- Date Of Birth: September 25, 1946
- Date Of Death: November 27, 2022
- State: Montana
Robert “Bob” was born September 25, 1946. He was the fourth of six children born to Mike and Minnie (Monica) Sestrich. Mike was the first Justice of the Peace for the combined Anaconda Deer Lodge County. The family owned the Sestrich Market on 4th Street and most of the kids were part of the workforce.
He attended St. Peter’s grade school and graduated from Anaconda High School in 1966. Many close friends were made during this time and continued throughout his life.
His courtship with the love of his life began in the summer of 1966, while in town he agreed to drive Marty home, but she had to ‘pay for the gas and jump through the window’. He then went on to jump through windows for her. Bob married Martha on June 20, 1969. The Sestrich family grew to include two daughters, Jolene and Jody. Bob is most proud of being a husband, dad, Pa, and most recently, became great Pa. Bob and Marty were able to share 53 wonderful years together.
While attending Western Montana College in Dillon he enlisted in the Army National Guard. He graduated with a degree in Primary Education. Bob was honorably discharged in 1977 and continued to hold a strong regard for service to country.
He began driving trucks in the Berkely Pit and held various CDL jobs. He was managing S&N Concrete when the smelter closed….in a bold move, he and Marty purchased S&N, grew the business, and successfully worked there to retirement alongside of the next Mud Man, son-in-law Ted. The original Mud Man, affectionally called the Concrete Cowboy, spent 30+ years in the business before retiring, building an extending family that created close knit friendships.
His love of the cowboy life has always been a presence and he was well known for his work on the Ferguson Simmental, Willow Glenn, and Anderson Ranches. As good friends Steve and Sue Burgess recently shared, “He had the rare ability to work cattle quiet and gentle.”. His inherent ability was nurtured through the mentoring of his lifelong riding partner, Dalton Mickelberry.
Bob had a passion for the outdoors. He never missed a chance to pack into the mountains on horseback. Bob fulfilled a bucket list ride-the thoroughfare in Wyoming, a nine-day ride along the side of Yellowstone Park. This ride was even more special as he shared it with Brad and Monica Anderson.
Bob will always be known to have witty sense of humor. Anyone that knew Bob will have fallen prey to a story that turned out to be a joke, it was even better to watch this occur and be able to join in the fun. One of his joys in life was to make people smile.
We all know that he may have loved his son-in-law and daughter-in-law as much as his own children.
He is preceded in death by his father Mike Sestrich, mother Monica (Salle) Sestrich, his father-in-law William Douglas, mother-in-law Mildred (McKean) Douglas, brother Jim Sestrich, in-laws Peggy (Shea) Sestrich, Ed Mazzolini, Jess Taylor, Donna (Douglas) Paullin, and Howard Paullin, cowboy mentor Dalton Mickelberry, and his beloved dog Crockett….and the Cowboy rides away.
Bob is survived by his wife Martha (Douglas); daughters Jolene Sestrich (Becky) and Jody Fortner (Ted); sisters Rose Marie (nicknamed Ro by Bob) Mazzolini and Frances Taylor; brothers John (Connie) Sestrich and Tony (Dale) Sestrich: brother-in-law Billy (Elsie) Douglas; granddaughters Ashlyn Wyant (Cayde), Bailey Fortner, and Cara Fortner; great-granddaughter Emberlyn Grace Wyant; horses Jack, Baron, and Shorty; grand dogs Wall-E and Haggin; great-grand animals Adelaide, Nylah, Jaxon, and numerous nieces and nephews.
