Dr. Robert "Ned" Nehls

Dr. Robert “Ned” Nehls's life came full circle when the hospice nurse who was with him in his last moments realized Ned was the doctor who had brought her into the world. Dr. Nehls, beloved Butte OB/GYN who delivered thousands of babies in Butte and its surrounding areas, passed away on April 10, 2026 after a brief illness. Dr. Nehls came to Butte in 1965 to take a job at the Murray Clinic, and he never left. He loved Montana, and he especially loved the people of Butte. Robert Edwin Nehls was born at home in Newark, Ohio on August 29, 1934 to Frederick C. and Mae (MacIntosh) Nehls. The nurse attending his mother said that he looked like a “Ned,” and the nickname stuck. Ned was the youngest of three children, with sister Joanna and brother Eugene both more than a decade his senior. A standout football player at Newark High School, Ned was offered a full-ride scholarship to attend and play football at the University of Cincinnati in preparation for his field of study in medicine; he graduated in 1956. Ned married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Ann Wallace, in Ohio and moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where he attended Tulane University Medical School, graduating with an M.D. on May 30, 1960. Ned relocated his growing family to Columbus, Ohio to complete his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology and then moved to Butte in 1965. Ned was very dedicated to his highly distinguished profession and had a rewarding and successful career in OB/GYN in Butte for 33 years. An outdoorsman at heart, Ned loved every form of and locale for fishing, from the many streams, rivers, and lakes of Montana to ocean fishing in Baja Mexico and Vancouver Island, Canada. He played “Old Ozzie” softball for the East Side Athletic Club and cherished a connection to the earth, planting and harvesting root vegetable crops at his home in Butte. Ned married Donna Hayes Stolp on December 29,1999 and they enjoyed many years of harmony and contentment in marriage. Donna and Ned went on many camping and fishing adventures together, shared in each other’s families, and supported each other, as well as the six Yorkshire terriers they raised together. Donna and Ned modeled deep affection and loving regard for one another. In addition to his parents, Ned is preceded in death by his son Aaron Nehls, his infant son Christian Nehls, and his first wife, Nancy (Wallace) Nehls, as well as his sister Joanna Nehls Tracey and brother Eugene Nehls. He is survived by his wife of over twenty-six years, Donna Nehls of Butte, his son Nathan (Sue) Nehls of Butte, daughter Leighanne (Kerry) Clark of Dillon, daughter Julie (Dean) Klarich of Billings and daughter-in-law, Christine Nehls of Butte, as well as grandchildren Makenzie (Jake) Lewendal, Madeline (Wade) Fellin, Hunter (Chelsea) Clark, Kylie Nehls and Chloe Nehls and four great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind three stepsons: Jackson (Sue) Stolp of Belgrade, Mike (Darlene) Stolp of San Diego, and Justin (Staci) Stolp of Helena, as well as three step-grandsons, Daniel (Chelsea) Stolp, Jeremy Stolp, and Nathan Stolp, all of San Diego, and a nephew, David Smith and niece, Diane Smith, of Colorado. Also close to Ned’s heart were dear friends Denny Klemp and Steve Connole, who accompanied Ned on many of his fishing ventures, and Donna’s sisters and their husbands, Maggie (Don) Heater and Lesly (Mike) Blend, and other extended family, with whom Ned spent many memorable times. He will be greatly missed. A service of remembrance will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026, at Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home in Butte at 11:00 a.m.

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Dr. Robert "Ned" Nehls

August 29, 1934 - April 10, 2026