Robert B Franklin

Robert B. “Bob” Franklin, 91, of Great Falls, passed away on April 8, 2018, at the Grandview. A funeral service will be held on Monday, April 16, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at O’Connor Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery with Military honors. Bob was born to Florence B. (Boyd) and Henry Melvin Franklin of Sand Coulee, Montana on October 5, 1926. He grew up exploring the hills around the small town of Sand Coulee as a child. As a young man, he quit school and went to work helping his father on the well drilling rig to help support his family. In September 1944, he joined the Navy. After boot camp, he was stationed on Mactan Island in the Philippines. In the spring of 1946, he returned to the mainland USA, stationed at Alameda Air Station, Alameda, CA. It was while stationed there that Bob met Miss Dorothy Haley at a party. When he saw her come down the stairs, he remarked, “That’s the girl I’m going to marry,” and marry her he did on February 13, 1949. Their first daughter, Susan, was born to them in November 1949. Bob continued in the Navy until it was rumored that if he re-upped, they would ship out for a long period of time. He decided to return to Montana and build a home for his family which was about to get a bit larger. In April 1954, a second daughter, Laura, was born, and three months later, they moved into the home he had built near Great Falls. Over the years, Bob held many jobs including working for the smelter, the Singer Sewing Machine Company selling and repairing sewing machines, and eventually Sears and Roebuck as a service technician. It was through this job that many people came to know him. In September of 1987, he retired from Sears and spent much of his time enjoying woodworking and making willow whistles, earning him the name “Whistleman.”Bob loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping. He completed 20 years of military service, serving in the United States Navy, Naval Reserve and Montana Air National Guard, retiring as a Master Sergeant. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; mother Florence; father Melvin; brothers Thomas, Douglas, Dennis and Teddy; sisters Peggy and Dolores. Bob is survived by his sister, Greta Carte; his daughters, Susan and Laura; granddaughters, Elizabeth and Melissa; great-grandson Jackson, and many nephews and nieces. He will be greatly missed.