Robert Strong

Robert Glenn Strong, 87, passed away Aug. 26, 2012, at his home in Columbia Falls, due to natural causes.

Bob was born on July 29, 1925, in San Bernadino, Calif., where he was delivered by his grandfather, Dr. David Strong. Bob’s father was a cameraman for MGM studios, and during the Great Depression, Bob was sent to live with his grandfather, who in turn moved him in with a farm family who owed his grandfather money.

He enjoyed his time on the farm, but a heart condition was discovered that kept him hospitalized for a year. When he was released, he was told he had three to five years to live. Shortly thereafter, his father was filming the original “Mutiny On the Bounty” near Catalina Island and was swept off a barge during a storm while trying to rescue the film. His grandfather died soon after, and Bob returned home to live with his mother, who was given a job for life with the studio.

Bob and his friends played on the back lots of MGM and he was once given a small film role — they were looking for a short, fat kid. In high school he worked for the studio as a key grip, moving up to $1 per hour salary.

After high school, he went to Loyola on a football scholarship but left early to join the Navy’s V12 program, which trained officers for the war effort. Bob was 19 when he began duty on a ship in the South Pacific as a first lieutenant. He was among the first occupation troops in Japan.

After returning home, he continued his education on a scholarship at the University of Southern California, where he played football.

In 1948, Bob married Edith Disbrow. In 1998, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Shortly thereafter, Edith died and Bob married Marian LaPlume.

After college, he worked for GMAC and was recruited by the FBI while working with them on finding a felon whose car Bob was about to repossess. He was posted to St. Louis, Chicago and Puerto Rico for eight years, and finally Miami for eight years. While in Miami and Puerto Rico, he spent most of his spare time deep sea diving and playing duplicate bridge, two passions he never outgrew, but time underwater was the most fondly remembered.

He retired as a supervisor and spent many of the next years traveling the world and camper trailering in the U.S. In 1999, he sold his home in Hemet, Calif., and made Montana his year-round residence.

Bob will be remembered as a kind and friendly person who could make new friends while standing in any line. This talent was recognized by the FBI when at one point in his career he was put into a Miami jail cell with a convicted kidnapper to find out where the felon’s accomplices were. (He did find out.) Bob led a life with many challenges but never let them dominate. He was always grateful for the blessings he received.

Bob leaves his wife Marian, of Columbia Falls; and his son Glenn and wife Monica and grandchildren Kelsey and Nicholas, all of Salt Lake City.

Memorials can be sent to the Columbia Falls Library which he utilized on a regular basis and whose librarians he was extremely fond of.

No services are planned at this time.