Bruce Lee Robinson passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest at his home on the evening of July 31, 2016 while evacuating due to the Roaring Lion forest fire. He was surrounded by many wonderful friends helping with the evacuation, who performed immediate procedures to try to save Bruce.
Bruce was born on August 30, 1951 in Marion, Ohio, the first child of Rheda Shults Robinson and Glen Robinson. Bruce grew up around Delaware, Ohio in the towns of Radnor and Ostrander. He then attended and graduated from Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware, Ohio in 1969. He attended extended-campus classes of Ohio State University, then became a carpenter for his main career in Ohio and later Montana, building pole buildings, houses, barns and other structures. During his junior high and high school years, he worked in the summers for his father in Robinson Restoration, sandblasting and painting barns, bridges, Olympic-sized swimming pools, and large brick commercial structures.
After moving to Hamilton, MT in 1980, he continued his carpentry career for his stepfather and mother, Jim and Rheda Watts, and also did various logging projects with Jim. Bruce then started Howdy Antiques, first in Stevensville, then in a shop next to his house, in 1992 through the late-1990’s. Bruce and his wife, Laurena Lackman, have done numerous antique shows throughout the Northwest since the mid-1990’s and had recently returned from the Portland, OR antique show in July.
One of Bruce’s fondest memories was attending the Mid-Ohio racetrack auto races in early childhood with his father, which solidified his love of sporty and fast cars and all types of vehicle racing! He loved to recount incidents of his father’s incredible driving skills in his Lamborghini which also taught Bruce his excellent driving skills. He also marveled at the time his mother inadvertently did a 180-degree sliding turn on black ice with the kids standing in back holding onto the cord that ran across the back of the front seat (you “oldsters” will remember those!), keeping control of the car, and the kids yelling “Wow, do that again, Mom!”
Bruce met Laurena in the summer of 1984 in Montana. After moving her back from California in December 1984, they were married the next year on December 20, 1985 in Salmon, ID. Bruce claims that Laurena got him drunk one evening and drove him over to Salmon, ID, and the next thing he knew, he woke up married! (Witnesses and Laurena remember it the other way around!)
Bruce was exceptionally talented and competent in his furniture refinishing work, and honorable and honest as the day is long in his business and personal dealings. He will be remembered as a loving and generous husband, loyal and caring son, and thoughtful and helpful brother, friend and neighbor.
Survivors include his wife, Laurena Lackman of Hamilton; his father, Glen Robinson of Delaware, OH; his mother, Rheda Watts of Delaware, OH; his sister, Vicki Monson and partner Leonard Jerue of La Marque, TX; his sister, Teri Housman and husband Jim of Ostrander, OH; and his brother, David Robinson and wife Lisa of Hamilton, MT. He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as grandnieces and nephews.
There will be a graveside burial service on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Victor Cemetery with Pastor John Capen officiating, followed by a reception at the Neely Center on 150 S. A Street, Victor, MT. Family and friends are welcome to attend.
Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.