Robert J Neumiller

Robert James “Bob” Neumiller, 82, of Wolf Point passed away at his home Jan. 7th. He was born to William Neumiller and Nora Daly Neumiller on Jan. 4, 1943 in Wolf Point.

They lived south of the river and Richey, MT until moving to Elliston, MT where Bill was foreman of the Golden Anchor gold mine until Bill’s sudden passing in June of 1954. Nora moved back to Wolf Point with her children Bob, Roy and Carol to be with family. Nora married Donny Neumiller a few years later. 3 children were born of this blessed union, Daniel, Raymond and Donna Rae. Bob was very close to his new father who he called Pa. He graduated from WPHS in 1961 and in December joined the Army, serving in anchorage as Military Police on a missile base near Anchorage for 3 years. He met and married Rose Parent and they had Robert Jr. “B.J.” and Rayna. They later divorced. After Bob’s discharge, he served on the Wolf Point Police force, quickly rising to Chief of Police. He held that rank until 1982 when the police force was joined to the Sheriff’s department where he was a detective lieutenant until 1990. Bob married Donna Kunish and they completed the family with daughters Loy and Darcy. The family moved to Cascade, MT where he served as Chief of Police/Marshall for 4 years before retiring from law enforcement for good for a total of 33 years. The family moved back home. Donna Jo passed away in 2010 and Bob didn’t stay retired for long as he had many more jobs that he loved; recycling, Hi Line Homes, Fish and Game at Ft Peck Lake, which we’re not sure he considered work, and finally at the Dollar Store which he was so proud of until he quit, at age 81 because of his health. Bob and Benita Unruh were married in 2012. She was not only his loving companion but learned how to play bass in the Gospel Fellowship band with him. He was an avid fisherman and musician, cat and dog lover. At age 13, he was shown how to play guitar by Pa, Donny. Bob never learned to read sheet music but saw patterns as he mastered lead, bass and steel guitar. A gifted musician, he went from playing in high school bands with brother Roy, VFWs and North Side Bar jamming with Pa, Roy and Uncle Albert and many other artists, bands in Alaska, and all over NE Montana, sometimes being joined by brothers Dan, and Raymond. Some highlights of his musical career were being on the Faye Crush Talent Show, being able to play the steel guitar for a Tammy Wynette show in Baker, MT, and Del Reeves. He loved playing old time gospel music at their church with friends Gary Ediger and Ellery Hoch.

Bob is preceded in death by his grandparents Fred and Magdalena Neumiller and James and Alma Daly, parents, brother Dan, sister Donna Rae, wife Donna Jo and many aunts and uncles from the Neumiller and Daly families.

He is survived by his loving wife Benita, son B.J. (Barbara), daughter Rayna, both of Alaska, daughters Loy (Jack) Sprague and Darcy (Ron) Keiser both of Wolf Point, step kids Jon of Texas and Kerissa (Jene) Dvorak of Pennsylvania, brothers Roy (Joy) of Malta and Raymond (Jeri) of Glasgow and sister Carol (Larry) Neutgens of Wolf Point, grandchildren Brandy, Alex, J.T., Matthew, Kristen, Trinity, and Gabriel, 9 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews and cousins. Also, many special friends. THE WORLD LOST AN AMAZING MAN AND A GIFTED MUSIC MAKER.