ROBERT NOBORU HAMAOKA obituary

Robert Noboru “Smokey” Hamaoka, 69, died Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes.

Cremation has taken place and his memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with Kevin Barsotti officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the senior citizen's center immediately after the services at the graveside. Memorial contributions in Robert's honor may be made to the Salvation Army 328 3rd St., Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Bob was born April 29, 1940, in Havre, Mont., to Shuji and Yoshino Dorothy (Miini) Hamaoka. He was raised and educated in Havre and graduated from Havre High School in 1958. Robert entered into the United States Navy in April 1958 and was honorably discharged in March 1961. He returned to Havre after the service and went to work for the Great Northern Railroad as an electrician in 1961 and retired in1998. He married Jeanette Staples on Sept. 29, 2001 in Havre. Bob “Smokey” loved fishing, camping and having coffee with his friends every morning. He especially loved traveling to see his family. He enjoyed Sudoku and working in his garage making ornaments with Jeanette for their yard and for their family and friends to enjoy in their yards. He truly enjoyed the outdoors and worked hard every year to have the most beautiful yard in the neighborhood. His other joy was watching his grandchildren play in their sporting activities and to play cards and other games with them when they would visit. He had a genuine nature that made each and every one of them feel special, and he joked and teased them a lot. Bob was a very loving husband, stepfather and grandfather. He held a special place in each grandchild's heart. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Glenn in September 2008. Bob is survived by his wife Jeanette Hamaoka of Havre, Mont., his stepchildren, Raymond (Carolyn) Staples, Robert Staples, and Kathy (Kenny) Ophus; brothers, Kenji Hamaoka of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Gary (Lisa) Hamaoka of Milwaukie, Ore.sisters, Doris (Clarence) Johnson of Copalis Beach, Wash., and Ruby Bradley of Beaverton, Ore .; 13 grandchildren; seven great -grandchildren; and many special nieces and nephews.