Floyd R. 'Bob' Brazill

Floyd R. "Bob" Brazill passed away July 18, 2013, at Meadowlark Manor in Whitehall, Mont., at 9:53 a.m.

He was born Aug. 28, 1922, in Missoula, Mont., to Jesse V. and Edith Drury Brazill. 

Edith died when he was 4, leaving him and his five siblings for Jesse to raise alone. Eventually, Jesse and his family moved to Twin Bridges, where Bob and his brothers George and Jack attended school.  There he met Margaret Magee and they married in Red Lodge, Mont., on Aug. 26, 1942. Bob entered the Navy in 1942 and served on various amphibious landing crafts as a machinist motor man in the European Theatre of War. He took part in the invasion of Sicily where in his words, "The sea was calm and they weren't shooting at us ... ,"  and on Omaha Beach at Normandy where, "The seas were rough and they were shooting at us." After World War II, he returned home and worked at various jobs. From 1952 to 1956, he attended the University of Montana in Missoula, graduating with a bachelor's degree in history education. During the summers, while attending the university, Dad would pack up the family and move to places like Brock Creek, Pioneer, Mont., Elk Creek, where he worked in the mines, while the kids ran the hills. After two years of teaching in Jordan, Mont., he realized that with five children, he was not making enough money and needed a better-paying job. In 1958, the family moved to Drummond, where he worked at the Phosphate mine near Garrison until his retirement in 1985. 

Some of his favorite pastimes were camping and fly fishing with his family and hunting with his sons. Bob lost his beloved wife, Margaret, in 1999. They had been married for 57 years. He continued to live in Drummond until 2008, when he began to live with his children. For the past year, Bob lived in Meadowlark Manor in Whitehall. He often bragged about the good food and excellent care he received during his stay there, and the family is grateful to the wonderful staff and good people who became his friends during the last year of his life.

He is preceded in death by Margaret, his loving wife of 57 years; his father, Jesse; mother, Edith; brothers, Jack, George, Charles "Bub"; sisters, Helen, Mary and Evelyn; and grandson, Bradley.

He is survived by his sons, Jack (Kaye) of Arlee, Bill (Sharon) of Whitehall, Larry (Irma) of Dillon and Mike (Janet) of Seattle and daughter, Darcy (Mike) Zook of Havre; his sisters-in-law, Montie Brazill, Margene Brazill and Norma Daly; brother-in-law, David Magee; grandsons, Bryan Brazill, Jim Brazill, Joe Brazill, Jason Brazill and Travis Brazill; granddaughters, April Joy, Jennifer Benjamin, Jessica Wilson, Meggie Zook and Molly Zook; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at the Community Hall in Drummond at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 23. Graveside services with military honors will be held at the Valley Cemetery south of Drummond. Viewing will be held Monday from 5 to 7 p.m. from the K&L Mortuary Chapel at Whitehall.

Following the service, a potluck dinner will be served in the Drummond Community Hall.

Memorials may be made to the Veterans Whitehall Memorial Wall, the Veterans Drummond Memorial Wall or a charity of your choice.