Robert “Jack” Stuart passed away Sept. 1, 2014, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
Jack was born in Conrad to Frank O. Stuart and Mary Presslity Stuart on Aug. 22, 1928. He attended school in Ledger and Conrad. He received his private pilot license when he was 16.
Jack enlisted in the Air Force in 1946 and was stationed on Guam for 23 months. He was discharged from Great Falls Air Force Base in September 1949. He was with the Civil Air Patrol in Montana and California.
In 1950, he married Betty Matheson in Conrad and together raised three sons. In 1957, they moved to Southern California where Jack began a career in aerospace, retiring in January 1991. He continued flying power airplanes and bought a sailplane which he flew until 1994. He had the great experience of flying on the Concorde and reaching an altitude to see the curvature of the earth, and also went into the cockpit while in flight.
Jack and Betty moved to Bigfork in 1991 to enjoy retirement. He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church. He loved the mountains as his father had a cabin on Lake McDonald and built Motel Lake McDonald. He enjoyed woodworking and made furniture, but his pride was in his cedar strip canoe.
Jack always had a smile on his face and never gave up after many challenges due to his health.
He is survived by his wife, Betty; sons, Tom of Whitefish, Brad and Christy of Billings, and Greg of Bigfork; and granddaughter, Melonee, of Nevada.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork.
Memorials may be given to Bethany Lutheran Church, Home Options Hospice in Kalispell, or the charity of your choice.