Robert (Bob) Svangstu

Noonan

Robert (Bob) Svangstu, 75, of Noonan, ND passed away May 20, 2023, near

Crosby, ND doing what he loved to do, seeding wheat. His funeral service

will be held Friday, May 26, 2023, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Crosby

at 11:00 a.m. with interment at Concordia Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation

will begin Thursday Morning at Stakston-Martin Funeral Home in Crosby.

Visitation will then move to the church on Friday morning and continue

until service time.

Bob was born on June 5, 1947, in Noonan to Oscar and Maureen

(Gillund) Svangstu, the third of six children. He was raised on the

family farm where he, his brother and sisters had many fun and exciting

adventures along with their neighbor boy, John. For 57 years, he raised

his family, crops, and livestock on the same farm where he grew up. He

was baptized, confirmed, and married at Concordia Lutheran Church where

he remained a lifelong member.

Bob graduated from Crosby High School in 1965 and then earned a Bachelor

of Science degree in Agriculture, majoring in Animal Science, from North

Dakota State University in 1970. While attending NDSU, he worked at the

NDSU sheep barns. Bob proudly served his country in the Army National

Guard from 1970, until his honorable discharge in 1976.

Bob was united in marriage to Diane Christianson on December 30, 1967, at

Concordia Lutheran Church. Bob and Diane lived in Fargo until 1970. In

1974, they built a house on the family farm where they raised their

three children, Brian, Brent and Brooke. In 1983, Bob began working for

FmHA as an Agricultural Management Specialist and later as a Contract Loan

Officer. Bob and his brother Ole also had a custom crop spraying

business from 1966-1986, which was started by their dad.

Bob had many interests throughout his life and was a lifelong learner.

Growing up he played hockey, was active in Boy Scouts, and FFA. He was a

great hockey enthusiast; instrumental in revitalizing the hockey program

in the 1970’s and was a dedicated supporter of building the new hockey

and curling arena. He coached hockey for his sons’ teams, refereed, and

took in countless grandkids’ games. Bob curled in the men’s league and mixed

league with Diane for many years. Bob was active in the community

serving as a board member for the Blue Line Club, Crosby Curling Club,

St. Luke’s Foundation, Concordia Lutheran Church Trust Committee, and

Crosby Country Club.

He started golfing in 1992 and was an avid golfer, enjoying men’s golf

nights and golfing with his kids and grandkids. Bob liked to hunt and

enjoyed his many trips to the Gallatin Valley in Montana and the

mountains in Colorado elk hunting with his sons and brother-in-law,

Stuart. Bob also enjoyed their numerous trips to the National Finals

Rodeo and winter trips to Arizona. Bob attended Wheelwright School in

Deer Lodge, MT in 2001 and a new hobby was born. He spent many hours

crafting wagon wheels and restoring buggies, wagons and cutters. He

enjoyed driving his horse Fred and riding horseback. Bob also loved

playing pinochle and teaching all his grandkids to play cards. He had a

wonderful memory and was the family historian.

Bob had truly made a success of his chosen life’s work of farming and

was so pleased that his son and grandsons are continuing down that path.

He liked to keep things simple and was neat and organized; his shop had

a place for everything and everything was in its place. He was ambitious

and extremely hard working with a “get ‘er done” attitude. He was a

great teacher of farming, driving, mechanics, golfing and life lessons.

Bob thoroughly enjoyed his family and was proud of each and every one of

them.

Grateful to have shared in his life were his wife Diane of 55 years; son

Brent (Lee) of Noonan, daughter Brooke (Ron) of Hettinger;

daughter-in-law Becky of Minot; grandchildren Breanna, Tucker, Ben,

Cooper, Coy, Jake and Kari; sisters Linda Bakewell, Lana Ferris, Vicki

(Don) Haugenoe, and Robin Pretzer; sisters-in-law Kris Svangstu and

LaDonna Harris; brother-in-law Champ Christianson; nieces and nephews

April Frieze, Kristin Underhill, Lynn, Alan, Lee and Mitch Svangstu,

Amber Haugenoe, Kara Vetter, Levi Haugenoe, Kjell and Troy Ferris,

Jennifer Hedstrand, Jade Andrie, Layne Harris, and Jon and Demerae

Christianson; cousins and many great nieces and nephews.

He is proceeded in death by his son Brian; parents Oscar and Maureen

Svangstu; brother Ole; father and mother-in-law Jim and Adeline

Christianson, and brothers-in-law Stuart Bakewell and Timm Pretzer.

Published by The Minot Daily News, May 26, 2023.