duncan.


Bob Lausch was born February 4, 1922 in Ismay, Montana, the son of Mary Gunderson and James W. Lausch. Due to his father dying at a young age, Bob quit school while in the Eighth Grade to help his mother with supporting the family. He worked doing sheep herding as a boy from which he had many stories to tell about adventures. Later as a young adult he worked as a Ship Welder in Tacoma, Washington. When World War Two started, he traveled back to Montana to enlist. Bob returned to live in Montana in the early 1950's with his wife Ruth where he was in carpentry and welding, bridge building all over Montana. He served over 30 years in the local carpenters union and even as a Carpenters' Union President. Bob proudly served his country during WWII with 2 military enlistments. He served in the Army at Fort Crockett, Texas as Staff Sergeant, Harbor Defenses of Galveston. Bob was first married Billie Mathison while in the Army. His second marriage was to Mary Ruth Corbitt of Palestine, Texas in 1952. After his military discharge, while still in Texas, he had several different jobs such as: Shrimp Boat Hand, Dow Chemical Company Carpenter, and as a Mechanic.

In the 1960s, Robert moved his family from Miles City to Zero, Montana where they ran the Enco Gas Station and Store until the New Interstate Highway was open. He lived at Zero until the late 1980s when he moved with his wife Ruth into Fallon, Montana. He lived in Fallon until 2004 when he moved to Kalispell, Montana.

Bob Lausch was picked by the famous photographer Gary Gladstone as the only man in the state of Montana to be included in his book that featured interesting people from places with unusual names along the highways of the United States. He received a personal letter along with the copy sent by Mr. Gladstone when the book was released in 2003. This book published by Ten Speed Press is titled "Passing Gas and other towns along the American Highway Portraits from the Heartland". Bob will always be remembered for his sense of humor even in the worst of times and his ability to keep his temper almost always. His kindness to his family and friends as well as strangers will be remembered by those who knew him best.

Robert enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, and gathering agates along the Yellowstone River. His musical interests started as a young boy pumping pipe organ in the Ismay Church. He was able to play harmonica, accordion, spoons and saw and even some traditional organ. He worked on numerous classic cars, ran Shop as a mechanic at Zero, Montana.

He is survived by three sons: BobLausch of Santa Fe, TX, Robert ElmerLausch of Kalispell, MT, James WilliamLausch of Ronan, MT; four daughters: Mary and Roberta both of TX, Linda Duncan of Kalispell, MT, and Patti Engle of Hendersonville, NC. He is also survived by one brother, WesleyLausch of Alberton, MT and two sisters: Mary Bohle of Baker, MT and Julia of Canada.

He has been preceded in death by his parents, both his ex-wife Billie and his second wife Ruth, one brother, Raymond Lausch of Miles City, MT., three sisters:Gertie, Ethel, and Violet, and one son PerryLausch.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 5, 2006 at 2:00 pm at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in family lot of the Custer County Cemetery with military honors. Condolences may be sent to the family by visitingwww.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.