Former City of Great Falls Public Works Director, Robert “Bob” Eugene Duty, 87, passed away on January 20, 2021.
Bob was born May 28, 1933, in Cheney, Washington, to Amy Lillian (Nessan) and Lester George Duty where his father was an engineer for Geneva Steel. He joined siblings Donald, Doris, Marvin, and Jerry. Bennie would follow later to complete the family.
The family moved to Moore, Montana, in 1938. He participated in all school sports winning accolades in baseball, basketball, and football and graduated from Moore High School in 1951. He was drafted into the Army and served in Korea. Upon an honorable discharge from the active Army in 1955, he continued in the Army Reserves until 1961.
He met Arlene Maki of Cascade in 1956, while working as a lineman in the area. They were introduced by Arlene’s friend, Lorraine Steffani who was dating Hank Grubb, Bob’s roommate at the time. They married after her high school graduation June 28, 1957.
They relocated to Conrad, where Bob worked for the Montana State Department of Transportation for seven years. During that time, Vickie Lynn, Lindy Jo, and Rodney Jay were born. Upon moving the family to Great Falls, Bob worked for City of Great Falls as Street Superintendent and later as Public Works Director until he retired in 1987. Never one to sit idle, he worked a cornucopia of jobs including: City Motors, Interstate Specialties, Rainbow Carpet Cleaning, and Figgins Sand & Gravel.
To read the complete obituary and share condolences, visit the O'Connor Funeral Home website.
