Robert George Hockett

1925 - 2009

Robert George Hockett, 83, died on May 7, 2009 in Havre. Cremation has taken place. His Memorial will be held 10 a.m., Monday, at the First Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to the MSU Northern Foundation Hockett Family Endowment Scholarship P.O. Box 1691 Havre, Montana 59501.

Robert was born September 12, 1925 on the family homestead, southwest of Havre, to George Albert Hockett and Sophia Heglund Hockett, the oldest of three sons. He attended a one-room country school near the farm until high school, graduating from Havre High School in 1943. He worked for Great Northern Railroad for one year before being drafted into the army, where he served as an MP in Puerto Rico. He then returned to Havre, back to railroad work, before attending college at MSU Bozeman, where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho. He graduated in 1951, with a degree in agriculture education. After graduation, he returned to running the family farm, in addition to working for the Soil Conservation Service from 1951 until1954, then for Hill County as a surveyor. He then began a long teaching career at Northern Montana College. He taught mathematics, auto and diesel mechanics, and welding. He earned his Master's Degree in Industrial Arts at Oregon State University in 1967. He then returned to Northern, until retiring as Dean of the Vo-tech Division. He then worked part time for the NMC Foundation for six years. During this time he continued farming full time with his son Jeffry.

Education was a priority in Bob's life, and he was proud of his five children, all graduating from college, including two with graduate degrees.

He was a state senator from 1991-1994. He was active in many organizations and served on many boards, including Farmers Grain Exchange, Soil and Water Conservation, and Northern Montana Hospital. He was the recipient of Ag Leader of the Year in 2003. He was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church. He served ice cream at every lutefisk dinner held at the church! Lutefisk was one of his favorite foods.

Bob is survived by his first wife Voila Joyce Hockett (Gleason), second wife Jessie Hockett (Gestring), and five children: Melanie Ruby (Joe) of Helena; Lorrie Hockett of Havre; Jeffry Hockett (Kayleen) of Havre; Kathie Kadri (Abdul) of Billings; Sherrie Hockett (Wayne) of Sunnyside, Wash.; Grandchildren: Greg Strandberg; Shayne Guttery; Michele Hockett; Zane and Lacey Gibbons; brothers: Roy Hockett of Helena and Eugene Hockett of Bozeman.
He was preceded in death by two grandsons, Daniel and Tyler Hockett.

Special thanks to April Custer for the extraordinary, loving care she and her staff provided at the Care and Comfort Home in Havre, for the last year of his life.