Robert Walter Buchanan

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Robert Walter Buchanan, known as Bob or Bucky, passed away on September 17, 2009 at home in the loving care of his family.   He was a husband, father, friend, geologist, pilot, and business man who loved Montana.

Bob was born in Brookings, South Dakota, July 14, 1932, to Catherine and Walter Buchanan.  Several weeks later, the family moved to Billings, Montana.  Bob grew up attending Billings public schools, riding horses on his grandparents' Duck Creek ranch with cousin Barbara Gullard, working many odd jobs,  playing football, basketball, and graduating from Billings Senior High School in 1950.   Bob attended the University of Montana, received a Socony Vacuum scholarship for most promising geology student, and graduated in 1954.  Following graduation, Bob worked for Carter Oil Company, married Judy Keil, and entered the United States Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant navigator.  Fulfilling his ROTC obligation in 1957, Bob and Judy moved to Miles City where Bob resumed worked as a geologist for Carter Oil Company.  Three years later, Bob left the oil business and became manager of Keil Company Wholesale Grocers in Billings. By 1962, he had become a super dad to three girls. Bob learned business and finance from mentor, H.E. Peffley, and expanded and built a new location for Keil Company on Monad Road, currently Sysco Grocers.  Bob and Jim Tidyman became partners in a new grocery concept of warehouse marketing.  Their first store on 4th Avenue North was successful and led to an expansion of stores in Washington and Idaho.  They sold the stores in 1986 as an employee stock option buyout by Super Value.  Bob and Judy enjoyed a home in the California desert, briefly became residents of Washington state living in Port Townsend near their three daughters and their families.  Washington was wonderful, but Bob and Judy's strong Montana roots brought about a move back to Billings, where Bob enjoyed his two hobbies, golf and a family cabin.

Bob is survived by his wife, Judy, three daughters, Bonnie Stenehjem (Scott), Debi Grant, (Chuck), Barb York (Tom), grandchildren, Jessie Stenehjem, Satchel, Lucia and Cole Grant, Rollie and Keil York.  Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and granddaughter Maizie Grant.

A funeral service will be celebrated at 1st Congregational Church on September 26 at 11:00 a.m.  Memorials may be sent to Riverstone Hospice Foundation or a charity of one's choice in honor of Bob.

 

    

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Remembrances

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To the family of Robert Buchanan.

We will always remember "Bucky" with great fondness and affection .

He was a kind and gentle man with an engaging sense of humor.

Love to all of you,

Bill and Carol

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You will be remembered in our hearts forever, Michael and Vickie Spelman

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Dear Judy and Family,

Mel and I have wonderful memories of time spent with Bob. He was a real gentleman -- a great guy!! I am in Las Vegas but Mel will attend the funeral. You all are in our prayers. Love, Frosty

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You are all in my thought and prayers.

Jan Duffner Kirk

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Hi Grandpa,

I hope that everything is what you thought it would be up there and that you get to fly your dream plane around forever.  I just wanted to say that I miss you and love you and that I will always remember the time we spent on the beach taking your smoke breaks during dinners out in Washington.  I just wanted to write what I would have said at your service if I had had the chance, this is a quote from the Little Prince: "People have stars, but

they aren't the same. For travelers, the stars are guides. For other people, they're nothing but tiny lights. And for still others, for scholars, they're problems. For my businessman, they were gold. But all those stars are silent stars. You, though, you'll have stars like nobody else."

"What do you mean?"

"When you look up at the sky at night, since I'll be living on one of them, since I'll be laughing on one of them, for you, it'll be as if all the stars are laughing.

You'll have stars that can laugh!"

And he laughed again.

"And when you're consoled (everyone is eventually consoled), you'll be glad you've known me.

You'll always be my friend. You'll feel like laughing with me. And you'll open your windows sometimes just for the fun of it... And your friends will be amazed to see you laughing while you're looking up at the sky. Then you'll tell them, 'Yes, it's the stars. They always make me laugh!" Love you, Jessie

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