Details

Collection Summary
Collection: FND001 - SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Series: Tribute
Folder: DIG
Item: 270049
Title: Robert "Bob" B. Bale
Date: 9/24/1928-7/18/2022
Creator:
Inscription/Marks: 9/24/1928
Summary: With heavy hearts we announce the passing of our dad, Bob Bale. He left us in the early morning hours of July 18, 2022, at a local care center after declining health. A man much loved – a life well lived. Funeral services were held July 25, 2022, at Mandan United Methodist Church, Mandan, ND, with burial at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Robert Bruce Bale was born September 24, 1928, to Kirk and Agnes (Johnson) Bale and lived in Wahpeton, ND. The family later moved to Velva, ND, where Bob grew up and graduated from high school in 1946. The family moved back to Wahpeton that year. He was a WWII veteran, joining the army; he was processed at Ft. Snelling, MN, took boot camp at Ft. Lewis, WA, and served in occupied Japan for one year in 1947. There he helped furnish equipment for Japanese contractors to build roads, bridges and airfields. He was the company and parts clerk and did bookkeeping. He attained the rank of Tec 5 and was honorably discharged December 1947. In June of 1951 he graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Science in commerce (accounting). The GI Bill of Rights allowed him to attend three years of college. He met his future wife, Beatrice (Bea) Grabau, at UND in a “Marriage and Courtship” class. They were married August 8, 1952, at Pleasant View Evangelical United Brethren Church in rural Grand Forks County. This year would have been their 70th wedding anniversary. They briefly lived in Fargo, ND, where Bob worked with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company from 1951-1956. He then started his career with the Department of Agriculture, working as a field accountant with the Rural Electrification Administration, auditing rural telephone cooperatives across North Dakota and South Dakota. They moved to Bismarck, then permanently to Mandan. He retired in 1989. Bob was a lifelong church member, baptized by a minister who lived across the street from them. In 1957, he and Bea became charter members of Church of the Good Shepherd EUB in Mandan, now known as Mandan United Methodist Church, where he served in numerous activities including choir. He was an Elks and Masonic Lodge member for over 50 years and belonged to the Independent Telephone Pioneers Association. He enjoyed reading, traveling, bird hunting, fishing, music (especially classical and opera whose history he enjoyed learning), cribbage and bridge, stamp collecting, family country drives, and wildlife. Most important to him were his family and God. Bob was a man with a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes, a song in his heart, knowledge to share and a good joke to enjoy. He did not see a glass half full or half empty; he was thrilled to have a glass. He loved to tell a good story about fishing and history. He held his faith and beliefs close to his heart. He loved people and enjoyed living – he never knew a stranger. A successful day of hunting included good food (sandwiches) and a piece of homemade pie at a small-town café. Family vacations were important, usually including camping, fishing and hiking. We will remember him for his gentle but witty disposition, positive attitude, sense of humor and kind, giving heart eager to help others. He loved music from an early age and played tuba in the school band. He was caring, selfless and always honest. Those left to cherish his memory include his son, Bruce Bale; daughter, Kris (Joel) Winckler; granddaughter Lauren Bale and her mother Deb Bale; two sisters-in-law, Mavis Bale and Joanne Bale; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Kirk and Agnes Bale; siblings, Betty Hall Dzuber, Kirk Jr., George (Sonia), Greg, and Doratha; and many furry companions.
Red ID: FND_I_77568 Image ID: 547561 Image Notes: FND001 270049

Collection: FND001 Digitized Images from Collection
Title: SHSND Foundation - North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program
Date: -

Summary: The North Dakota Heritage Family Memorial Program is sponsored by the North Dakota Funeral Directors Association. The life stories of deceased North Dakotans are featured in an archvied collection. Current partners in the project are Eastgate Funeral & Cremation Services, Bismarck Evans Funeral Homes, Carrington and New Rockford Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home, Williston Fulkerson Funeral Home, Tioga Fulkerson Funeral Home, Watford City Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home, Williston Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck Springan Stevenson Funeral Home, Stanley Stevenson Funeral Home, Dickinson These funeral homes provide recent obituaries to the Foundation, where staff and volunteers format, edit and archive each memorial. The memorials are posted, and copies are sent to the family for their input and approval. The listing currently features more than 13,000 memorials, and is constantly updated as new memorials and histories are received.

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