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Salish Kootenai College President DePoe Passes Away

DePoe, who was battling a terminal illness, died at his home in Polson on Monday

By Dillon Tabish

Robert DePoe III, the president of Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, passed away early Monday morning, according to school officials.

DePoe, who was battling a terminal illness, passed away at his home in Polson. He was 40.

Services will be announced by The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.

SKC administrators said campus will be closed Dec. 22 in honor of DePoe and his family.

“Please keep Robert’s family in your thoughts and prayers as we grieve the loss of our President,” administrators posted on the SKC website.

“Robert was incredibly kind and humble and he had a great vision for this college,” Sandra Boham, vice president of academic affairs, said. “He brought people together and he was just a wonderful person. We were all very fortunate to have worked with him. He has a beautiful family and we will miss him.”

DePoe took over as president of the tribal college in the fall of 2013. A member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, he grew up in Polson and graduated high school in Ronan in 1993.

“The family would like to thank everyone for their love, support, prayers, kindness, and GENEROSITY,” CSKT Communications Director Robert McDonald said in a statement. “Robert cherished every moment as president of SKC. We ask that you respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.”

Messages of condolences can be left at groganfuneralhome.com.

The passing of DePoe comes only a month after the death of his father, Robert DePoe Jr.