Robert DePratu

Robert “Bob” Lloyd DePratu, 74, passed away Jan. 31, 2014, at the North Valley Hospital with his family by his side.

He was born July 21, 1939, in Eureka to Lloyd Arthur and Helen Effie (Nellis) DePratu.

Bob received his early education in Rexford and Eureka, graduating from Lincoln County High School in 1957. As a youngster, he learned the value of hard work. While in school he delivered groceries, ran a hay crew and worked for Valcor Logging.

He then attended Kinman Business University and graduated in 1959 with an associate degree in accounting. After graduation, Bob worked for Rygg Ford selling cars in Whitefish.

Bob married Beatrice “Bea” Ann Rogers in Eureka in 1959 and together raised three children.

In 1964, he started DePratu Ford, and in 1984 he added VW and Audi. Bob continued operating the business with his family until his death.

Bob had a very full civic and business life as well as a political career. His businesses included the View Mount Motel, Budget Rent A Car, Clean Kars, Inc. and Triple B Enterprises (a real estate holding company).

In 1996, Bob was elected to the Montana State Senate and was later appointed to the chairmanship of the Jobs and Income Select Committee. He was re-elected in 2000 and served on the Committee of Public Health and Welfare, Highway Transportation and the Safety and Taxation Committees.

Bob was extremely busy civically. As early as 1959, he began serving the Whitefish community as a member of the Jaycees. He was a member of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, Whitefish Rotary, the Montana Auto Dealers Association as a member, president and chairman, Big Sky Life Insurance Board member, First Interstate Bank Board member and served on the board of directors of the Flathead Business and Industry Committee.

Bob was a member of the Ford Motor Company National Dealer Council and was appointed to the Ford Motor Company Consumer Resolution Board. He was a Whitefish Hospital Board member, and in 1968 began volunteering with the Whitefish Volunteer Fire Department, where he served 20 years on the Whitefish Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance. During this time he spent five years on the board, two years as president, and two years as fire chief.

In 2012, Bob received the Whitefish Chamber’s esteemed Great Whitefish Award, which honors one person’s lifetime contribution to the community. Bob was also an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served on many boards and committees.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Yvonne Mae DePratu and grandson Ryan Robert DePratu.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Bea DePratu, two sons Bret DePratu and wife LeeZann, of Vaughn, and Bart DePratu, of Whitefish; MT; daughter: Brenda Chapman and husband Sidney, of Columbia Falls; sister Delila Webster, of Gardendale, Ala.; six grandchildren, Alison Brandt and husband Justin, Christopher and Tyler DePratu, Shasta Dean and husband Shane, Carson DePratu and Amanda Chapman; four great grandchildren with a fifth due in July; 95-year-old aunt Erma Nellis Stinson; 89-year-old uncle Cecil DePratu; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish on Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 4 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at the Emergency Services Center, Whitefish Fire Hall, 275 Flathead Avenue, in Whitefish, on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, at 11 a.m. with Bishop Joel Stephenson officiating. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

The family suggests memorial gifts be given to Shepherd’s Hand Clinic, 5150 River Lakes Parkway, Whitefish MT 59937 or North Valley Food Bank, 251 Flathead Avenue, Whitefish MT 59937.