Person:John Roberts (49)

Obituary, 12 February 1998

Jack Roberts

John S. "Jack" Roberts, 72, of Billings, died Sunday, Feb. 8, 1998, at Saint Vincent Hospital of complications from influenza and pneumonia. He was born Aug. 6, 1925, in Missoula, the son of Harvey and Perpetua O'Neill Roberts.

Jack served his country during WWII as a pilot in the U.S. Naval Air Force. On Aug. 23, 1946, he married the love of his life, Merrilyn Wentz, in Missoula, and shortly thereafter, moved to Bozeman where he graduated from Montana State University in 1952. He began a 30 year career with Conoco, first as a construction engineer, and later as a product engineer. During this time, Conoco moved the family to locations throughout Montana, including Great Falls, Sidney and Billings. They also lived in Rapid City, S.D., Ponca Ciry, Okla., and Kansas City, Kan., before returning to "God's Country." Jack had called Billings home since 1959.

Jack's most enjoyable moments centered around the family cabin on Swan Lake, near Big Fork. He also enjoyed years of hunting and fishing with his sons and family friends. He was active in the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society at St. Thomas Parish, where he often acted as usher and unofficial greeter.

A long list of survivors include his wife of 51 years, Merrilyn C. (Wentz); his borther, Thomas of Louisville, Ken.; his five daughters and four sons, Linda Lee (Bill) of Federal Way, Wash.; David (Cindy) of Boise, Idaho, Michael (Shane) and Timothy (Marie) of Las Vegas, Nev., Carol Pottruff (J|Kerry), Margaret Steffes (Marty "Joe"), B. Thomas, Shauna Kuehn (Michael) and Melanie Hanser (Shawn), all of Billings; and nineteen grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Patricia.

A vigil service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Michelotti, Sayers & Nordquist Alderson Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Thomas the Apostle Church with Rite of Committal in Holy Cross Cemetery.