Robert and Lorraine Silsbee

Bob and Lori Silsbee and sons Robby (standing) and Roddy.

Bob Silsbee and sons Rob (left) and Rod.

Lorraine "Lori" Leistiko, daughter of Krist and Beatrice Leistiko, was born in New Deal, Montana, (4 miles from Ft. Peck) on July 9, 1935. She grew up on the farm of her father's Aunt and Uncle, Albert and Elizabeth Leistiko, near Nashua, Montana. In 1946, her family moved to Whitefish, Montana, for her Dad's health.

Deaf from birth, Lori was educated at the School for the Deaf and Blind in Great Falls, Montana, from 1940 to 1953. Upon graduation, she entered the Great Falls Business School, but had to drop out for lack of an interpreter. She then lived and worked in many places, in many different states. In 1995, while working in Reno, Lori and some friends traveled to Sacramento to attend a Deaf Bowling Tournament. At the tournament and picnic, and at the meetings of the Deaf Club, Lori met many new friends, including a man named Bob Silsbee.

Bob Silsbee worked at the Sacramento Union Newspaper (the oldest newspaper in the west) as a Lynotype operator and paste-up man. Bob had been twice married and divorced, and had told his mother that he didn’t think he would marry again. Nevertheless, in Reno, Nevada, on June 5, 1971, Bob and Lori did marry. Bob and Lori had two children:

When Bob passed away in July 1993, Lori moved the family from Carmichael, California, (near Sacramento) to Kalispell, Montana. She died August 11, 2010.

Rob (left) and Rod Silsbee

Lori Silsbee with sons Rod (left) and Rob.

First published March 11, 2002. Last revised March 11, 2002. If you have comments, corrections or additional information or pictures you would like to contribute, feel free to contact Dave Nims.