- Date Of Birth: November 3, 1929
- Date Of Death: August 11, 2014
- State: Montana
Ruben Walter Gebhardt, 84 of Simms, passed away on August 11, 2014 at Peace Hospice from complications of cancer.
Ruben was born in Marsh, MT November 3, 1929 to Ed and Mary Gebhardt; the oldest of 3 sons. His parents moved to the Fairfield bench in the late 1930s and he graduated from Simms High School. In 1950 he married Dorothy Armstrong in the Lutheran Church at Fairfield. They lived in the Sun River Valley all their married lives.
After being drafted in May of 1951, he served two years in the Army Engineers at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. He returned from the Army to run and operate a dairy farm in Simms and then spent 30 years working for the Cascade County Road Department, retiring in 1993. He was Chairman of the Board at Simms Methodist Church, and served many years in the Sun River Valley Lion’s Club, becoming the District Governor of 37C in 1996-97. Ruben was also commander of the American Legion Post 130. He spent many hours helping convert an old school house into a Legion Hall in Vaughn. Ruben also served as the Secretary for the Simms Volunteer Fire Department for many years. An active Lion’s member, he collected and traded pins all over the world. He was a master woodworker that enjoyed building things for family and friends. He gave countless hours to his community but always found time for a game of cards.
Ruben is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy, and six children and spouses; son, Duane (Kathy) of Cascade; daughter, Ruby (Doug Miller) of Troy; son, Ken (Susan) of Casper, WY; son, Keith (Karen) of Leonard, MN; son, Gary (Sue) of Woodland, WA; and daughter, Sandra (Eric Means) of Snohomish, WA; a brother, Ervin Gebhardt of Vaughn; 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Mary; and brother, Marvin.
