Robert J. "Bob" McArthur

CORVALLIS – Robert J. McArthur “Bob”, 82, a Montana native and longtime resident of the Bitterroot Valley, died on Monday, August 14, in hospice care, with his wife Kay by his side.

Born January 5, 1941, to Albert and Alma McArthur, he grew up in Dillon and graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1959. Throughout his life, he shared fond memories of the summer jobs of his youth – working on a hay crew in Grasshopper Valley, stocking groceries, pumping gas at his dad’s station, and doing construction on the Clark Canyon Dam. 

He attended University of Montana, where he met Kay, and graduated in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

In 1964, after Bob and Kay married in Corvallis, they took off for Southern California, so Bob could start his new job at Bank of America in downtown Los Angeles.

With a keen sense for business and a Montana work ethic (he believed no job was beneath him – or anyone else) he worked his way up in banking and to multiple cities along the California Coast. The couple finally landed in the Bay Area, where he became President and CEO of Bank of Contra Costa.

For over two decades, they lived on a friendly cul-de-sac in Danville, CA, where they raised their two children and many Golden Retrievers, who could be spotted riding in the backseat of the family’s red convertible Mustang.

In 1995, with their children grown, Bob and Kay returned to their Montana roots. They moved to the Bitterroot, where Bob made a career change and worked in sales at Neville Log Homes. While Bob suffered from Alzheimer’s for the last 10 years of his life, Kay took wonderful care of him. He enjoyed sitting on the back deck of their Corvallis home admiring the mountains and watching over the Holloron ranch. He would often say, “You couldn’t find a better view than this anywhere in the world.”

Bob had a good sense of humor and a big heart. He loved Montana. He loved the mountains, the canyons, the streams and the fields. He loved country music and keeping his grass perfect. He loved cars, and cleaning cars. (There was not a dirty car ever in the McArthur household.) He loved business and the friends he met along the way (you know who you are!) Most of all, he loved his family and his animals. He will be missed dearly.

He is preceded in death by his mother, father and sister Sandy.

He is survived by his wife Kay (Corvallis); his son Mike, daughter-in-law Mandy and their two daughters Madison and Mae (Corvallis); his daughter Kammie, her partner David and their son Oliver (Seattle); his brother-in-law Jerry (Seattle); and his sister Chris (New Mexico).

The family is grateful to Bitterroot Health Hospice and the caregivers at BeeHive Homes of Hamilton.

Donations may be made in memory of Bob McArthur to Bitterroot Hospice: 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT 59840. Or donate online at www.bitterroothealth.org/forms/donate-now

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