Category Archives: Obituaries

Jack Long resident of Martin, SD passed away on Sept.15, 2018 at Fort Meade Community Center Hospice, Sturgis, SD at the age of 84 years.

Jack was born to Keith “Shorty” and Mae Long on July 28, 1934 in Thurston, Neb. Sometime later the family moved to Harrington, SD. There Jack attended school and helped on the family farm.

On February 2, 1955, he enlisted in the Army and served until Jan. 25, 1957.

After marring Phyllis Lyon on June 14, 1962, he made his home in Vetal. Raising cattle and helping neighbors with farming. While living in Vetal, Jack was instrumental in helping develop the Vetal Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1969, the Jack Long family of 5 moved to a farm east of Martin, where he continued to reside until his passing. Jack raised cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, goats, geese, ducks, chickens, kids and grandkids. Among the crops he farmed were wheat, corn, barley, oats, millet and alfalfa.

Some of Jack’s favorite past times were watching old TV shows (westerns) and baseball. Go Yankees! He also enjoyed hunting and fishing with family and friends. You could not be around him long without finding out that he loved to play pitch, talk politics, and tell stories. He was always up for playing a joke on someone or just being plain ornery. Occasionally this backfired on him, on one such occasion he was teasing 4 year old Marie who swung a 2 liter pop bottle around and gave him a black eye. He also found great joy in seeing if he could find out gifts under the tree. Because of this his children quickly learned you didn’t tell Norma. He could get her to tell him every time. If you were around Jack very long you could hear him tell a child, “Hurry up before I give you a quarter.”

He loved his grandchildren but he had one who taught him a lesson about keys and kids. One day as he was checking on some hogs his granddaughter Reba decided she was big enough to drive. She started the truck and went for a short drive. This brought grandpa running and opening the door causing her to scamper to the other side of the truck. After this the keys would be “hidden” from her. That didn’t stop her. When the keys were not in their normal hiding spot Reba would find them and put them where they belonged. This caused the adults to be anxiously looking for the keys. When asked if she knew where they were she would calmly pull them from the hiding spot.

Jack and his grandson, Austin Thayer, were nearly inseparable. Austin will carry on the legacy of farming that he learned at the side of his grandpa.

Jack will be sadly missed by his children: Debbie(Richard) Taylor of Greenfield, OH, Gary Long(Rowena Cruz) of Valentine, NE, Helen(Keith) Stehlik of Vetal, SD, Carol Shepler of Valentine, NE and Mickie (Veldon)Thayer of Martin, SD, his grandchildren; Nathaniel(Annalisa) Taylor, Angela Cruz, Reba Stehlik, Nolan(Joya) Taylor, Amanda Holcomb, Tanya Stehlik, Sean Shepler, Austin Thayer, Jackie Thayer, and Naomi Thayer, and great grandchildren, Robert Taylor, Holly Stehlik, Riggen Holcomb, Eliana Taylor and Tayah Holcomb, His sisters: Margie Judd of Chandler, AZ, and Judy Meyer of Alliance, NE and one brother Arnie Long of Gillette, WY and a sister-in-law Jeanie Long of Martin, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Keith “Shorty” and Mae (Merchen) Long, brothers: Ronald, Donald, and Marvin, and his daughter: Norma Orr.

Funeral service for Jack A. Long age 84 of Martin were held on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 at 10 am. in the old Legion Building in Martin with Rev. Bill Hines officiating. Burial was in the Winner City Cemetery, Winner, SD.

A memorial has been established and donations may be sent in care of Bennett County Funeral Service, PO Box 65, Martin, SD 57551.

William Matousek passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls on Sept. 14, 2018 following complications after a hard fall earlier in the month. A memorial service will be held on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018 starting at 10 a.m. at the Carter Gospel Fellowship Church in Carter, South Dakota.

Bill was born in Sioux City on Jan. 26, 1935 to parents William and Louise (McDonald) Matousek. He moved with his parents to Carter, SD the following year where his father engaged in farming and ranching. He attended The Carter Elementary School (1949), Winner High School (1953), and the University of South Dakota (1957). He served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army intelligence services in Providence, RI for two years after graduation from USD. Following separation from the military, Bill settled in Boston where he pursued a life of professional diversity and international travel. Part of this time was spent in the Arctic Circle doing research.

Bill returned to South Dakota in 2000 and settled in the Carter and Winner area. He managed his ranch lands and was a great supporter of the Tripp County area. He was also active in supporting the University of South Dakota and took part in local charity fund raising events.

Bill and his brother Bob were both graduates of the University of South Dakota (USD) and the two of them funded many projects, scholarships, and other ventures at the university.

However, their greatest satisfaction came from supporting the USD John T. Vucurevich Children’s Center and its preschool that was named in honor of their parents, Bill and Louise Matousek.

Bill was the epitome of generosity and the betterment of our entire community was extremely important to him. If there was a cause in our community that was in need, Bill was the first to commit to helping in any way he could. Bill was one of the founding board members of the Tripp Co. Community Foundation and served as chairman until 2017. Through the foundation he established the Harold Smith Memorial Scholarship fund to recognize Harold for his years of teaching students at the Winner High School. He also established the William J. Matousek & Marjory E. Calderia Fund to be used for grant making for a variety of community organizations needs in the Tripp County area.

Bill was very proud of his roots in the Tripp County area and especially of his alma mater, WHS! Bill was the 1952 Homecoming Warrior and every year was proud to attend roll call for the class of 1953. Everyone remembers him as the voice of the Tripp County Community Foundation as each year he took liberties with the microphone at roll call to put a plug in for the foundation. In 2017 Bill was humbled and honored to be selected as the WHS Homecoming Parade Marshal.

Bill will be forever remembered as the face of the Red Kettle campaign of the Salvation Army in our area. During the holidays he spent countless hours lining up youth and adult volunteers to ring the Salvation Army bell in town. This was important to him and many hours of his own time were spent ringing the bells. No philanthropic effort was too big or small for him to tackle.

There was no greater supporter of the Tripp County community than Bill. Everything he did, he did quietly, behind the scenes, not looking for self-promotion or fame. He did these things because of his great compassion to help others and high hopes for the future of our community. He will be greatly missed by all of his friends in the Tripp County area.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his life-partner Marjory Caldeira (2017), and his younger brother Robert (Bob, 2018). He is survived by his brother Jan of Denver, CO, sister-in-law Colette Clowes Matousek of Tiburon, CA, nephew Peter Matousek & Kristin Unger, niece Kathryn Steinberg, their children, along with numerous cousins.

His family appreciates his faithful neighbors, his friends, his professional associates, and his medical team for the support and encouragement through life and in death. The family ask that you make any donations in his memory to your local church or the charity of your choice — which might include: The Salvation Army, Tripp County Community Foundation – William J. Matousek & Marjory E. Caldeira Fund, PO Box 111, Winner, SD 57580.

Joan Brinckmeyer, 80, of Presho, died Monday, Sept. 10 at Avera Maryhouse in Pierre.

Service will be 1 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Presho United Methodist Church with burial at Presho City Cemetery

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Isburg Funeral Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.isburgfuneralchapels.com

Mary “Joan” Brinckmeyer was born in Chamberlain, South Dakota on Oct. 8, 1937 to Vincent “Bink” and Violet (Werner) Snodgrass. Joan was raised in Presho and graduated from Presho High School. Joan and her family also resided in Wood, South Dakota. Joan was employed as a bookkeeper for Farmer Elevator and served as the Lyman County Auditor for 30 years. After retirement, Joan enjoyed many months in Arizona and California.

Joan loved attending the Chicago Cubs spring training and being a member of the “Wild Bunch”, playing cribbage, watching basketball, shopping and most importantly her four legged baby boy Domino. Her children, grandchildren and her extended family were the love of her life and she loved spending time with them. Joan was a member of the United Methodist Church.

Joan was united in marriage to Alvie Uthe in Presho on May 28, 1955. After his death, she met and married Allen D. Brinckmeyer on Sept. 4, 1963 in Ft. Pierre.

Joan is survived by her daughters: Cindy Canaga, Rhonda (Blaine) Drageset, Tammy (Steve) Kokas, Liza Brinckmeyer, (Rod); step children Lynn Brinckmeyer and Jeff Brinckmeyer; daughter-in-law Debby Uthe and by her 10 grandchildren: Derek, Nicole, Justin, Brandi, Brent, Matt, Kelly, James, Wesley and Jessica; her step grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. Joan also leaves her brother, Gary Snodgrass, her sister Linda Goltz, extended family and her many dear friends.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents, “Bink” and Violet Snodgrass, her husbands Alvie Uthe and Allen D. Brinckmeyer, her son Curtis Uthe, son-in-law Patrick Canaga, and great granddaughter Alana. Also preceding her in death was her stepdaughter Melinda Dube and stepson, Max Brinckmeyer.

Marguerite Hutchison, 86, of Winner, SD passed away on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at the Winner Regional Healthcare Center in Winner.

Funeral service were held on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 at 10 a.m.. at the Mason Funeral Home. Burial followed in the Winner City Cemetery.

Marge was born Aug. 31, 1932 at home in Hamill SD to Bruce Herman and Minnie (Mundlein) Herman.

After graduating High School in Chamberlain, she was married. From this union Terry Lee was born.

On Aug. 23, 1958 she married her true love, Robert Hutchison. To this union Robyn Elise and Jeffrey James were born. They eventually made their home at the ranch along the White River south of Presho.

Marge enjoyed her life on the ranch tending the cattle and helping put up hay. She always had a very large garden. Marge taught Sunday School many years at the Community Bible Church in Presho and was also active in her local Women’s Bible Study. After moving to Golden Prairie Manor, she still grew tomatoes on her patio every summer and loved to play cards every day.

Mom leaves us with many fond memories and we will always remember the story of when Bob ran over her with the 4-wheeler during calving. Marge leaves a legacy of hard work and the true love she always had for Bob.

Marge is survived by her children, Terry (Nancy), Robyn, and Jeff (Connie); Grandchildren Colin (Kasey),

Brianne, Jesse (Timmi), and Cody (Brooke). Great grandchildren; Caelyn, Claire, and Dashel. One sister Norma Johnson; Sister-in-laws Twila Herman and Lois Warner. Many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bruce and Minnie, husband Robert, brother Raymond, brother-in-law Miles and one great granddaughter.

Blaine Kennobie, 79, of Kennebec, died Saturday, Sept. 8 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Services were held at 2 pm, Friday, Sept. 14 at American Lutheran Church in Kennebec with burial at Kennebec Cemetery.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Isburg Funeral Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.isburgfuneralchapels.com

Blaine “Pete” Martin Kenobbie was born on Mother’s Day, May 14, 1939 on his grandfather Henry Cross’s Farm SE of Webb, IA to Bernerd Blaine and Tressie Fern (Cross) Kenobbie

When Blaine was almost a year old his family moved to South Dakota. He started school in a country school house north of Presho. They lived on what was called the Reed Ranch. This is where Blaine developed his love for the South Dakota prairies, which would stay dear to his heart forever.

At the age of 10 his family moved back to Webb, IA where he continued his schooling. Pete loved the outdoors. He enjoyed horseback riding, hunting, ice skating, sledding and skiing. During his school years he was active in church activities, baseball, basketball and FFA.

Later the Kenobbie family bought a farm SE of Greenville, IA. At this time he attended the Greenville-Rossie High School. This is where he met the prettiest girl in school, Beverly Carol Bryan, the love of his life. Blaine and Beverly graduated together in the Class of 1957 as High School Sweethearts.

On June 28, 1959 Blaine and Beverly were united in marriage at the Congregational Church in Sioux Rapids, IA. They were blessed with four children: Randy, Carol, Roger and Roy. While farming and raising livestock, Blaine and Bev lived in Greenville, Gillett Grove, and Webb. In July of 1969 they settled on a farm NW of Laurens, IA. Here they spent the next 17 years raising their family, farming, milking cows and raising livestock. You could say they had an Old McDonalds Farm with almost every animal you can think of.

Blaine’s roots kept calling him back to South Dakota. In the spring of 1986 they made the big move west taking everything – machinery and cattle included. For the next nine years they lived in various places raising cattle. Blaine also worked part time during the winter months at the Chamberlain John Deere, working on equipment.
In 1996 Blaine got his boyhood dream of owning his own land in Lyman County, SD where all you see is prairie and sky. This is where they’ve made their home ever since.

Through the years Blaine has enjoyed playing basketball in high school, square dancing, playing cards, pheasant hunting, riding horses and playing his guitar and singing to his sweetheart Bev. Another favorite pastime was collecting and restoring many old two-cylinder John Deere tractors and implements.

In later years Pete really enjoyed South Dakota history and reminiscing of the cowboy days and life on the range. So his dream of becoming a “West River Cowboy” really did come true. He was truly at home riding the prairies of South Dakota.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 59 years, Beverly; son Randy (Deb) Kenobbie of Laurens, IA; daughter Carol (Scott) Banks of Spencer, IA; son Roger Kenobbie of Kimble, SD; son Roy (Marcia) Kenobbie of Hot Springs, SD; 13 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Joyce (Stan) Garton of Odenville, AL, Carolyn Beasley of Centralia, MO; two brothers Dan Kenobbie of Newnan, GA and Lyle (Linda) Kenobbie of Greenville, IA, and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Blaine was preceded in death by his parents Bernerd and Tressie; his in-laws Wesley and Margaret Bryan; sister Betty Lou Kenobbie; daughter-in-law Tammy Kenobbie; two sisters-in-law: Karen Kenobbie and Judy Kenobbie; two brothers-in-law: Don Bryan and Ray Beasley; niece Valerie Wilson and grandson-in-law Cole Buchholz.

Funeral services for John Lowell Lillibridge were held Sept. 4 at the Burke Civic Center with Pastor Mark Tuttle officiating. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery of Burke.

John Lowell Lillibridge was born May 9, 1939, in Burke, South Dakota, to Doris Evelyn (Erickson) and Lowell Louis Lillibridge. John’s life ended in the place it began, in the town he loved on Aug. 30th, 2018. John will be remembered most as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and his most recent role: great-grandfather.

John was educated in the Burke public school system and developed into an outstanding leader and an exceptional athlete. He was awarded first-team all-state in basketball as a junior and senior, scoring a school record 1,931 points. Standing 6’6” and wearing number 54, John helped lead the 1958 Burke Bulldogs to a 4th place state basketball title in 1958.

In addition to playing basketball and football, John was a discus champion, winning a state high school state title. He also once held a South Dakota Amateur Baseball record, hitting four home runs in one game.

After graduating with the Burke High School class of 1958, John carried his talent and love of sports into his college career. He spent one year at Washington State before transferring to the University of South Dakota. While at USD, John lettered in both basketball and track, earning All-American honors throwing the discus. As John’s athletic career was coming to a close, his domestic life and professional career began taking shape.

There was a pretty waitress at the Evergreen whose mother was the secretary in the USD Athletic Department. Mildred Piersol introduced one of USD’s athletes to her daughter, Linda, also a USD student. Little did she know that John Lillibridge would later become her son-in-law. Pastor, Tom Harlan married John and Linda in the living room of their current home on August 13th, 1961.

Upon graduating in 1962 with a business degree from the University of South Dakota, they moved back to Burke. John came home to work with his dad and wait for his little brother to join the business. The Lillibridge brothers were the third generation to work in the bank started in 1905 by their grandfather, Lowell Stanton. John’s intuition, decisiveness, team building and creative problem solving were instrumental in growing First Fidelity Bank to the institution it is today. He proudly witnessed the 5th generation evolve the business.

John served on the school board, city council, and as Mayor. Another point of hometown pride (and fun) for John with dear friend, Louie Tolstedt, was the realization of the Burke Golf Course “greens dream.” Investing in Burke with both time and resources was so important to him, that was instilled at a very young age. John and his family were so proud of Burke’s Community Memorial Hospital and truly thankful for the love and compassion he received in their care.

John felt honored to also serve the state he loved in many ways; The South Dakota Community Foundation, SD Investment Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, SD Banking Commission, University of Sioux Falls and the University of South Dakota. Coming full circle he assisted USD’s move to Division I athletics, no one loved a good “assist” more than John.

To John and Linda’s union three children were born: Laurie (Lillibridge) Kenzy, Lisa Lillibridge and Mark Lillibridge. John instilled a love of competition and sport to his children. Laurie, Lisa and Mark loved tossing the football in the back yard after supper, improving their jump shots, batting practice, long distance training and Sundays on the sofa cheering for the Vikings with their Dad. Summers were spent on the mighty Missouri River, first camping with the Platte crew and later at the family cabin at North Point.

John and Linda delighted in their time spent with their seven grandchildren. Grandpa’s dry sense of humor and playful teasing never ceased to delight his grandchildren. His original “Dakota Monster” stories were always a huge hit. John loved teaching the city kids to drive and shoot pistols. He was a super fan always attending the local granddaughters’ basketball, softball, and track and field events, but he especially cherished his time volunteer coaching Lady Cougar basketball.

Grand parenting was an absolute delight for John, however, great-grand parenting little Liam brought so much pure joy to the last couple of years of his life.

John is survived by his loving wife, Linda, daughters Laurie and Lisa and son Mark; his sister-in-law Cindy (Tom) Lillibridge; son-in-law’s George (Laurie) Kenzy and Jeff (Lisa) Govoni; grandchildren Kelsea (Billie) Sutton, Katelyn (Alec) Brady, Chloe Kenzy, Ellis Govoni, Willa Govoni, Lucy Govoni, and Mana Parker; and great grandson William John (Liam) Sutton.

Jill Berndt Jedlicki passed away suddenly from cardiac arrest on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018 at the age of 53.
On April 13, 1965 Jill was the sixth child born to Marvin and Vonda Osterkamp in Worthington, MN. Jill was a 1983 graduate from De Anza High School in Richmond, CA.

Her three beautiful daughters were the pride and joy of her life. She always lit up when able to spend time with family. She was especially close to her grandson Riley who helped her win the family pumpkin contest one year when she dressed him in Bears attire and placed him inside the pumpkin. Her love and loyalty for “Da Bears” was birthed during the years she lived in Chicago. Throughout her life, Jill lived in Minnesota, California, Chicago and South Dakota.

Jill was a dedicated and hard worker. She was a postal carrier in Elk River, MN for many years. Through her friendship with Gerildine, she met her husband, Buck. Eventually Jill moved to Winner and was married on Jan, 11, 2017. Together they purchased the Black Lab Bar where Jill spent most of her time. Jill could be heard singing at the top of her lungs to various songs while working. She will be missed by her many loyal customers.

Blessed for having shared her life are: her husband Buck Jedlicki; her children: Amy (Mike) Lehman of Montrose, MN; Sara Berndt (Christian) of Anoka, MN; Brooke Berndt of Winner, SD; her step son Lucas Jedlicki of Winner, SD; three grandchildren, Riley, Levi and Austin; her mother, Vonda (Donnie) Nilsson; siblings, Boone (Ann) Osterkamp, Robin Osterkamp, Kurt (Deb) Osterkamp and Dawn Stenberg; her mother-in-law Gerildine Jedlicki; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Jill was preceded in death by: her father Marvin Osterkamp; her brother Boyd Osterkamp; her grandparents Floyd and Rose Hutton, and Fred and Tillie Osterkamp; and many aunts, uncles and several cousins.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 pm, Saturday, Sept. 8, at the First Christian Church in Winner, SD.

David Lavern “Dave” Duffield Sr. was born in Ainsworth, Neb., on May 24, 1951 to Harold and Ellen (McNamee) Duffield, and passed away on Aug. 21, 2018 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Clarkson in Omaha, Neb.

Dave grew up near Long Pine, Neb., on the family farm. He attended school in Ainsworth. He was united in marriage to Jane Moore on Sept. 11, 1970 at Ainsworth.

In February of 1971, Dave was drafted into the United States Army, and was stationed in Edgewood, Maryland. Dave and Jane were blessed with two children; David Jr., and Connie.

Dave worked many jobs including operating heavy equipment, well drilling, and truck driving, before starting his own business, Duffield Hay Hauling. He made many friends through the years of hauling hay up and down the road.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Gene and Larry, and sister, Shirley; as well as nephews, Patrick, Bucky and Rocky.

He is survived by his wife, Jane of 48 years, son, David Duffield Jr. and wife Lisa of Hickman, Neb., daughter, Connie Bellingtier and husband Greg of Elgin, Neb., grandchildren, Payton Partida and husband Matt, Katie Vakoc and husband Lance, Dillon Duffield and Grady Bellingtier. Great-grandsons, Maximus and Atticus Partida. He is also survived by his brother, Harold Duffield Jr. and wife Lillie of Grapeland, Texas and sister, Dorothy Cochran and husband Sam of Sublime, Texas; sisters-in-law, Jean Duffield of Elko, Nev. and Zellite Duffield of Kansas City, Kan.

Preceded in death also are: sister-in-law Charlotte Williams, mother and father in law, Barb and Hugh Moore.
Also surviving are: brothers and sisters in law Dennis and Sherry Moore of Douglas, Kan.; Don and Colleen Moore of Madison, Wis.; Lowell and Cathy Moore of Denver, Colo.

Funeral services were held on Aug. 27, 2018 at Hoch Funeral Homes in Ainsworth. Pastor Georg Williams officiated the service. Burial followed at the Grandview Cemetery with military honors being provided by the Long Pine American Legion Post #260. In lieu of flowers, memorials were suggested to the family for a future designation.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com

Linda Eddie Gibbs, wife, mother, daughter, sister and aunt, age 70, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away at The Forum at Desert Harbor on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. She was born August 10, 1948 in Winner, South Dakota to Ivor “Lee” Eddie and Irene Carol (Fast) Eddie.

Linda married her college sweetheart John “Jack” Gibbs on June 1, 1968. They recently celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary. Jack and Linda have resided in many U.S. cities due to Jack’s career: Rapid City, South Dakota; Great Bend, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; and Gilbert, Arizona. They recently retired in Sun City, Arizona. Jack and Linda loved to travel. They took the whole family on trips across the country to give their children and four grandchildren memories to last a lifetime.

Left to cherish Linda’s memory are her husband Jack; son Kevin Gibbs (Kylie) of Gretna, Nebraska; daughter Kelly Marshall (Matthew) of Phoenix, Arizona; brothers Dennis Eddie of Chino Valley, Arizona; Randy Eddie (Valora) of Winner, South Dakota; Ron Eddie of Austin, Texas; sister Darla Eddie Pistulka of Mitchell South Dakota; best friend and honorary sister Judy Frie (Jim); four grandchildren: Ethan, Lukas, Treyden, and MaKenzie Gibbs and several nieces and nephews.

Linda worked 46 years in accounting and payroll and thoroughly enjoyed helping people. Whereas in her youth she was very shy, she discovered she had the gift of gab in her later years. No person was a stranger to Linda. The Eddie family is known for their sharp wit and rampant sarcastic humor. Linda approached life with rose-colored glasses and laughter.

A celebration of life will be held in memory of Linda on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Regency Mortuary: 9850 West Thunderbird Road, Sun City, Arizona 85373. Pastor Sil Herrera will officiate. A second celebration will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Winner United Methodist Church: 301 W 4th St, Winner, South Dakota, with Pastor John Britt officiating.

Bob Klas died peacefully, surrounded by his family at his Tigard home on Wed. May 2, 2018. At 82, he was rewarded for living a good life by a blessed, holy death. He fought lung cancer for a year and a half,

Bob was born May 28, 1936, the only child of Alice [Holden] K1as and Raymond Klas. He was delivered by a midwife, on a poor depression-era farm near Colome, SD. When he was 3, his parents moved to Winner where he grew up a “towny”. Bob’s 35 “farm cousins” were jealous of him because he a1ways had a room to himself whi1e moving often from one small rental to another. Bob was jealous of them because they had many brothers and sisters to have fun with whi1e sharing a room between three or four of them. The “country cousins” had many animals to “play with and ride” across vast open fields. whi1e he had just one dog “Blondie” to love. These fields were the same fields their grandparents homesteaded and on which their parents struggled through the dustbowls and 1ocust hordes. Being “rooted to the land” was a treasured value unknown to city folk. Winner, though tiny by our standards, was the “big town” and was the main trading center of this vast farming region. There Bob attended St. Mary‘s grade school and served as an altar boy before graduating with honors from Winner High in June of 1954. Weeks later, the family moved to Hillsboro, OR where a few relatives had relocated.

When Bob was barely 10, he started working as a shoe shine boy at he Winner Grocery lo help the family make ends meet. A good worker, he was promoted to sweeper, then bagboy, then clerk till eventually becoming a phone—delivery truck driver. In Winner, he made $1.00/hour and tips. Soon after moving to Hillsboro, Bob got a job at Smith‘s Market again as a phone—delivery driver but making $3.00/hour and tips! Bob thought he was rich and gone to heaven! Soon realizing that most customers ordered similar groceries each week, Bob began prepacking the orders well before the phone-in deadline. This way, by serving many more customers, Bob made more tip money while Smith made more profit. Bob continued to work for Smith full time-days then drove downtown nightly to study drafting at Multnomal College and Fine Arts at The Museum Arts School. He started pre Archineclurc at PSU in 1958. Oct. 1959 with the cold war warming up Bob enlisted in the Army. Right after boot camp and job
training, he was sent to Passalaqua, a small administrative base in the heart of Verona, Italy. Italy was a dream assignment for this young architecture student. Immediately, Bob started going off base every chance he got, eager to see the sites and experience the culture. Because of his precise grammar excellent spelling and clean cut mannerisms, Bob was entrusted to type and edit the senior-officer-performance-repots before sending then further up. He was promoted very quickly then chosen to be an honor guard. A few months later, Bob was “invited“ to the Italian Consul’s office. There he was asked if he wanted to “volunteer” to “occasionally just carry a few papers to Venice.“ Venice, just an hour away by train was where the US embassy was located. He was “offered a few extra
weekend leaves at government expense.” A young 22 year old Bob “volunteered in a heartbeat!” On THE day the Berlin wall was started, Bob was flown out of Verona and directly back to Portland, months before he was due. In Aug. 1961, Bob was honorably discharged.

Home again, he reenrolled in PSU and again went to work at Smith‘s Market. Bob married Mary Anne Millington June 8, 1964,

That fall, they moved to Eugene when Bob transferred to U of O. Bob made the Dean’s list and received several scholarships. He graduated in Dec. 1966 earning his Bachelor of Architecture degree,

Moving back to Portland, he began working as a draftsman. Over the next 40 years, Bob specialized in designing commercial retail. Hundred of Safeways, Albertsons, Thriftways and adjoining strip malls throughout OR, WA, ID, NV, and Northern California were designed by EKA. Bob‘s firm did motels, restaurants, banks & some larger regional malls. He redesigned Beaverton mall 3 times. In the 70’s Beaverton used his double-pod-design for 8 schools years. Throughout those 40 years, because of his high standards, integrity and fairness, Bob had many repeat clients and employees who stayed with him for 20 plus years until he finally retired when 70.

About 25 years ago, Bob volunteered his services to remodel Trinity’s original ‘long gym Church’ into the more ‘congregation-friendly-round one’ that served us for two decades. It is fitting that today, Bob’s funeral is being held here in this, ‘Trinity’s new Church’ whose original-concept roots came through Bob years ago. Trinity was Bob’s spiritual home. Here, he taught CCD and led the scouts when his children were young. Later he was a lector, usher, collection-counter, and a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. Serving as Eucharistic minister was what he cherished most. He was Fed here and from here he is Freed to his new life.

The day Bob died, Wed. May 2. 2018, was the most peaceful, deepest, calmest, most Spirit-filled day of his whole life. Having the whole family together always was Bob‘s greatest joy. For us to feel, see and, witness his spirit rising that whole day, to know he was on the way to Heaven was a gift he shared with us.