Robert Leonard Laumeyer

Robert L. Laumeyer died peacefully in his sleep on June 4 after speaking with his children and repeating his desire to to "share some tea with his mother." He had a tremendous zest for life and he will be missed by many who love him.

He was born on Aug 31, 1932 in Wolf Point Montana, the youngest of Rose and Joe Laumeyer's four children. Living on the family farm, Bobby learned how to fish and hunt, grow food, work hard, play cards, and fix anything that broke.

Bob left the farm to go to college in Havre at Northern Montana College, where he accidentally signed up for a degree in Education, which became his life-long career and also met Bonnie, his wife of 64 years. Bob was committed to Education; after completing two years at Havre, he started teaching in small Montana towns and attended nine years of summer school to earn his B.A. and M.Ed. degrees. He understood kids and helped hundreds to succeed at school and to navigate a better life. He was superintendent in Boulder, MT for 17 years and even in the months before retirement, he was also tutoring students in Algebra, enabling them to graduate from HS. He was particularly proud of the successful school building projects during his tenure.

Dad's best stories came from his frequent outdoor adventures, including hunting, fishing and rock hounding. He loved competitive gardening, writing poems, collecting books, meeting people and taking family vacations. Bob and Bonnie were dedicated to their extended families, including 27 nieces and nephews with spouses and children, and their adopted family consisting of many friends-for-life.

Bob and Bonnie spent 23 winters of retirement in Sun City AZ, where they had numerous hobbies, played mini-golf, went swimming and hosted grandchildren and other family members who were eager for winter sunshine. Bob grew oranges and roses and wrote and published 12 books of poetry and family stories. He won the Poet of the Year award in 2015.

In his final chapter, Bob received the most wonderful loving care at Bear Grass Assisted Living in Boulder.

Robert Laumeyer is survived by his four children, Mary Runkel (Robert), Barbara Miner, Jean Laumeyer (Mike O'Leary), Robert A. Laumeyer (Kristin), nine of his grandchildren - Anne Runkel, Alex O'Leary, Katie O'Leary, Kate Runkel, Tom Miner, Bobby O'Leary, Amanda Laumeyer, Ben Johnson, and Robert M. Laumeyer and one great granddaughter, Victoria Atlas.

Bob requested donations, in lieu of flowers, could be sent to either

Friends of the Boulder Community Library PO Box 589 Boulder MT 59632

MSU, Northern Alumni Foundation (note to Library Fund) PO Box 1691 Havre, MT 59501