Robert Clark

Robert L. Clark, 89, Bismarck, died December 31, 2005, at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. Services will be held on Monday, January 2, 2006, at 2:00 PM at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center Chapel. Burial will take place Tuesday, January 3, at the North Dakota Veteran's Cemetery in Mandan. Robert was born on April 22, 1916, in Mobridge, South Dakota, the third son in a family of five children of William and Lucy Clark. Robert was raised in Mobridge, graduating from Mobridge High School. Upon graduation, Robert attended the University of Washington for several years. He married Elizabeth Daschle, of Selfridge, North Dakota, on July 18, 1942, in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Like many of his generation, Bob enlisted in the US Army and proudly served his country in the European Theatre during WWII. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, he began a long and successful career working for the Milwaukee Road Railroad in South Dakota, Montana, and North Dakota. During his employment with Milwaukee, he served as the depot agent in Regent, North Dakota, and concluded his tenure with the Milwaukee as the agent in New England, North Dakota. Bob and Liz raised four children while working and living in New England before moving to Bismarck in 1968 where both he and Liz continued to work for a number of years. Bob was an unusual man who was as comfortable making a chocolate pie as he was refereeing a high school basketball game. He was a person of conviction and strongly held views and not bashful about sharing those views with his family...one always knew where you stood with Bob. He was a fine cook, comfortable with his own identity, and as such, was a Dad who embraced the operation of the household. He was a fine country golfer, participating in many tournaments with friends from New England. Bob took pleasure from the outdoors and orchestrated more than a few family camping trips and excursions into the country. He had a fine eye for the light of the day. Bob enjoyed all manner of sports and was a great fan of both "Saints" teams in New England and Bismarck. He was devoted to his wife, Liz, and in spite of a few maddening moments in their marriage, she knew that he was crazy about her. Bob presented his family with many remarkable gifts. He possessed enormous strength of character yet was remarkably adaptable and resilient with a steady internal compass. Bob was a selfless man from whom one never heard a discouraging word nor a criticism of other people...singular qualities in these times. He was a person who had an abiding sense of gratitude for the smallest of expressions. These gifts were jewels which he continued to model for his family to the end of his life. His family are better people for his presence in their lives. Bob cut a wide and positive swath on the land during his time on the planet. He will be missed by those who had the good fortune of his company. Bob is survived by his daughters, Suzanne Roger Haug of Mandan and Libby Frank Kilzer of Bismarck; his sons, Dave Sue of Bismarck and Tracy Marilyn of Montana; his sister, Nancy Bjella of Bismarck; eleven grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lucy; his brothers, Kenneth, Gordon, and Laddie; and his wife, Liz. Memorials are suggested to Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center, Bismarck.

Robert Clark

April 22, 1916 - December 31, 2005