Robert Struksnes

Minot

Robert M. Struksnes, 85, Minot, ND, passed away Friday, January 2, 2026, in his home, with his family at his side.

Robert Milan Struksnes was born October 6, 1940, the son of Christ and Rosemary (Breitner) Struksnes, in Minneapolis, MN. He was raised and educated in the Valley City area until his family moved to Minot in 1947. Bob graduated from Minot High School in 1959. He furthered his education by attending the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND.

Bob met Joy Kolberg in the first grade because they lived across the alley from one another. On December 10, 1960, Bob and Joy were united in marriage. They made their home in Minot, where Bob was working for Struksnes Construction Company. In 1964, Bob became the owner of Truck & Equipment Sales and Service in Minot. He owned and operated this business for over 61 years with Joy working alongside him. His son Christ joined and worked alongside his dad his entire life. In addition to being business owners, the couple also raised their four children, Sonja, Heidi, Christ, and Amber.

Bob was always interested in building fast cars. He raced multiple classes of cars for NHRA. Joy convinced him to run a top fuel dragster. Joy would take the car, kids, and yorkies to the next race and Bob would fly. His racing career involved divisional championships and finishing 3rd and 4th in the nation. He had multiple interests that involved scuba diving with Amber and Christ, summers were spent on his yacht on Lake Sakakawea with his family always around him. Bob and Joy bought land on Lake Sakakawea and started building their dream retirement home with all their kids helping every weekend. Family was important to Bob; many Christmases were spent skiing at Winter Park Colorado with condos rented for everyone. His last ski trip was at age 65 and he even skied downhill. If the family wanted to see him, they always knew they could find him at the shop when he wasn’t working at the lake. In 2018, he was inducted into the NHRA Hall of Fame, and in 2024, he was one of the first drivers inducted in the North Dakota Motor Sports Hall of Fame.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church, Minot.

His loving family includes: wife of 65 years, Joy; daughters, Sonja (Kevin) Struksnes Weber, Heidi (Phillip) Broderson, and Amber Struksnes; grandchildren, Miranda Struksnes, Ashlee (Landon) Possen, Kaylee Jaensch, MacKenzie Broderson, Casey (Teirney) Jaensch, Nathaniel Ferm, Brandon Broderson, and Kolby Ferm; great-grandchildren, Shaylee, Makayla, and Jayce VanWinkle and Riker, Braylee, and Kinlee Possen; great-great-grandchild, Brinlee; sister, Mary (Rodger) Zurcher;and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Christ; grandson, Chad VanWinkle; siblings, Kathleen Brockey, and Harold Struksnes.

Funeral Service Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10:30 am at First Lutheran Church, Minot.

Interment: First Lutheran Church Cemetery, Minot at a later date Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 4 until 6 pm at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given in Bob’s memory to the Souris Valley Humane Society.

The service will be livestreamed for the public to view and can be accessed by going to the First Lutheran Church website: www.firstlutheran.tv

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Published by The Minot Daily News, January 7, 2026.