Robert Walnofer

Funeral services for Robert Walnofer, 95, of O'Neill, will be Monday, Nov. 27, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ewing with Father John Norman officiating. Burial will be in St. Patrick's Cemetery, rural Clearwater. Visitation will be Sunday, Nov. 26, from 2 to 4 p.m., at St. Peter's Catholic Church, with a 4 p.m., wake service.

Robert died Nov. 22, 2023, at Avera St. Anthony Hospital in O'Neill.

Arrangements are under the direction of Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater. Condolences may be directed to the family at http://www.snidermemorialfh.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.

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Robert (Bob) Francis Walnofer was born Feb. 8, 1928, at home, near Emmet, to Alvin and Laura (Steskal) Walnofer. The family moved to Newman Grove, then north of Orchard. He attended school through eighth grade and afterwards, chose to stay home to work with his dad. One of his favorite stories to tell was describing how much corn he could pick by hand in one day.

Bob married Bernadine Thramer on Nov. 26, 1949, at St. John's Catholic Church south of Ewing. To this union, 11 children were born during nearly 70 years of marriage.

Bob and Bernadine made their home on a farm northeast of Ewing for 33 years. In 1982, they moved to the ranch near Chambers. Several years later, they moved into Chambers. Their final move was in 2000 to a newly-built home in O'Neill. Later in life, the couple enjoyed spending winters in Florence, Arizona. They were members of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Ewing and St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill.

Bob grew up farming and continued after marriage. He raised corn, soybeans and hay, along with using pipe irrigation. Also, raised livestock and milked cows throughout the years. He did custom farm work for neighbors in the area and worked at the Ewing and O'Neill sale barns. He left farming to become a rancher and loved that lifestyle.

Bob was an inspiration for the building of the Country Lane Retirement Village in O'Neill. His generous donation helped that vision come to fruition. He entered County Lane in 2019 as a resident in an independent cottage, then moved to assistant living and finally, to the memory care unit. During those years, he enjoyed going for car rides with his kids around the countryside. When passing farmsteads, he had the sharpest memory of knowing who lived there or who previously owned the land. Bob was also a dedicated caregiver for Bernadine at home when she developed Alzheimer's. Later, she resided at the Atkinson Nursing Home and Country Lane for almost eight years. He was a consistent visitor by her side to ensure her well-being.

Bob is survived by his children: Terry (Debbie) Walnofer of Charleston, Arkansas, Carmen (Bill) Richmond of Grant, Tom Walnofer of Ewing, Steve (Rae) Walnofer of Jasper, Missouri, Nancy (Vince) Price of Lincoln, Kathy (Gregg) Bartak of Ewing, Jill (Randy) Switzer of Ewing, Ted (Karla) Walnofer of Tea, South Dakota, Al (Brenda) Walnofer of Chambers, Rod (Kelly) Walnofer of Van Alstyne, Texas; son-in-law Mark (Connie) Anderson of Miami, Oklahoma; 32 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; siblings: Marilyn (Emil) Cattau of Norfolk, Jim (Barbara) Walnofer of Orchard, Vernon (Janet) Walnofer of San Bernardino, California; and sister-in-law Yvonne Thramer of Ewing.

He was preceded by death by wife Bernadine in 2019; daughter, Paulette Anderson in 2021, and sisters and their spouses, Viola (Ferdy) Hupp and Joan (Mark) Thramer.