WILLIAM J. TOBIN, b. 1880, d.28 Nov 1942

William J. Tobin is my maternal great-grandfather.  William was born 27 Feb 1880 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Richard and Mary Tobin, and is their oldest child. 

[created by Karylyn Bliss]



Leona, William, Mabel, and Bill Tobin, Great Falls, MT, circa 1940

 

William J. Tobin married Mabel Emma Looby (b. 7 Sep 1885, St. Paul, MN, parents: Thomas C. Looby and Sarah Ann Lucas) in Helena, Montana in 21 June 1906 in Helena, Montana.  They have two children: 

• William Thomas Tobin, b. 28 Apr 1907, Great Falls, MT
• Leona Mabel Tobin, b. 6 Jun 1913, Great Falls, MT

"Will", as he was called, was a conductor for the Great Northern Railroad for over 40 years and lived in Lewistown and Great Falls, Montana.

A granddaughter, Benda Neuenswander relates, "William was a big, stately man who stood straight and tall, wore glasses, and always carried a gold watch on a chain.  I can remember Grandma and I walking to the bus-stop to meet Grandpa when he came home from his work shift.  He always carried a big black lunchbox that Grandma carefully prepared for him each day.  They seemed like a happy couple together. 


Grandpa used to take my sister Joan and I sleigh riding in the snow and for walks around the block.  We used to stop and hear the Catholic sisters singing in the convent.  We used to also go to the bakery for sugar doughnuts if we wouldn't tell Grandma.


Grandpa Tobin never owned a car as he believed in the public transportation system and said cars were too much of an expense.  He was a strong believer in life insurance and left Grandma well taken care of when he died.


My grandparents lived in a 3-story duplex.  Grandpa always believed in food storage and kept a large room or pantry in his basement full of canned goods, jams and jellies that Grandma had made.  Grandpa used to make dill pickles in a large vat that he kept in the basement.


I can remember seeing Grandpa sitting in his favorite rocking chair, reading the Bible.  He would always tell me that it was a great book and to be sure to read it and make it a part of my life.


Grandma and Grandpa entertained a lot with dinner parties and I loved to sit on the top of the stairs and see all the guests arrive.  Grandpa wasn't really wealthy by the world's standards but he and Grandma lived nicely.  They went to California once and Grandpa said the best thing about the trip was the train ride home!


He was a real friend of the cowboy artist Charlie Russell.  Charlie used to ride on Grandpa's train and they would let him out in the middle of nowhere and pick him up several days later with all his drawings.  He always sent Grandpa a Christmas card every year with drawings of horses on them.


When I was five years old and living in Seattle, Wash., we received news of Grandpa's death.  He died in a tragic railroad accident.  He was up on Choteau, Montana on a cold winter night and had just said, 'all aboard' and was jumping onto the train as it starting moving ahead, and he slipped on the icy steps and fell underneath the train."

William J. Tobin died on 28 November 1942 when he slipped on the ice, while boarding the train at Choteau, MT. Internment in Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum, Great Falls, Cascade, MT.

Mabel Emma Looby Tobin continued living in Great Falls and died 25 January 1964.  Internment in Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum, Great Falls, Cascade, MT. 

William Thomas Tobin married Dorothy Williams (b. 22 Aug 1909, Great Falls, MT, parents=Ralph E. Williams and Emma McLain) on 9 Sep 1936 in Great Falls, MT.  They have two daughters: 

• Peggy Tobin, married Eldon Kim.  They have two children: 
• Debbie Kim
• William Kim

• Barbara "Bibs" Tobin, married ? McGiboney.  They have three children.  Barbara later married to Dan Russell:
• Molly Ann McGiboney
• Casey McGiboney
• Riley McGiboney 

William Thomas Tobin died in Missoula, Montana on 28 Feb 1962.  Internment in Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum, Great Falls, Cascade, MT.

Dorothy Williams Tobin died in Great Falls, Montana on 7 May 1986.  Internment in Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum, Great Falls, Cascade, MT.

Leona Mabel Tobin married Benjamin Gunn Evans (b. 3 Apr 1911, Salt Lake City, UT, parents=Thomas Smith Gunn and Mary Rasmine Pedersen) on 22 Jul 1936 in Butte, Montana.  They have two children:

Ben Evans, Joanie, Benda, Leona Tobin Evans, circa 1941

• Benda Lee Evans (1937-) married Val Neuenswander (1934-, parents=Arthur Joseph Neuenswander and Irene Martha Lundquist) in 1958 in Logan, UT.  They have six children: 
• Mark Lee Neuenswander married Sherilyn Marchant
• David Arthur Neuenswander married Kelly Johnson.  They have 3 children:
• Ava Neuenswander
• Logan Neuenswander
• Luke Neuenswander
• John Ben Neuenswander married Tracy Clasby.  They have 3 children:
• Aaron Neuenswander
• Aiden Neuenswander
• Addie Neuenswander
• Phillip Van Neuenswander married Emily Bessinger.  They have 3 children:
• Natalie Neuenswander
• Nicole Neuenswander
• Benjamin Neuenswander 
• Nancy Ann Neuenswander married Nathan Johnson.  They have six children:
• Katelin Johnson
• Sarah Johnson
• Ellie Johnson 
• Nick Johnson
• Jack Johnson
• Levi Johnson 
• Paul William Neuenswander married Catherine Sondrup.  They have two children:
• Hallie Neuenswander
• Ty Neuenswander

• Joan Karyl Evans (b. 5 October 1940) married Jerry B. Butt (b. 1937-, parents=William Francis Butt and Lucille Mecham Boren) on 22 June 1960 in Salt Lake City, UT.  They have four children.  Of note, Joan Karyl Evans is my mother.
• Kevin L. Butt married Robin Michele Wright.  They have three children:
• Kyle William Butt
• Kade Randall Butt
• Kailey Rae Butt
• Karylyn Sue Butt married David Lawrence Ortolani.  They divorced in 1987.  They have two children:
• Jennifer Nicole Ortolani married Troy Scott Roundy.  They have one son:
• Dylan Evan Roundy
• Jason David Ortolani [legal name change at age 18 to Jason Ortolani Bliss] married Christen Aimee Bluemel
• (2nd marriage) Karylyn married Richard Arthur Bliss, Jr.  They have one child:
• Kortney Sue Bliss married Richard L. Johnson
• Kraig E. Butt married Karie Francis.  They divorced.  They have two children:
• Daniel Kraig Butt
• David Kraig Butt
• (2nd marriage) Kraig married Shenel Marlene Kendrick.  They have one child:
• Jacob Ellis Butt
• Andrea Lynn Butt married Cory L. Abbott.  They have two sons:
• Tyler Abbott
• Trenton Abbott

Mabel Tobin, William J. Tobin holding Joan Karyl Evans, circa 1941.

Leona Tobin Evans

Leona Tobin Evans died at age 37, on1 Feb 1951 in Lewiston, Fergis. Montana.  Internment in Lewiston, Fergis, Montana.

Noteworthy:  Ben Evans related a story to me that Leona got very dizzy one day while at the grocery store and needed assistance in walking.  She went to the doctor and after multiple tests, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and within one month was dead.  She also had breast cancer at the time of her death, which was discovered at the time of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.  Ben Evans say no treatments were received for her breast cancer.

Ben Evans served in WWII in the Navy from 17 Jan 1944-15 Dec 1945.  See website for information about his assignments: http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/14/14319.htm

Ben Evans remarried a few years later in 1955 to Mary Cecelia Ryan Funk [a divorcee with three children, Larry, Susan, and Steven, all who were adopted by Ben and their last names changed to Evans] and continued living in Helena, Montana.  Ben and Mary also have one child together, Deborah Evans.  Mary died 4 Oct 1998 in Salt Lake City while receiving treatments for ovarian cancer.  Ben died 2 Aug 2009 at the age of 98 in Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana.  Internment in Forestvale Lawn Cemetery, Helena, Lewis and Clark, Montana.


Benjamin Gunn Evans hold Joan Karyl Evans, circa 1941



















Joan Karyl Evans, age 14



Joan Evans Butt died on 16 Sep. 1988 at the age of 47 in Bountiful, UT.  Interment in Bountiful City Cemetery, Bountiful, Davis, UT. 

Noteworthy:  Joan was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 1985 requiring surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.  She recovered and returned to normal living and the brain tumor came back.  She died three years later at the young age of 47.

Jerry B. Butt remarried a few years later in 1989 to Judith Ann Fisher Funk [a widow with three children, Eric Funk, Deborah Funk Alden, Jennifer Funk Anderson], who live in Bountiful, Utah.



Jerry and Joan Butt, 25 Mar 1988, Bountiful, UT

 













RESEARCH NOTES:

U.S. Federal Census:
1920 ~ Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana (14 January 1920)
     Tobin, William, head, 39, male, married, b. Pennsylvania, parents=Ireland, conductor, railroad
     Tobin, Mabel E, wife, 34 female, b. Minnesota, parents=Wisconsin, none
     Tobin, William J, son, 12, male, single, b. Montana, parents=Pennsylvania/Minnesota, none
     Tobin, Leona M, daughter, 6, female, single, b. Montana, parents=Pennsylvania/Minnesota, none

1930 ~ Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana (12 April 1930)
     Tobin, William, head, 50 male, married, b. Pennsylvania, parents=Northern Ireland, conductor, Great Northern Railway
     Tobin, Mabel E, wife, 56 female, b. Minnesota, parents=Wisconsin, none
     Tobin, William J, son, 23, male, single, b. Montana, parents=Pennsylvania/Minnesota, manager, grocery
     Tobin, Leona M, daughter, 17, female, single, b. Montana, parents=Pennsylvania/Minnesota, none



William J. Tobin birth record.  Note the first name of the baby is not known; however the parents are Richard & Mary Tobin and date of birth coincides with William's birth in Philadelphia, PA.  A special thanks to Benda Neuenswander for this document.




Marriage certification for William J. Tobin and Mabel Emma Looby, 21 June 1906 in Helena, MT.  NOTE:  Father is Richard Tobin and mother is listed as Mary RICKARTS.  A special thanks to Benda Neuenswander for this document.



Montana State Death Certificate for William J. Tobin, d. 28 Nov 1942.  Note:  father is Richard Tobin and mother is listed as Mary MURPHY.  Informant was William Thomas Tobin (son).