Robert "Bob" Marsden

Robert D. Marsden, better known as Bob or Santa to his family and friends, was born August 18, 1915, on his parents' ranch five miles southeast of Wasta, South Dakota.  He was the son of Clarence Gordon and Edith Belle (Starks) Marsden.

Bob grew up on the ranch, going to grade school at the Lincoln Rural School and graduating from Rapid city High School in 1934.  He graduated from Black Hills State Teachers College in 1940.  At Black Hills, Bob was instrumental in getting the four-year degree program reinstated, and the first bachelor's degrees were granted to 23 students in 1940.  Bob taught school for two years before joining the U.S. Army Air Force.  He served at several bases in the U.S. during World War II, serving his last 22 months in Goose Bay, Labrador.  After his discharge, he returned to the Wasta area, where he taught school and served as principal for one year.

In 1947, Bob began managing his parents' ranch.  On August 1, 1948, he married Herma Durst Pittman in Custer, South Dakota.  They continued to manage the ranch until his parents retired, when they purchased the ranch.  They operated the ranch until Bob retired in 1979 and resided on the ranch until 1989, when they moved into Wall.  After his retirement, Bob worked for Senator Larry Pressler.

Bob was a member of the Wall Methodist Church and he served as chairman of the Administrative Board for three years.  He held lifetime memberships in the Carroll MacDonald American Legion Post #246 of Wall, the F.J. Willuweit V.F.W. Post #9120 of Quinn, and the Sturgis D.A.V.  He was a member of each of these organizations for over 40 years.  He held all the local offices in the Legion and served as State Department Vice Commander.

He served as a school board member in rural schools for 16 years and in Wall for nine years.  He was a member of the Catalyst Club of Western South Dakota, SCORE, and the Wall Lions Club.  He was also active in Masons.  As a member of the Wall Crescent Lodge #210, he held all the local offices and served as District Master.  He was a member of York Rites and became a member of Consistory at the same time as his four sons.  He was a member of the Naja Temple Shrine, participating as a member of the Najacks Unit and serving one year as president.  He was also a member of the 4-Rivers Shrine Club, serving one year as president.  He was a member of Wonderland Chapter O.E.S. in Wall and later of Golden Links Chapter 168 in Rapid City.  He served as clerk of Wasta Township #2 from 1966 until 1989.

After moving to Wall, Bob played the role he most delighted in - that of Santa.  With his striking white beard, his red jumpsuits, and pockets full of toys, he could make a child's eyes light up.  He participated as Santa in Wall's annual Parade of Trees, at area nursing homes, and around Wall, passing out toys to kids at the Drug Store.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Herma, of Wall; three sons, Lloyd of Sheridan, Wyoming, Roy of Cambridge, Wisconsin, and Tom of Rapid City; one daguther, Janet Kyte of Arlington Heights, Illinois; eight grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Edward Alan as an infant, and Kenneth Charles "K.C."; his parents; and two sisters, Eunice Christine Marsden and Ruth Marsden Hanifin Sargent.

A memorial is established.

Services
Saturday, October 7, 2000
2:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church
Wall, South Dakota

Officiating
Pastor Gary Geiman

Music
Dorothy Shearer - Organist
Lucille Holsether - Vocalist

Ushers
Bill Leonard - Bernard Foster - Delbert Sebade

Active Pallbearers (All the Grandchildren)
Melanie Marsden - Joe Loetscher
Jenny Marsden - Jeremiah Marsden
Ken Marsden - Joseph Marsden
Robert Kyte - Allison Kyte
Valerie Simpson - David Simpson

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment with Military Honors
by the Carroll MacDonald American
Legion Post #246 of Wall & the F.J. Willuweit
VFW Post #9120 of Quinn
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota

Service Details

Services
Saturday, October 7, 2000
2:00 p.m.
United Methodist Church in Wall, SD