Martin Wakefield Robson

Martin Wakefield Robson (Marty, to all who knew him) was born April 14, 1954 on Hill Air Force Base near Ogden, UT into a career military family, something of which he was very proud. After Utah, Marty’s father was transferred to other Air Force bases, from New Mexico to New Hampshire, from Massachusetts to Oahu, Hawaii, and finally to a base in South Korea. At 16, Marty returned to the US and lived with his older sister, Diane, in St Louis, MO while finishing high school. He then rejoined his parents in Florida upon their return from abroad, where he received his electrician’s license. At the age of 24, he moved to Philipsburg, Montana, realized he’d found his true home, and he never left.

In Philipsburg, he married and had a daughter, Kari Sue, his pride and joy. Although the marriage didn’t last, a lifelong friendship with his former spouse, Diane, did. Marty brought Kari up enjoying the outdoors, including ice fishing together. In 2004, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer with a poor prognosis, but the strength of his spirit wouldn’t give up, and he beat it. Later, he built his own house in town, and enjoyed spending time with his three grandchildren.

Marty was defined by generosity, integrity, hard work, humor, and patriotism. His love for his family and friends, and the strength of his character, were demonstrated much more through action than words, because he knew that’s what mattered. He would give the shirt off his back to help someone, and he lived his life 100% by his principles. He never did anything halfway. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, woodworking, cross-country skiing, four-wheeling, simple living, and being in the woods. He was a crossword puzzle whiz and an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction. While his quiet humble nature belied the breadth and depth of his knowledge about the world, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes revealed his deep intelligence. 

On June 13, 2022, Marty passed away peacefully of natural causes in his home. He is survived by his beloved daughter, Kari Sue Goll (Zane), three grandchildren: Tyler (age 13), Kason (age 3), and Zoey (age 1), sister Diane Robson #1, former wife and close friend Diane Robson #2, sister-in-law Theo Robson, niece Juli Blankenship (Michael Johnson), great-niece Rose, great-nephews Victor and Andrew, and his former nephew-in-law, Scott Blankenship. He was preceded in death by his parents, Col. Gerald H Robson, Jr and Mary Sue Robson, and his brother, Gerald H Robson III. 

Marty’s presence on earth will be so deeply missed, but his spirit lives on within all who knew and loved him.