Obituary - Robert "Bob" Hiroshi Ito

Robert "Bob" Hiroshi Ito, 87, passed away at home on Feb. 4, 2015.

Cremation has taken place and graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Highland Cemetery.

Bob was born on Feb. 2, 1928, in Monarch, Montana, to Masanori and Taeno Ito.

After the death of his father, when Bob was still a boy, his mother moved the remainder of the family to Japan. Later, after surviving terrific hardships growing up as a young man in Japan and Manchuria, Bob returned to America and worked as a laborer at the Nagamori farm in Loma.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and served in combat during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954. A few years later he met the love of his life, Toshi Hamaoka. They got married, raised a family, and lived in Havre for the past 55 years.

Bob worked for Sacred Heart Hospital, Eddies Bakery, Havre Clinic and Northern Montana Hospital/Northern Montana Medical Group until his retirement in 1997.

Bob was a wise, kind and hard-working man who cared for his family and friends dearly. Words cannot convey the depth of Bob's life and what a wonderful man he was. He cherished his family, friends, country and nature. Bob lived a life so incredible, many could never even imagine it, let alone believe the details. Bob was humble and never deemed it necessary to be in the limelight. He had a great sense of humor, appreciated a good joke, loved to visit and be around people. Bob treasured every day and always sought the positive side of any situation. He was an avid gardener, loved to hunt deer, fish for trout, make homemade wine and spend time with his family. One of his favorite retirement pursuits was raising different breeds of chickens on his rural property.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Toshi; sons, Roger (Lael) Ito of Minnesota and Steve (Nicole) Ito of Alaska and daughter, Linda Ito of Missoula. He also has six grandchildren; a brother, William (Hedy) Yoshida of Denver; and sister, Teruko (Yoshiki) Matsuoka of Japan, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to the American Cancer Society or Disabled American Veterans.

All of Bob's friends are invited to attend a luncheon at the Eagles Club following the graveside service.