Robert A. Eidsness • 1927- 2003

Robert A. Eidsness, 76, 1515 171/2 Ave. SW, Minot, died Monday, September 22, 2003, at a Minot hospital.

Robert was born August 4, 1927, in Granville, ND, the son of Olaf and Helen (Thomas) Eidsness. He was reared and educated in Granville, graduating from Granville High School in 1944. He attended Minot Teachers College in 1944-45, and in 1945, entered the United States Navy. He completed basic training at the Great Lakes training center in Minnesota, and then served on the USS Gainard DD706 in Japanese waters during World War II. He made mail runs up and down the coast of Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

He returned to Minot and continued at Minot Teachers College, graduating in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in education with a major in commerce and a minor in industrial arts and English. On September 1, 1949, he married Lillian V. Roalkvam. They had three children, Rodney, Larry and Carolyn.

Robert worked at various places throughout the years, including Pioneer State Bank, Towner, Shark's Men's Store, International Harvester Co. and Sears Roebuck & Co., all of Minot. In June of 1967, he purchased Northwest Insulating and Roofing Co., later changing the name to Northwest Building Improvement Co. He owned and operated the business until selling it in 1998. His son, Larry, and Jerry Renfandt currently own and operate the business.

His wife Lillian died March 27, 1985. On December 5, 1992, he married Audrey L. Chole.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church, Minot, was church council president, taught Sunday School and sang in the cathedral choir. He was also a member of the Minot Jaycees, the Golden K Kiwanis Club and the American Legion. He held life memberships in the Elks Lodge and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was president of the World War II Last Man's Club, the Eagles Aerie and the Edison Parent Teachers Association, all of Minot. Robert was active in several other community organizations, including the Red Cross Board, Minot State University Alumni Association, Scandinavian Heritage Association, Chamber of Commerce, Minot Area Development Corp. and the Minot Association of Builders.

Survivors: wife, Audrey; sons, Rodney (Sharon) Eidsness, Indianapolis, IN, and Larry (Holly) Eidsness, Minot; daughter, Carolyn (James) Bodell, Minot; grandchildren, Matthew, Sayde, Regan and Gretchen Eidsness and Kellen and Ryan Bodell; stepchildren, Terry (Kristi) Chole, Tim (Penny) Chole, all of Minot, Tami (Bert) Hauge, New Town, ND, and Tricia (Mark) Plemel, Denver, CO; stepgrandchildren, Hesston and Morgan Hauge and Jackson Plemel; sister, Mildred (James) Mitchell, Mansfield, PA; sister-in-law, Violet Eidsness, Minot; brother-in-law, Elmer Roalkvam, Upham, ND; sister-in-law, Alma (Leonard) Jorgenson, Kenmare, ND, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lillian, his parents, Olaf and Helen, and his brother, Thomas.

Funeral Service: Friday, September 26, 2003, at 1 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, Minot.

Visitation: Thursday, September 25, 2003, from noon until 7 p.m. at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot.

Burial: Sunset Memorial Gardens, Minot.

Officiant: Rev. Lee Yarger

Music: Processional hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross"
Jerry Hansen, vocalist
"On Eagles Wings" "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder"
Recessional hymn "Battle Hymn of The Republic"
Gary Stenehjem, organist

Honorary Bearers: Vivian Erickson, Matthew and Sayde Eidsness Golden K Kiwanis and the World War II Last Mans Club

Active Bearers: Kellen Bodell, Ryan Bodell, Regan Eidsness, Gretchen Eidsness, Jim Jorgenson Alan Eidsness, Kirk Johnson, and Jerry Renfandt

Back to Obituaries