Robert William Gerber

STEVENSVILLE - Robert William Gerber, 67, died Friday, July 28, 2023, at his home in Stevensville. He was born March 6, 1956, to Raymond and Melba Gerber in Salt Lake City, where he grew up and attended Granite High School. Robert was credited (or blamed) for his dad’s passion for raising goats because he could not tolerate any other milk as an infant. Farm life taught him the value of hard work and how to fix anything with baling wire and duct tape. Robert’s family moved to the Bitterroot Valley in his teens, and he left home shortly after to follow his adventurous spirit throughout the western U.S. In 1978 he hitchhiked to Seattle, where he met Mary Lynn Locken. They moved to west Texas in late 1981 so Robert could work in the oilfields and were married June 18, 1982, in Odessa. In 1986 they came back to western Montana, settling in Stevensville in 1990. Robert was a true jack of all trades, but his special skill was sales. Throughout his career, he sold everything from automobiles to waterbeds. In the mid-1990s, he opened Bitterroot Sound in Hamilton and spent the next several years installing audio systems in cars and homes. He retired in 2018 from NAPA Auto Parts in Stevensville. A friend of Bill’s for more than 30 years, Robert spent many hours doing 12th-step work and sponsoring fellow alcoholics. He relapsed in 2017. Survivors include his wife, Mary, of Stevensville; his children, Cody (Rachel) and Beka of Stevensville, and Travis of Missoula; his beloved grandson, Wesley Blaze; his father, Ray (Burnetta) of Utah; brothers, Chris (Peggy) and Marlin (Molly) of Lolo, Lester (Ruthann) and Rayson (Callie) of Pinesdale, and Larry (Melissa) and Steven (Angie) of Utah; sisters, Lynnette (Mike) and LaRae (Ryan) of Utah; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Melba; brothers, Ray L. and Ervin Ray; and sister, Melany. No public services are planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to any program/facility that aids in addiction recovery. A special thanks to Bitterroot Hospice for their compassionate care. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.

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