Robert "Bobby" Kelsey

Robert “Bobby” Kelsey, father, grandfather and proud Marine passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Francis Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT. Prior to his passing, Bobby was a resident of Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow where he had many new acquaintances and friends.

Bobby was born on January 23, 1939, to James Kelsey and Clara Doney, in south Phillips County. It is in this country his love of horses began. In most childhood pictures, Bobby could be seen on or near a horse, and he rode all over the Little Rockies and surrounding areas. As a teenager, Bobby jockeyed for some of the local racehorse owners and trainers until he enlisted in the Marines at the age of seventeen. After that he could no longer maintain his jockey weight, but later in life he owned and trained horses on his own. He built many great friendships and relationships from the horse racing community.

Bobby married Kathleen Thill on January 23, 1962, and from that marriage he had three children, Troy, Dayla and JC (James Charles). They also lost one child at birth, Robert James. Bobby and Kathy would later divorce. Bobby would have one more child, Zacherie, with Vicki Cripps. Zacherie shared the love of horses with his dad, and became an accomplished jockey on his own, riding at many of the big horse racing tracks throughout the country.

Bobby was preceded in death by his son Robert James Kelsey, father James (Cora) Kelsey, his mother Clara (Mike) Soennichson, stepmother Cora Kelsey, stepfather Mike Soennichson, brother Lloyd Milton Kelsey, sister Loretta Jean Kelsey and daughter in law April Studer Kelsey. Also, many special aunts’ uncles and grandparents.

He is lovingly survived by his children Troy (Michael) Kelsey, Dayla Kelsey, JC (April) Kelsey and Zacharie Kelsey. His grandchildren Matthew, Thyus, Kale, Jace, Sydney, Clara, Carter, Chloe, Brayden and Harper. Great grandchildren Karson and Kori. His special nieces Kim, Kristal, Kathie, Kori and many close cousins and friends.

A Memorial Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held at 1PM on Friday, May 15, 2026 in the Malta Cemetery.  Reception immediately following at the Malta VFW Club. 

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