Robert Francis Bachtold passed away June 29, 2009, in Williston, N.D., after a brief stay at the Bethel Nursing Home.

Robert was born on April 6, 1917, to George and Margaret (O’Marrow) Bachtold in La Crosse, Wis. The family then moved to Wykoff, Minn., where Robert attended grade school. He graduated from Albert Lea High School.

Following the outbreak of WWII, Robert enlisted in the Army and was sent to Buckley Field in Denver, Colo. He was made an instructor of the armament school; bombs and chemical weapons division. Robert was with the 375th Bomb Group. He was then shipped off to the Pacific Theater for the remainder of the war. Robert was honorably discharged on December 1945 as a staff sergeant. Robert returned to Albert Lea and joined his dad working on the railroad for the next 10 years. In the spring of 1956, Robert and his parents moved from Minnesota to Trenton, N.D., to be closer to family. Robert began working for his sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Marg Gannaway on the farm. It was a whole new way of life for him from the big city. He spent the next 30-plus years working on the farm. He loved the work and retired only when the arthritis got the best of him.

Uncle Bob or “Uncle Dudley” as many knew him, asked very little from life for himself, yet was so very generous with others. We four kids grew up with Uncle Bob in our household and looked upon him more as another dad than an uncle. So, our children were more like grandchildren to him than nephews and nieces. To ensure they pursued a college education, Uncle Bob always underlined the importance of higher learning. He himself was a walking book of knowledge, having read and absorbed at least half the books in the Williston and Sidney libraries! He was always so appreciative but rarely complained about his aches and pains.

Robert is survived by: his brother-in-law Jim Gannaway; nephews Scott (Sue) Gannaway and Bob (Teryl) Gannaway; nieces Mary Jo Saboe and LeeAnn (Mike) Greff; and 13 great-nephews and great-nieces.