Robert B. Bob Baldner

A Celebration of Bob's life will be held at the Shane Center in Livingston at 10 am on Friday, December 27th. The family invites everyone to a luncheon at the Shane Center immediately following the service. A beer and wine social will be held from 5-7 pm at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home on Thursday, December 26th. Bob was born on December 24, 1970, in Waukegan, IL, the son of Bob and Kathy Baldner. Shortly after Bob was born, he and his family moved to Gackle, ND. In 1980, they moved to Laurel, MT, where his family ran Price Pharmacy for years . He received his education in Laurel and was a graduate of the Laurel High School Class of 1989. Bob was a little "nerdy" in his school days, enjoying games of Dungeons and Dragons with his friends. And then he started skiing. It became his life for many years and was the one thing his parents could use as motivation to do well in school. It was during his years of skiing that he formed an unbreakable bond with his younger sister, Jennifer. Following high school, Bob attended Montana State University on the 7-year plan, graduating in the same year as his younger sister, Christy. He became a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity, which was located just across the street from her sorority house. From that point forward he was affectionately called "Brother Bob" by hundreds of women in Bozeman. Midway through college he took a break to work at Red Lodge Mountain as a ski instructor. He worked in Red Lodge for four years before taking a position at Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, MT as an instructor. There he earned his Professional Ski Instructioner's of America (P.S.I.A) level three certification, became a clinician, and an examiner. He was also named Assistant Ski School Director following a colleague's retirement. Some of his favorite times skiing at Bridger were with his friends Dave and Karen. During the summers he worked various landscaping jobs and for Potts Drilling in Bozeman. He enjoyed his time working at Potts with Ron Sandoval who became a mentor and great friend. Bob and Theresa met at Bridger Bowl. Bob was a serial "commitment" phobe. After several years of being friends, their first real date was at Montana Aleworks over Boddingtons's and french fries where they talked and talked and "interviewed" each other to see if they were compatible. They made an agreement on that day that they would not date other people. His non-commitment streak ended once Bob's grandmother Martha asked him, "When are you going to get married?" Rather than buying an engagement ring, they purchased a home and land in Livingston and on August 30, 2003, Bob was united in marriage to Theresa M. Days at their home on sod recently laid by his entire family, with Wayne Pittard officiating. Their world revolved around their "children," the pets. They loved spending time with friends and had several traditions including "Shameless" parties, as well as time at Chadz and the Mint. They worked hard building their business and loved the days they got to work side by side. Bob and Theresa shared 10 years of marriage. Bob was self-employed, operating Irrigation Innovations with Theresa. They incorporated the business in January of 2003 and later expanded the business to include snow removal, maintenance services and Christmas light installation. Some of us will remember seeing Bob's Facebook posts of snowy pictures from his skid steer asking "What were you doing at 3 A.M.?" He was a tremendously hard working man, sun-up to sun-down. You would find him wearing his gray Irrigation Innovations tee-shirt, hat and Carhartt pants whether he was laying sod or at a black tie event. He was also a talented artist. He loved photography and took beautiful photos. He was one of the founders of the BlackLab Project at the Shane Center in Livingston. He and his friend, Susan, recently took a trip to Utah to Arches National Park where they took part in a photography workshop and had some quality camera time. Bob loved fly fishing with his dad, Big Bob, and kite flying with his friend Chip. Special memories include a few fly fishing trips to the Bahamas with his dad and good friend Carl. He dearly loved his "children," his dogs, parrot, cats and horses. Cribbage at Chadz with Rob was one of his favorite pastimes. He will be remembered for his witty sense of humor and for knowing "more than a little bit" about just about any topic under the sun. He and his mother, Kathy, are the "deepest" members of the family so luckily he was blessed with someone who shared his love of pondering the world. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. Every year he and Theresa would have a Christmas party to celebrate Bob and Madeline Rogers' birthdays and a barbeque in August to celebrate Theresa and Mike Roger's birthdays. A constant throughout his life was his great love for the people around him and his appreciation for the love he received in return. He was so happy to be in Livingston and loved this community. He recently posted a photo on Facebook with a picture of their view of the Absaroka Mountains... "It's a hell of a view to come home to. What a place!! What a life!!" Bob is survived by his wife, Theresa Baldner of Livingston. His parents Bob and Kathy Baldner of Laurel. Sisters, Christy Castronovo and her husband Greg of Bozeman and Jen Baldner of Billings. His mother-in-law, Phyllis Bowden of Livingston, grandmother-in-law, Maryanna Bowden of Sheridan, WY, brother-in-law, Philip Days and his wife Chris Parkinson of Gig Harbor, WA along with his "Favorite Aunties," uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. Bob is preceded in death by his Grandparents and his Uncle, David Boyle. Memorials in Bob's honor can be made to BlackLab, PO Box 1274, Livingston, MT 59047, the Shane Center or the Stafford Animal Shelter in Livingston. Arrangements are under the direction of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.