Pub. 7 2019 Issue 4

6 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org M IB’s First Chairman and President, Bob Appelgren, passed on Aug. 18, 2019. Alfred Robert Appelgren (Bob) was born in Wolf Point, Montana, on Nov. 3, 1928. His father, Al Appelgren, was a banker and rancher. Bob’s mother, Gertrude, was a school teacher. As a child, Bob spent most of his time on the ranch, 3,000 acres on the Missouri River. The main purpose of the ranch was to raise Al Appelgren’s registered Hereford bulls. Bob had his own pony when he was six years old and checked on cows and calves and rode fence lines virtually every day. Later he was involved in disking, plowing, breaking sod, seeding, fenc- ing, stacking and baling hay, and in his teens supervising the hired men. Bob worked very hard, learned a lot, and determined when he was 15 that there must be an easier way of making a living. Bob finished high school at age 16. He enrolled in the University of Minnesota and attended two quarters before enlisting in the Army/Air Force at age 17. After serving 16 months, he was honorably discharged as a corporal. Bob and Jeanne renewed their relationship in 1948 when Jeanne enrolled in business school in the twin cities, and Bob was attending law school. They were married on Sept. 3, 1949. Their first child, Alan Bryce, was born in 1951, and Bob opened a law practice that same year. Jeanne was the legal secretary. The legal practice was primarily involved in real estate work, with some probate and divorce. Bob also functioned as the part-time city attorney. In 1953, Bob’s father, Al, arranged a loan to purchase the First State Bank of Wolf Point. Al was initially hired by the bank as a “janitor/ Swedish interpreter” in 1915 at the age of 16. Bob had a successful law practice, and Al had realized the dream of buying the bank. Then in 1954, Al was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery, after which he was unable to work at the bank and asked Bob to take over as bank president. Bob had incredibly good leadership skills, and he relished his relation- ship with “his team” of bank employees. In the early 1960s, Bob pur- chased half of his father’s bank stock in the renamedWestern Bank. In 1970, Bob moved his family to Whitefish, Montana. Bob talked with the staff at Western Bank daily for the next 27 years by phone and rode the train to Wolf Point for Board meetings each month. Bob was also an owner and the Chairman of First State Bank of Whitefish. Shortly after moving to Whitefish, he chartered the Flathead Bank of Bigfork, where he also served as Chairman. In 1973, Bob returned to the University of Montana and obtained an MBA. As a result of this education, he decided to purchase a computer for the Flathead Bank. He hired a local retired IBM engi- neer to develop the software, and the bank became the smallest bank in the United States to have an in-house computer. Comput- ers were added at the Western Bank and the First State Bank of Whitefish in short order. In the late 1970s, Bob traded his First State Bank of Whitefish stock for additional Flathead Bank Stock. Later in the 1980s, Bob sold his interest in the Flathead Bank to officers and directors of the bank. Finally, in 1997, he sold his Western Bank Stock back to the bank, resulting in the bank officers all increasing their own- ership in the bank. Bob’s banking career ended 43 years after his father asked him to protect the family’s interest and 82 years after Al Appelgren began as a janitor at the bank. Bob profited finan- cially from his efforts, but he profited far more from his pride in the performance of his loyal staff and seeing that they acquired ownership of the bank. The Western Bank was and is considered to be one of the finest banks in the state. In the Flathead Valley, they always had three or four saddle horses. Bob enjoyed packing into the backcountry for hunting and fishing, primarily in the Bob Marshall Wilderness area. In 1980, Bob and Jeanne became snowbirds, spending winters in Mesa, Arizona. In 1986, they sold their home on the Whitefish River and moved to Mesa full time. They later moved to Chandler, Arizona, where they spent the last 20 years of their lives. When Bob turned 60, he dramatically changed his lifestyle. He gave up cigarettes and alcohol and started eating a much healthier diet. He was even zealous about walking every day. He also became very proficient with computers. R. J. Doornek, a former Western Bank President, texted the following upon learning of Bob’s death: “Bob will forever hold a special place in my heart. Without his help and guidance, my adult accomplishments would not have been possible. I will always admire his business ethics, devotion and commitment to his 'lieutenants.’ I have been a grateful and fortunate beneficiary of his personal philosophy of ‘Giving to the goose that lays the golden egg.’ He was generous. Certainly, he was strong-willed, intelligent and commanded loyalty, which only enhanced his leadership qual- ities. Bob is easily among the top five most influential people in my life. RIP Bob.” A memorial service was held at the Family Bible Church in Chan- dler, Arizona. Bob’s wife of 69 years and 295 days, Jeanne Appelgren, passed away June 25, 2019. Bob is survived by two children, Brent of Whitefish and Mesa, Arizona; and Jill Klontz (Tim) of Chandler, Arizona; five grandchildren, Bryan Klontz (Anna) of Tucson, Arizona; Brently Klontz (Sari) of Tempe, Arizona; Barry Klontz (Steffani) of Chandler, Arizona; Kaydee Waddel (Keith) of Gilbert, Arizona; Kristie Tekunoff (Daniel) of Chandler, Arizona; two sisters, Beverly Hovey (Larry) of Poway, California; and Else Koczan of Pennington, New Jersey; and 10 great-grandchildren all living in Arizona. IN MEMORIEUM, BOB APPELGREN FIRST MIB PRESIDENT Member News