J. Robert "Bob" Sletten

J. Robert “Bob” Sletten, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 26, 2017, in Great Falls, MT. Bob was born in Great Falls on September 19, 1932, to Norwegian immigrants John O. and Hedvig (Finstad) Sletten. Bob graduated from Great Falls High School in 1950. As a member of the Great Falls Marine Reserve Unit, he was immediately sent to Camp Pendleton with his childhood friend, Gene Knight. After serving two years at Camp Pendleton, Bob returned home to attend Montana State College in Bozeman graduating with a degree in Architectural Engineering in 1956.He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity where he served one year as President.Upon college graduation, he joined Sletten Construction, the company his father founded in 1928.He enjoyed a long prosperous career with the company. Bob married Pat Thomas in 1962, they moved to Las Vegas in 1963 to open the first of five satellite offices for Sletten Construction. Their first daughter, Leighanne, was born in Las Vegas.He and Pat returned to Great Falls in 1965 where daughter, Kristen, and son, Erik, were born completing the family. Bob was named President of Sletten Construction in 1969 and served as Chairman of the Board from 1988 to 2015. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Erik Sletten took the helm of the company in 2001, allowing Bob to slowly ease into retirement. Bob had the great fortune of staying involved with the company and its employees throughout his “retirement”, visiting the office on a regular basis and acting as a sounding board for anyone looking for a little advice or willing to tell him a good story. While Bob worked hard, he also enjoyed all his home state had to offer as a skier, hunter, and fisherman. He loved to golf, and was never one to pass up a round with his always willing golf partner Gene Thayer. As an avid supporter of his beloved MSU Fightin’ Bobcats, Bob rarely missed a Saturday game day in Bozeman, and he enjoyed the opportunity to travel to support his favorite team. Recognizing the blessings he had received through his hard work and success, Bob was eager to share his good fortune as a civic leader, serving on numerous community boards and foundations, and contributing to many deserving local and state charitable organizations: Montana Contractors Association; First National Bank; Montana Historical Society; McLaughlin Research Institute; Committee of the 80s; Montana Chamber of Commerce; Prairie Mountain Bank; Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute and Montana State University Foundation. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Pat; daughters and their families Leighanne (Bob) Daily, Ryanne and Riley, and Kristen (Chris) Rosa, Mitch, Jessica and Erik; son and family Erik (Kim) Sletten, Karissa and Neil; brother-in law Gordon “Bud” Dutt; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews here and in Norway. Bob was also blessed to have many, many dear friends. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Marion May, Francis Dutt and Helen Neel; and brothers-in-law Bob Gunness, Ed May and Gene Neel. Family, friends, and those whose lives Bob touched are invited to attend a Celebration of Bob’s Life on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 from 4-7pm at the Meadow Lark Country Club. The family suggests sending memorial contributions in lieu of flowers to Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute (1101 26th St. South, Great Falls, MT, 59406) or Faith Lutheran Church Building Fund (1601 2nd Ave North, Suite 300W, Great Falls, MT 59401).