Gilbert Leroy Bockmeyer's Obituary
Gilbert L. (Gib) Bockmeyer
A life well-lived
"Let's went"
Gib Bockmeyer passed suddenly and unexpectedly during an angiogram procedure
on July 27, 2026.
He was born in Lewistown, Montana on April 7, 1939 to a widowed mother who gave him up for adoption to Huber and Eva Bockmeyer who lovingly raised him in Polson, Montana on the Flathead Lake where he learned to swim and catch frogs. He was proud of his Montana roots and never abandoned them throughout his life and returned many times to visit and reminisce.
He graduated from Polson High School in 1957 and with scant employment opportunities in the area was happy to get a job offer from Thiokol in Brigham City,
Utah. He drove all weekend to start this job in the days when wages were paid in
cash.
He met Pamela (Pam) Layne while working there and they married on March
17, 1962 in Lewiston, Utah and honeymooned at the Space Needle in Seattle that
had just opened to the public. They returned to Brigham City and started their
family of three cherished children, Tracie, Tyler and then Krista, who was born in
Las Vegas when the family briefly relocated there after the death of Gib's parents.
Gib worked at the North Las Vegas Airport (which was one of his all-time favorites)
and at Truly Nolen where he encountered many pests. Had a great boss ... but the
job ... not so much. They then returned to Brigham City and Gib was happy to be
offered reemployment at Thiokol.
Gib and Pam later divorced but remained friendly and often participated in family events. Gib then met and married Susan (Sue) Eliason, also from Thiokol, on September 17, 1986 in Jackson, Wyoming against a backdrop of the Tetons with two adored friends from Brigham City as witnesses and plenty of horses and a stray cat named "Peaches" in the background as observers. They honeymooned in West Yellowstone (where they woke up to snow on the ground the next morning) and then went to Polson where he relived his early life and as a bonus ran in to former schoolmates and other acquaintances. Sue even got a ride in a Model “A" from the owners of a cabin that Gib's parents owned on Findley Point that we were lucky enough to find at home. It was great fun and Gib and Sue returned to the Polson area in later years to show the kids his history there.
Gib had many interests: hunting (birds, elk, deer, to name a few), golfing, reading, NASCAR (Dale Earnhardt was a favorite), NBA (we held season tickets for the JAZZ for many years), NFL (Seattle Seahawks), PGA tournaments, traveling (road trips were a favorite), westerns, $5 movie days at Cinemark, yard work, cooking, storytelling, swap meets, garage sales, rust (the more the better), and shopping. He was the most thoughtful shopper for gifts and never forgot a birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day, Secretary's Day or Christmas, always accompanied by sweet handwritten cards. And he was the best grocery shopper. We just never knew what would jump in our basket.
He also had a strong work ethic that he passed on to his children and they to theirs. Gib was curious and made many friends instantly by finding that if he asked questions and showed genuine interest in them that they were glad to talk about themselves. And although he did not grow up around technology, he embraced a smart phone in later years and Sue was so proud of him for taking the initiative to learn all about and master it. Sue became a wife, mother and grandmother all in one day, and was the luckiest girl on the planet to get the guy and to also be welcomed by his family who also brought him great joy as they became responsible adults and parents and the additional joy as each new child was born. Gib was so proud of each and every one of the family members as we watched their sporting events, graduations, weddings, and anything and everything else they participated in.
Gib is survived by his adoring wife of 40 years (Sue), children Tracie (Dru) Thornley, their four children and eleven grandchildren, Tyler (Lynette) Bockmeyer and their three children and seven grandchildren, Krista (Ryan) Beutler and their three children and five grandchildren.
Gib was a gift to all of us and will live in our hearts forever. So grateful for his life, examples, unique humor, legacy, and perseverance. And although he took his favorite expression "let's went" a little too far, we will have to find a way to give him a "mulligan".
A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at Premier Funeral Services, 5335 South 1950 West, Roy, from 4-8 p.m. with a viewing from 4-6 and open mic, etc. from 6-8.
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