Obituary for Robert Harold 'Bob' Steensland
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bob Steensland, 80, on Tuesday April 16, 2024.
Robert Harold Steensland was born to Waldemar and Beulah Branae Steensland on May 9, 1943, at the family home in Big Timber, Montana.
Bob attended the Big Timber Elementary School. He attended Sweet Grass High School where music was a big part of his life. The French horn became a big part of his high school years. He even went to Billings to play live on television as part of the Hill Billy band. He also was a member of the community band and played alongside some older than his father. He was one of the first on the dance floor.
It was in September 1961 that Bob surprised us all. He joined the U.S. Navy and served his country for twenty years. He was a radarman on a destroyer and served five tours in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Viet Nam War. He also was a part of the US fleet in the eastern Mediterranean Sea during the Turkey-Greece conflict. He valued his Navy service highly and attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. In the course of his service, he received the following distinctions: Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Viet Nam Service Medal, and the Republic of Viet Nam Campaign Medal.
It is hard to believe that the Navy has flight stations on land, but Bob spent several years using radar to land the planes. His last tour was in Fallon, Nevada where he met and married Florence Brady in 1977. He then became the proud and loving father of two children, Steven and Amy. After he retired, he and his family then moved to Cholame California where he operated farming equipment for just under a year.
In 1981, the family came home to Big Timber. Bob became a member of the volunteer fire department, but he also became incredibly involved in the American Legion Post 19. He held various posts but felt most privileged and proud to serve with the Honor Guard in respecting fallen veterans. Memorial Day was special with flags and the laying of the wreath in Yellowstone. Bob later became the manager of the Legion club and in many ways, he was the bridge between the WWII and Viet Nam vets. He and Florence later divorced in 1995.
He kept his days busy with one of his many hobbies and passions of reading, watching the local Herders teams, Braves baseball, hunting or fishing. He moved to the Bitterroot Valley to live in his beloved cabin near Darby, spending time there with his longtime friend, partner, and soulmate Jan McCann. Sadly, his home was destroyed by a devastating forest fire in 2000. He then returned home again to Big Timber where he shared his remaining life journey with Jan. Bob always said, “Montana is full of good people.” And he became firmer in this conviction throughout his lifetime. He was born in Big Timber and returned to Big Timber to spend the rest of his days among the good people
Bob is survived by his three sisters: Pat Prather, Florence Reynolds, and Elizabeth Thorsrud; his two children Amy (Biff) Larson and Steve (Susan) Brady, his grandchildren Bauer, Coral, Jacob, and Kaleb (Alexsys) Larson (their children Kayden, Olivia, and Presley); Ryan and Eva Kate Brady, Jan's loving family Doug McCann, Shelly (Terry) Talkington, Casey (Jessica) Talkington, their children Gage, Shaelynn, and Isabelle, Brittany (Darrell) Flowers, their children Chloe, and Sophia; as well as many special nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bob was preceded in death by his soulmate Jan McCann; his parents Waldemar and Beulah Branae Steensland, uncles and aunts Helmar and Barb Branae, Bennie and Wilma Elgen, cousin Shirley (Branae) Wiegand and his brothers-in-law Richard Prather, Robert Reynolds, Maier Miller and Einar Thorsrud.
Funeral services will be held 9:00 a.m. Saturday April 27 at Stenberg Funeral Home, Interment with military honors will be held at the Mountain View Cemetery. A reception will immediately follow at the American Legion Post 19.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Bob's name to the American Legion Post 19 or Heart and Hands Hospice.
To plant a tree in memory of Robert Harold 'Bob' Steensland, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Funeral Service
Saturday
27
Apr
9:00 AM
- 9:45 AM
Stenberg Funeral Home
215 Anderson Street
PO Box 723
Big Timber, MT 59011
Graveside Services
Saturday
27
Apr
9:45 AM
- 10:15 AM
Mountain View Cemetery
West of Big Timber
Big Timber, MT 59011
Reception
Saturday
27
Apr
10:15 AM
- 12:00 PM
American Legion Post #19
110 East 3rd Avenue
Big Timber, MT 59011
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