Robert Bloom

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Early in the morning of January 30th , 2023, Robert “Bob” Bloom passed away peacefully in his sleep. He was 86 years old. His mind was sharp until the very end, but his body was worn out. He’d said goodbyes to his children and grandchildren, and was ready to cross the Big Divide.

Bob was born on Christmas Eve, 1936 to Clarence “C.J.” Bloom and Helen (Skeie) Bloom in Great Falls, Montana. His mother paid for the maternity hospital bill by bartering with eggs and cream from the family ranch in Simms. He grew up doing all the jobs and activities typical of a ranch kid, but his interests were always centered on cattle and horses. He attended school in Simms, graduating from Simms High School in 1955. One day in Great Falls he saw a pretty girl walking along Central Avenue and thought she looked cold, so he asked her if she’d like to have a cup of coffee with him. Her name was Janet Restelli. On July 12th , 1957 they were married, beginning a partnership that would last for 60 years until Janet’s death in 2017.

For the first 12 years of their marriage, Bob worked for the City of Great Falls at the Water Treatment plant. But his heart was always at the ranch, so in 1968 they moved the family to Simms and started leasing and buying land, slowly building their own outfit. Bob and Janet worked as a team, putting in long hours to make a go of it. They ran cattle, grew hay, wheat, and brewing barley, and raised a family. Bob also served on the Simms Volunteer Fire Department, and as a trustee on the Simms School Board, the Fort Shaw Irrigation District, and the Simms Sewer Board.

Bob retired from full time ranching in 2000, but continued to help on the ranch until his death. He and Janet began wintering in Yuma, Arizona in 2001 and enjoyed many happy, warm winters there, making new friends. Bob was a wonderful grandpa to his 5 grandchildren, all of whom not only loved “Grandpa Bob”, but thought of him as one of their best friends. He set the standard for all them to live up to.

Special thanks go to all the staff at Front Range Assisted Living in Fairfield, where Bob lived after Janet’s death. They treated Bob as a beloved member of their own families and made his final years enjoyable. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Don and sister Dorothy. He is survived by his sons Doug (Connie) Bloom, Russ (Carol) Bloom, and Daughter Trish Martinez; grandchildren Nathan Bloom, Zeb, Jake and Maddie Bloom, and Taylor Martinez; step-grandson Terry Sullivan; great-grandson Roman Bloom, and step great-grandsons Brayden and Dayne Sullivan and step great-granddaughter Mariah Sullivan, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Bob’s Life will be held at the Croxford Funeral Home Chapel in Great Falls on Saturday, February 25th at 1:00 PM. Immediately afterwards a reception and dinner will be served at the Sun River Gymnasium in Sun River.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to either the Simms Park (PO Box 56, Simms, MT 59477) or the Sun River Cemetery (13470 MT Hwy 200, Fort Shaw, MT 59443).

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