Robert C. Anderson

Robert C. Anderson, 90, Bismarck died peacefully on Feb. 1, 2011, surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm Friday, February 4, at Church of St. Anne, Bismarck, with Rev. Ed Wehner officiating. Burial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 2:00 pm until 9:00 pm Thursday, February 3, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a vigil will begin at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Bob was born July 17, 1920 in the Bismarck Hospital, the son of Alex and Edith McDonald Anderson. He was raised on a farm south of Bismarck, and attended Bismarck High School. When World War II started and he was not able to enlist because of a medical problem, Bob headed to Washington State to serve his country by working in the shipyards. While in Washington, he joined the Elks and was a member for 70 years at the time of his death. On June 16, 1947, Bob married Mary Turnbow and they had three daughters, Linda, Roberta and Mary. He tried his hand at farming, worked for the railroad, a local body shop and in 1953 he opened Bob?s Body Shop in Bismarck. There Bob not only fixed cars, but he helped many teenagers find their way in life by mentoring them and allowing them to work on their cars at his shop. Bob?s passion in life was cars. He raced them, collected them, fixed them, and just before he died he bought another car that caught his eye. His family always came first, and when extended family needed help he was always there for them. In 1973, Bob got the son he never had when his daughter, Mary, married Marvin Splonskowski. They hunted, fished, and he had his male bonding partner for life. In 1983, Bob retired and sold Bob?s Body Shop the oldest independent body shop in Bismarck at the time. He and Mary traveled for awhile, but Bob felt the urge to continue working. He took on the job of adjusting cars and would take Mary with him wherever he traveled around the state. Mary died in 2003. When his health began to deteriorate, Bob was forced to quit work, but he was always there to help his girl?s with their car problems which some of them had quite frequently. In his later years, Bob enjoyed the special companionship of his fiancé, Erna Engelbretson. Bob is survived by his three girls and one son-in-law: Linda Harsche, Roberta Anderson and Mary and Marv Splonskowski. His grandchildren: Michelle John Herman and her daughters Abigail and Bronwyn, Mandi Todd Braun and their child on the way, and Shane Amy Splonskowski and their children Max and Kate and Bob?s fiancé Erna. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; his brother and sister-in-law, Elton and LaVerne Anderson; his sister and brother-in-law, Elvira and Frank Hedberg; and his nephew, Clayton Hedberg.

Robert C. Anderson

July 17, 1920 - February 1, 2011