Robert Bonestell was born January 20, 1933 in Hot Springs, SD to Gordon and June (Crombie) Bonestell. The family moved to Newell, SD where Bob grew up and graduated from High School in 1951. He went on to study at South Dakota State College earning his Bachelors & Master’s Degrees in Agronomy with minors in Chemistry and Math. While at SDSC he was in ROTC (Army) and served at Ft. Benning, GA and Ft. Riley, KS. They returned to SD in 1956 finishing his service in the National Guard.
On May 8, 1955 he married Marian Cook at Clear Lake, SD. They raised three sons and one daughter. Over the years Bob worked as a supervisor with the Farmer’s Home Administration in Aberdeen & Faulkton, SD. He then got into banking and enjoyed working with farmers and ranchers at First National Bank of SD in Presho, SD. Moving to Deer River, MN he became Vice Pres. of the First National Bank and then president of Miller Hiller State Bank in Duluth, MN as well. His final bank position was president & CEO of Money Cor bank in Superior, WI across the bay from their home in Duluth, MN.
Bob was active in the United Methodist Church serving on committees for many years. He was a 4-H leader when his children were young, and enjoyed membership in local mens’ clubs over the years. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends and especially enjoyed the out of doors. Having a beautiful lawn was always a priority of his where ever they lived. It was his form of farming/agronomy. He and Marian enjoyed traveling and began wintering in AZ around 1995. He loved hiking, playing cards and getting together with friends.
His sense of humor and caring way is what drew people to Bob. You never knew if he was kidding or serious. You might find things missing and have them show up in strange places. He loved to share jokes and usually had a new one whenever you talked to him. He loved his family and made sure they knew with both words and actions.
Grateful to have shared his life are his wife Marian of Apache Junction, AZ & Duluth, MN; sons Michael of Colorado Springs, CO, Steven (Tina) of Deer River, MN, and Scott of Westminster, CO; daughter, Michelle (Brian) Lintvedt of Presho, SD; sister, Bettylou Wilcox of Montgomery, AL; 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Marian & Family,
I feel privileged to have known and worked with Bob for 10 years at MonyCor Bank in Superior. The Board meetings with Bob were a highlight of each month. God Bless you all ! We will miss him—Bob made the world a better and happier place.
Scott Teigen