Robert "Bob" Bratton Pettibon

Bob Pettibon, 82

With family by his side, Robert (Bob) Bratton Pettibon of Sandpoint, Idaho, peacefully passed away Sunday, March 14, 2021. Bob was born June 17, 1938, in Wichita, Kansas, to Howard and Maurine Pettibon, and grew up in Springfield, Missouri. After graduating from Central High School and completing Army Reserve training at Fort Leonard Wood, Bob played college football as an offensive lineman at the University of Missouri-Rolla while earning a civil engineering degree. It was during his college years that Bob went on a double date – a waterskiing adventure to Branson – and ended up asking his friend’s date out. As they say, the rest is history: Bob and Carol were married for 55 years. They raised their children Brett and Beth in Boise, where his fulfilling career as a civil engineer and senior estimator with Morrison-Knudsen included bridge, highway, dam, airport, and rail projects across the U.S. and world.

Bob’s dedication to hard work was countered by his love of outdoor recreation. Summers were spent waterskiing at Lucky Peak and later Lake Pend Oreille, where Bob pulled countless kids behind the still-going-strong Lund. Every winter, the family had season passes to Bogus Basin where weekends were spent skiing. We can still see him now – cruising the slopes with a smile, his skis in classic parallel form. Bob was known for getting every last minute out of a ski day, right up until the lift attendant would say “last chair.”

Following empty-nester travels in the U.S. and Europe, ‘G-pa’ and Carol took their grandchildren on annual road-trip adventures to places including Yellowstone and the Oregon Coast. G-pa gave the gift of time to his grandchildren – endless games of Monopoly, Sunday dinners and holidays together, attending games, meets, math competitions, art shows, plays, and graduations … he was there for all the big and small moments, and we are grateful for having him live close to us. Bob enjoyed attending the Festival at Sandpoint, Geezer Forums, NIFRW meetings, and Hope senior exercise classes.

Bob was preceded in death by Carol and son Brett; he is survived by daughter Beth Hawkins and son-in-law Bill; grandchildren Dalton Hawkins, Jordan Pettibon and wife Destiny, Delaina Hawkins and Tyler Baumberger, Caroline Hawkins, and Will Hawkins (‘Keep up the good work’); sisters Marilyn Rowlette, Martha Walker and husband Gary; daughter-in-law Terrie Pettibon; Mitzi Hawkins; Roger and Sharon Young; nieces, nephews, and exchange students. The family thanks staff at Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest, Life Care, Kootenai Cancer, and Bonner General for their compassionate care. Private family services were held. In celebration of Bob and his appreciation of a good burger, a barbecue is planned at Hawkins Beach in July.

Dad, your legacy of kindness, generosity, and work ethic lives on in your grandchildren. You were the best dad to me and Brett, and we are all comforted knowing you are with him and mom now. Thank you for sticking around a few more months to let us say our good-byes before catching that last chair up.