Robert Dale Nelson, formerly of Kalispell, passed away peacefully with loved ones by his side on Nov. 17, 2015, at his home in West Jordan, Utah, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Bob was born in Cascade, Montana, on May 24, 1931. The Nelson family moved to Great Falls when he was young.

Bob graduated from Great Falls High School in 1949 and joined the Montana Air National Guard in 1950. He attended basic training at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and worked full time at the rank of senior master sergeant over all flight operations in the 120th Fighter Squadron in Great Falls. Bob married Geri Linnell on Feb. 9, 1951, and they raised their three children in Great Falls; Pamela Smith and David of Auburn, Washington, Vicky Golie and Michael of Taylorsville, Utah, and Rick Nelson and Dorene of Orem, Utah. The family spent their summer vacations at Swan and Holland Lakes in Montana where they enjoyed boating, fishing, and skiing together. Bob and Geri divorced in 1974.

After retiring from MANG in 1978, Robert became a Realtor/broker and owned ERA Classic Real Estate with his second wife, Ginny Schermele. The couple moved from Great Falls to Bigfork.  After divorcing, he moved to Kalispell and continued working in the real estate business. Bob later met Alice “Missy” Creek-more, and on Sept. 27, 1997, they married in the Card-ston, Alberta, temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They resided in Kalispell until Septem-ber 2014, when they moved to Utah to be near family. For more than 18 years Bob and Missy spent each winter in their home in Yuma, Arizona.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, John A. Nelson Jr. and Vera Wilcox Nelson; and siblings, Lovell, Bruce, Ruth (Miller), Lee, Verda (Jenson) and Joyce (McMaster).

Bob and Missy’s lives were blessed by his three children and Missy’s sons, Brett Creekmore of Kenai, Alaska and Shane Creekmore (Jason Bolinder) of West Jordan. The two have 13 amazing grandchildren, Dustin, the late Aimee, Sunny, Tia, Brenna, Emiley, Cassey, Seth, Meisha, Joshua, and Jarom, Jeremy Lee and Joshua Taylor, plus 18 precious great grandchildren. The legacy Bob leaves behind is his unconditional love, dedication, and devotion to his wife, children, extended family, and friends throughout his entire life. His fun-loving, gentle nature, the “always-positive-never-complaining” attitude, and his fierce patriotism will be forever cherished in the hearts of all those who have known and loved him.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 4 at the LDS Chapel 8435 S. 2700 W., West Jordan, Utah. Bob’s final resting place will be at the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery 17111 S. 1700 W., Riverton, Utah.