Robert "Bob" McTaggart

Robert Edward McTaggart, 86 of Billings, MT, passed away August 17, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. Bob lived a long and eclectic life. He was born in Butte and grew up in Hamilton MT where as an only child he joined his parents, Archie and Kay McTaggart, hunting, fishing and enjoying the outdoors in the Bitterroot mountains. After high school he enlisted in the Army and became a Green Beret. Following active duty, he continued to serve in the Montana National Guard and was chosen to be a personal aide and bodyguard to the governor of Montana.

Bob and his first wife, Sharon had two children, Scott McTaggart of Helena MT and Rosanna Richardson who died of cancer in 2019. Bob is survived by three grandsons, Scott and Cody McTaggart and Zanna’s son, Chance Gruber Richardson.

Bob and his second wife Susie ranched north of Helena where he became an owner-trainer of race horses. After years of caretaking horses and cows, he decided he could take care of humans too. At age 50, he left the rigors of ranching behind. He attended nursing school at Northern Montana College and became an RN. Bob moved to Billings and worked as a nurse while he earned a degree in psychology at MSUB. Psych nursing at Billings Clinic, the Mental Health Center and finally the Community Crisis Center, became his life’s work for 30 more years.

Bob met his third wife, Jaqui Thier, aka Jacquelyn Thier Cooper, a Billings native, in the early 1990s. They shared many diverse interests, a love of nature and outdoor recreation, a love of animals, especially horses, an appreciation of art and an honoring and support of Native American culture. They were adopted by a Crow family and attended numerous family gatherings, Crow Fairs and Sundances. Several of Bob’s end of life caregivers were Native American women.

Bob helped Jaqui to achieve her dream in 1995 when together they bought a mini ranch on Rock Creek near Roberts, MT. They called it Dreamweaver Lodge. For 15 years they shared their home with clients and students from around the country offering classes, workshops and personal retreats to seekers of solitude in nature, personal growth, healing and spiritual direction. Living at Dreamweaver Lodge was such a gift to Bob and Jaqui. Bob got to enjoy all the fun parts of ranching and horses and he loved caretaking all the native and domestic animals who shared their home.

Their beloved standard poodle, Sophie, joined Bob & Jaqui in 2010 when they moved back to Billings. For 14 years she ran the show and traveled with them to favorite destinations in the Southwest and along the Pacific coast.

Jaqui, a lifelong artist, encouraged one of Bob’s childhood dreams to be a painter. On their travels they attended plein air (outdoor landscape painting) workshops, studying with some

of the top pastel painters in the country. Unencumbered by a traditional art education, Bob’s natural talent for interpreting color and design in nature made him a successful “developing artist.”

At the end of his life, Bob’s St Johns Hospice nurses and VA helpers from Synergy enjoyed his eclectic wisdom and storytelling, his healing and loving presence and his ability to touch others with his courage and strength of spirit. Jaqui is forever greatful for all the professional helpers and dedicated friends who made Bobs last journey bearable. We all pray he is walking with his beloved dog Sophie, his daughter Rosanna and friends and family who passed before him, all who welcomed him to the “Other Side Camp.” (Crow afterlife)

Bob chose cremation of his earthly remains and a ceremonial scattering of his ashes with family, friends, coworkers and caregivers at a later date. Although Bob loved gardening and flowers, he asked any memorials be given in his name to the Community Crisis Center of Billings or a charity of your choice.

https://www.crisiscenterbillings.org/