Robert “Beep” Dixon passed away September 5, 2018 following a battle with cancer. He died at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena, MT.
Beep was born on November 10, 1948 to Robert A. & Cleone Dixon. He was raised in Bozeman, MT along with his four siblings all of whom attended Holy Rosary School. Early on, Beep worked with his father & uncles at Dixon’s Painting & Decorating where he learned the family trade.
His passion, however, was skiing. As soon as he could, he & long-time friend, Mark Lakey became Junior Ski Patrolmen at Bridger Bowl. As an adult, he & Mark became Advisors for the Junior Program and he received his National Number Award. He advanced to professional ski patrol & patrolled at Bridger & Big Sky. He had a reputation for pulling passes of those who decided to ski out of bounds. To this day, people reminisce that Beep had once pulled their pass. He was Ski Patrol Director at Big Sky during the 1981/82 season. That same season he met & married Virginia “Ginny” Phillips, the love of his life. They were married for 36 years.
Beep had a son, Tom, from a previous marriage. Tom is currently living in Maryland and has three children, Connor, Cayden & Zoe.
Beep & Ginny had one child, Jake, who lives with his family, wife Danika & daughter Ava in Liberty Lake, WA.
Beep served 21 years in the National Guard and was a Section Sergeant in the Medic Unit. Although he did serve in other capacities, being a medic and being involved with medevac was what he enjoyed the most. He also attended Tank Commander School.
He worked for Columbia Paint for 15 years and then painted & drywalled on his own. After retiring from painting & his snow plowing business, Beep & Ginny, moved to Clancy where they enjoyed living a much slower-paced life. His outdoor passions were snow skiing and boating. Beep & Ginny lived weekends on their boat at Canyon Ferry & then became land dwellers and stayed in their trailer most every weekend of the season at Kim’s Marina. They made many life-long friends and memories there.
Beep is also survived by his sisters Jeannie (Bob Carey), Michael (Steve Torstveit) & Shelley (Mike Giese), sister-in-law Candi (Eagle River, Alaska), brothers-in law, Terry Abelin (Bozeman) and Rick Wecker (Riverton, WY) along with numerous nieces & nephews; and life-long friend Mark Lakey (Bozeman). He is preceded in death by his parents, Bob & Cleone, brother John, sisters-in-law, Patricia Abelin & Evie Wecker.
Services will be held at Kim’s Marina at Canyon Ferry Lake at 2:00 on September 22, 2018. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity or take yourself skiing and remember him well.
Peggy Jean Hilling says
Beep was a great friend all through grade school and high school. he was one of the 8 JDs that ran around together in high school. His memory will always make me smile.
Linda Willmuth says
Jenny I don’t know how to get a hold of you but I have thought about you all day. I am so very sorry to hear of Beep’s passing.
LGray says
My deepest sympathy to the family at this very difficult time. May you find comfort in God’s word the Bible at Revelation 21:3,4.