Robert “Bob” Ridley Bouley
January 26, 1943 - September 9, 2024
MISSOULA - Robert "Bob" Ridley Bouley, of Missoula, passed away at home on Monday, September 9, 2024, of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 81 years old.
Bob was born to Frank and Josephine Bouley in King County, WA, on January 26, 1943. The Bouleys moved to Montana where Bob endured a difficult childhood and was orphaned at a young age. Looking for a means to survive he hopped his way across the state before landing in Arlee. At 15 years old Bob was "found" by Fritz and Della Wipplinger, who would soon become the forever family that he deserved. The Wipplinger family raised Bob in Dixon, MT, where he attended high school with his new siblings. Fritz and Della would eventually formally adopt Bob at the age of 34. On October 2, 1965, Bob would marry the love of his life, Bonnie Jo Williams of Missoula. Together they lived in Huson where they raised three children, Wayne, Frank, and Lisa, and numerous miniature schnauzers. If you knew Bob, you knew that his dogs were the true rulers of the roost.
Bob was forever "Mr. Fix-It." He made a living working for Intermountain Lumber Company, Waldo Williams Service and Supply, and finally as the shop manager at Missoula Cartage, where he retired in 2005. Even in retirement he was perpetually wrenching. He enjoyed tinkering on his hot rods and Harleys, and directing his sons and then grandsons on how he would fix literally anything. Amongst Bob's hobbies were weekly Nascar races, UM Grizzly football and rodeo, traveling to watch his grand and great-grandkids play sports, and days in the sun watching the boats on Flathead Lake and Lake Havasu. He loved whipping the kids around on the tube behind his own boat whenever he got the chance.
Preceding Bob in death were his parents: Fritz and Della Wipplinger; sister, Kay Belanger; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Waldo and Doris Williams; brother-in-law, Alan (Jill) Williams; and sister-in-law, Jeanne Williams.
Survivors include his bride of nearly 59 years, Bonnie Jo of Missoula; his children: Wayne (Laurie) of Kalispell, Frank (Tanya) of Whitefish, and Lisa (Bo) Holst of Bigfork; grandchildren: Kayla (Brandon) Brazell of Bigfork, Cody (Cassia) Bouley of Huson, Kendra (Alex) Lybeck of Kalispell, Axel (Cady) Bladholm of Butte, Bailey (still looking) Bladholm of Minneapolis, MN, Alyssa Meeker of Kalispell, and Lupa Stene-Ayers of Olympia, WA; great-grandchildren: Westin, Byrin, and Ellowin Brazell, Tikka and Fritz Bouley, and Wesley and Ridley Lybeck; siblings: Billie (Alvin) McCrea of Polson, Gary (Brenda) Wipplinger of Polson, and Sheila (Jerry) Nelson of Vero Beach, FL; brothers-in-law: Dennis Williams of Missoula, and Ken (Kathy) Williams of Missoula; along with many nieces and nephews, and life-long friends.
In Bob's own words, "People will come to my memorial if there are free drinks and food." Join us in honoring those wishes as we raise a glass to the life of our irreplaceable and oh-so loved, "Dad," favorite "Papa," "Grandpa," "Pops," "Gramps," "Uncle," "Pain in the ass," "Tippy," "The Bobber," and "Old Crony," from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., Sunday, September 29, 2024, at The Barn on Mullan, located at 8500 Mullan Rd, Missoula.
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