Robert Victor Westermark

Birth date: Jan 31, 1949 Death date: Jul 19, 2020

Robert “Bob” Westermark Born January 31st, 1949 in Bangor, Maine. Graduated from Great Falls High School, Great Falls, Montana in 1967. Graduated from Montana Tech in Butte, Montana with a Bachelor’s of Science in Petroleum Engine Read Obituary

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Martin Andrews

266w ago

What a wonderful friend, Bob and his family has been for many years. We spent many wonderful times together, traveled together. He gave the biggest best bear hugs.We will miss you our brother till we met again. Praying for the family.

Mary Endacott

267w ago

Oh Elva! So sorry to hear! I was just thinking of you all! I had to look up the SPE number of a paper I wrote, with Bob's encouraging, on a job application. And of course I still have the trophy he had made to commemorate the job! What an amazing guy and I feel so blessed to have known him. He taught me so much! New vocabulary like the word paradigm, the word onerous; I cannot use them without thinking of him. He encouraged me to read "What Color is Your Parachute" and I still refer to my notes to this day! Lots of memories!! Such a colorful, considerate, bright and witty man. I remember hauling you cheese and crackers from Norway, I hope you are well Elva. Big hug.

Jeff And Bess Anne Corwith

268w ago

We are so sorrty to read of Bob’s passing. Bob was such a great and patient teacher and good friend. Something reminded me recently of one of his bits of philosphy, not knowing that he is no longer around. Our hearts to out to all in his family.

Jeff and Bess Anne Corwith

Carolyn Renman

272w ago

My heart goes out to Elva and family for the loss of Bob. He will be missed by so many people. The last time I saw Bob and Elva was at our 50th high school reunion a few years ago and It was so great to see them both. Rest in peace , Bob. Fondly, Carolyn (Johnson) Renman.

Karen Johnson Rowell

272w ago

Dear Elva & family, so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. Glad we got to see each other in 2017. I think it was our 10th reunion from GFHS when you two paired up. I remember you had to have a green mailbox in Norway. You two had quite the life. Blessings as you grieve. Karen Johnson Rowell

Ron Crocker

272w ago

My thoughts and prayers go out to Bob, Elva and family. I've know Bob ever since the 7th grade, through high school. After that point, our lives took different directions, and I only had the luck to run into him at our reunions. He was a great guy and classmate. He always had a smile on his face, and he was kind to all. Attending our class reunion in Great Falls in August 2017, I recognized him coming towards us at the Country Club. I yelled, "hey Robert, how have you been"? He came up to me and said "hi Ron, how could you tell that was me from so far away (with the beard); I laughed and said, "I guess it was your walk".

Robert was one of the better ones at GFH. Elva, my heart goes out to you. Bob, Rest in Peace.

Debbie Corak

272w ago

Dear Bobby,
I never know how far-reaching our friendship would be when I met you in the 7th grade. You were my first official "date" in the 7th grade. We went to "Two Women" starring Sophia Loren at the drive-in theater with your Mom and sister Rita sitting in the front seat. How avant garde! It was dubbed...and everything.
After marrying and living in southern Utah, I made my way back to Montana to Butte. Being a Great Falls girl, I was pretty edgy about living in Butte. It had a scary reputation, you know! (I fell in love with it!). I found out you were at the School of Mines and contacted you, and got together with you and your then wife Connie, who became a close friend of mine. As time passed, I became divorced, as did you. Connie, your ex, lived in an upstairs apartment, and I watched Leon. We shared my apartment phone.
One day a man called for Connie and I took the message. I said to her, "the guy with the nicest voice called you today!". She then told me that Mike Corak was a friend of his and that I was just going to love Corak. When we met, I proceeded to think he was VERY weird while he thought I was toxic waste. However, with time, those opinions changed and I am now Debbie Corak and have been for 43 years.
Corak and I then moved to Denver where you and I reconnected AGAIN, and I got to know Elva, who was also a Great Falls girl, whom you and I had both gone to school with.
You made a very special day for me while were in Denver and took me to Colorado Springs for lunch at the Golden Bee. I still remember it well.
I saw my first and only original John Singer Sergeant oil in Bartlesville at the Bartlesville Museum / restored Phillips home and nearly flipped from the excitement.
When you came through Montana, you arranged to see us when you could, and you were always a satellite in our lives. I credit you with sustaining our relationship, and I thank you for that.
I know you're fine right now and I was aware of your health challenges, but your passing affected me more than I could have predicted. A light that I was always distantly aware of went out, and I felt the loss deeply. I know you're doing fine, and I am of the belief that I haven't truly lost you. I'm doing better. I'm so thankful that I knew you! All Blessings on you and your Elva. I love you!
Debbie Corak

Mike Corak

272w ago

My condolences to the Westermark family,
He was a true and loyal friend, one of the best I ever had...and consistent, as well. I knew Bob briefly at Montana Tech...just well enough to say "hello" and compare notes sometimes.
Bob, even then, was a solitary individual (not a loner in the true sense of the word, because he enjoyed the challenge of two-way conversation), but a guy who was off "doing his own thing". We were in some awful class, possibly natural gas theory, I can't say "together" because Bob was never in class. But, he always managed to "ruin the curve" by getting the highest grade on the quiz.
It was after graduation in Louisiana where I really got to know Bob. We were both involved in the cutting-edge technology of the then infant offshore oil and gas industry for different major oil companies. Bob lived about 30 miles away and, more than once, came and dragged me out of a bottle of gin to go fishing and play marathon games of chess. Typical of Bob...I was a good chess player and beat him consistently, at first. He began using unconventional starting moves and began thumping me consistently. Only later did I find out that, of course, he was studying everything he could get his hands on about the winning techniques of Bobby Fisher.
Our fishing excursions were a hoot...never many fish, lots of crabs, and a great deal of Ballantyne beer and an occasional herb. The leaky boat with the unpredictable outboard we borrowed from a friend always got us back to the dock (sometimes after a few hours of drunken "offshore" mechanical labor).
It was through Bob (actually his first wife, Connie) that I met my wife in Butte. We were pretty involved in Leon's ("Tucker" to us, who was my stepson Beau's best toddler friend) early years as we babysat him.
Bob never failed to keep in touch. Although we have both been deeply involved in the "engineering" of petroleum, he refused to discuss it...focusing on the personal aspect of our relationship and .
His unfailing response to my asking what he was doing..."talking to you, turkey" is a page out of the Bob diary. He was so sharp...in lots of ways. I loved his arrogance...he was such a smart engineer, and smart man, period.
I will miss him terribly...I owe my life to him in more ways than one.
Mike Corak

Patty Hosley

272w ago

I have known Bob and Elva since high school and have been privileged to share their life’s journey since. It is no surprise that high-school Bob (senior class VP) and senior citizen Bob were no different—caring and supportive of family, friends and community. I loved his dry wit and was thoughtfully challenged whenever engaged in debate with him. Though often separated by countries and continents, we always managed to reunite along the way to reminisce and grow together. I will miss the celebrations and warm hugs but treasure the memories and spirit he leaves behind with Elva, Leanne, Leon, Susan and families.
In love and admiration,
Patty Hosley

John Mccarthy

272w ago

To Bob's Family,
Please accept my condolences on Bob's passing. He was a unique individual, a friend, and a brother in Theta Tau Fraternity.
I first met Bob as an incoming freshman at Montana Tech in 1969. Bob took me under his wing, and talked me into joining the Cultural Improvement Committee (CIC). Bob had the concept of a "Pillow Concert" where concert attendees would bring a pillow and sit on the floor of the old gymnasium. The CIC sponsored two huge pillow concerts that year. On December 7, 1969 the very popular group The Grassroots performed and delivered a great success! As a follow-up, The Spiral Staircase performed on February 25, 1970! The lead act that evening was the beautiful and talented folk singer Clare. Bob made this happen for the students at Tech.
Over the years, Bob and I crossed paths a couple of times. Once while we were both drilling difficult wells in Utah. We also had discussions when he was working the Bozeman project, and I was drilling a well south of Livingston.
My sincere condolences to all of Bob's family.

In H&T
Jack McCarthy '73
McKinney, TX
[email protected]

Debbie Corak

272w ago

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