Bob Lee Mastre was born on April 15, 1933 to Gustaf and Alma Amoth Mastre in Walsh, Colorado, the seventh of 12 children. On March 13, 2025, Dad fell and broke his hip. He was hospitalized and had surgery four days later. The surgery was successful but Dad just didn’t recover from the trauma. We are thankful we were able to bring him to Sunset Home for his last few days. He peacefully passed away in the morning of March 25, 2025, with loved ones by his side.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 29, at Mountain View Mennonite Church. Bob was buried in the church cemetery.
Dad’s family moved often and eventually found themselves living in Scott City, Kansas. Dad had fond memories of this time in his life. When Dad was just a boy, he ran a trapline, getting up earlier than anyone else in the house. He would get the coffee on and his dad would join him for a cup before he would head out to check his traps. He told us stories of just him and his dad going to town, which was a rarity since he had six brothers and five sisters. His dad would give him a 50-cent piece to spend. Dad said his purchases were always a “Fur, Fish & Game'” magazine, a bottle of pop, and a pack of gum to enjoy while he waited for his dad to finish his town business.
When they got home, Dad would share his gum with Joann and “the little boys.” Dad recently paid his subscription for his 47th consecutive year of ‘Fur, Fish & Game’ magazine. During his recent hospital stay, Dad’s only request for items from home was the newest issue that had just come in the mail.
While living in Kansas, Dad accepted Jesus as his Savior. He was baptized and joined the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. His faith was special to him. Dad enjoyed going to church, where he added his beautiful bass voicer to the congregational singing. He loved having his grandsons sit with him at church and they loved sitting with Gramps. When old age kept Dad & Mom from sitting in the pews, they faithfully listened from home.
When Dad was 14, his dad was killed in a car accident. This tragedy led the family to sell out in Kansas and move to Bonners Ferry, where Dad’s mother’s three brothers lived. Dad stayed with his Uncle Walter Amoth’s family during the week so he could go to school, which forged a life-long friendship with his Amoth cousins. Dad started running his traplines again, this time in the waters of Boundary County, to help his mom support the family.
On January 4, 1954 in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Dad married the love of his life, JoAnne Dirks. They were blessed with 71 years together. Just a few weeks before his passing, Dad thanked Mom for sharing life with him and told her what a wonderful life it had been. They were also blessed with five children; Scott, Kim, Harley, Tracie, and Shawna.
Dad was a hard worker and a good provider. As a young man, Dad tried many occupations. He worked in various local sawmills and later in life built and ran his own sawmill, cutting railroad ties. He also drove log truck for quite a few years. Logging was Dad’s favorite occupation and he worked in the woods into his 70s.
In the mid-1970s, Dad and his brother Bill decided to try farming in Bruneau, Idaho. He moved the family there in 1977. Dad and his boys worked hard, but it proved harder to make a living by farming in that economy. In 1983, Dad moved his family back to Bonners Ferry to start over. With God’s help, a little bit of opportunity, and a lot of hard work, Dad was able to provide a good living again doing what he loved most … logging.
When Dad retired from logging, he bought Panhandle Laundry & Ice and ran the business alongside his son Scott. His grandchildren were able to work with him in his ice business and have many good memories of great adventures hauling ice with Gramps. Dad finally retired when he sold the laundry at 89 years old.
Dad liked people and had many friends. He enjoyed having coffee with his buddies at the Three-Mile and Sunny’s. Dad outlived most of his coffee drinking buddies, which made him so sad. He was thankful to still have his good friends, Jim Wadel and Don Amoth.
He is survived by his loving wife JoAnne, his children Scott, Harley and Mogie, Tracie and Dallas Amoth, Shawna and Mike Hittle, all of Bonners Ferry, Kim and Lynette of Polson, Montana, 16 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren, sister Joann Dirks, Bonners Ferry, brother Bill and Barbara, Bruneau, Idaho, sisters-in-law Marlyn Mastre, Judy Dirks, Darlene and Willie Peachey, all of Bonners Ferry, Deloris Mastre, Delta, Colorado, and Dessie Regehr, Buhl, Idaho, brothers-in-law Leonard and Ruth Unruh, North Dakota, Dennis and Donna Dirks, Bonners Ferry, and Bob and Michelle Dirks, Grandview, Idaho.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, four sisters, his parents-in-law, seven sisters-in-law, ten brothers-in-law, and many friends.
Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family. To leave a message or memory for the family please go to bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.