Robert L. Finley

Retired Chief Patrol Agent Robert L. Finley of the United States Border Patrol died on Monday, Sept. 4, 2006 at the age of 58 as a result of a rattlesnake snake bite he sustained while hunting near his home in Montana.
He was born Jan, 28, 1948 in Trenton, the son of Earl and Pauline Potter Finley and was a 1966 graduate of Trenton High School.
Chief Finley joined the Army in 1967. He served in the 4th Infantry Division from 1967 to 1969, serving in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. After returning to his home in the Trenton area he began farming on the family farm. Chief Finley then began his career in law enforcement as a police officer in 1973 in Chillicothe and later worked at the St. Joseph Police Department.
In 1980 he entered on duty with the U.S. Border Patrol in San Diego, CA. His career with the Border Patrol included a transfer from San Diego to Casa Grande, AZ, in 1985. He then transferred to Pembina, ND, in 1986. In 1987 he was promoted to the position of supervisory border patrol agent in El Centro, CA, and in 1990 was promoted to Field Operations Supervisor in El Centro. In 1994 he was promoted to patrol agent in charge of the Mercedes, TX , station. In 1996, he was promoted to deputy chief patrol agent in Grand Forks, ND. Finally, he was promoted to chief patrol agent of Havre Sector on Feb. 15, 1998. He retired on Jan. 31, 2005 and relocated to Roundup, MT.
Chief Finley was survived by his mother, Pauline Finley, and brother, Douglas Finley, both of Trenton; a son, Robert Finley, his wife, Becky and their son Drue of Del Rio, TX; a daughter, Kelly and her son, Joshua of Colorado Springs, CO.; the mother of their children, Sandra Finley of Colorado Springs, CO; a niece, Lori Hopper of Chillicothe; a nephew, Larry Finley of Trenton; a niece, Lynn Tucker of Liberty; and eight great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Earl R. Finley.
In addition, Chief Finley was an avid horseman and hunter with great love of the outdoors and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.
A funeral service was held in Roundup, MT on Friday, Sept. 8, 2006 with full honors from the Border Patrol and military. A memorial service will be held in Trenton at a later date.