Gary Douglas Kober, loving and devoted husband and dad departed this earthly world to be with our heavenly Father on July 31, 2015. Gary was born in Billings, MT on March 27, 1951, the son of Sol and Virla Kober. The oldest of four, he learned work ethics at an early age on the irrigated cattle farm he grew up on in Park City. Gary loved football and was proud to be a PC Panther when they took the 1968 Southern Div. Championship. Continued playing at Rocky Mountain College on a football scholarship. Sept. 1, 1970 he hired out for the Burlington Northern Railroad where he was promoted to locomotive engineer in 1978; receiving the highest score to date on his training exam.
Gary was always dedicated to his community, as a Fireman and later as Fire Chief on the PC Vol. Fire Dept., served on the PC School Board, coached both boy’s baseball and women’s softball teams. He loved dressing up as Santa for all the local kids at Christmas. Gary, known as “The Kob” to his friends; loved to make people laugh, spending time with his pets, fishing, farming, carpentry, auctions, welding, and crafting new uses for old horse shoes for his booth at the Whitefish Farmer’s Market. Gary was always the first in line to help his family and friends with anything and he always thought of unique nicknames to make everyone feel special.
In 1971 Gary married his high school sweetheart, Catherine Ione Linger, and for the next 44 years, they were inseparable. This union was blessed with two children Carrie Catherine and Lance Gary. In Nov. 1987 Gary was transferred to Whitefish and they made their home up in the trees just south of Olney. Gary served as Treasurer of the Olney Fire Board up until his diagnosis of cancer in October 2014. Gary was a big cowboy and a big flirt; anyone who knew him also knew he was full of bull! If you met him he was your friend. He tried hard not to lose his humor during his fight.
Gary was met in heaven by his parents Sol and Virla Kober, brother Tim Kober, in-laws Lloyd F. and Evelyn Linger, and son-in-law Evan F. Schneider. He is survived by his wife, Catherine, daughter Carrie C. Schneider of Bozeman, son Lance G. Kober and daughter-in-law Krista Oge Kober of Whitefish, adopted grandson Benjamine Krell of Cheney, WA., sisters Kathy (Mike) Alexander of Park City and Laurie Kober of Midland, TX., sister-in-law Sharon (Wayne) Roller of Park City, brother-in-law Earl (Kathleen) Linger of Laurel, sister-in-law Marsha (Randy) Robertus of Billings, many uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Services will be held for Gary at Depot Park under the tree where he set up his Farmer’s Market booth; August 15, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
An additional service will also be held in the Park City, MT. at the Civic Center on August 22, 2015 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
Donations can be made in Gary’s name to the Olney Volunteer Fire Department or a charity of your choice .