Robert Eugene Monson

NOTICE: Rock Rapids, Iowa Robert Bob Monson, age 76 of Rock Rapids, IA died suddenly this Friday, Oct. 12, 2007 at his home in Rock Rapids. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, Oct. 16th at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, with Rev. Robert Chapman officiating. Burial will be at 3:00 PM, Tuesday at the Armstrong Grove Cemetery in Armstrong, IA. Visitation will be Monday, Oct. 15th from 2 " 8 PM, with the family present from 6 " 8 PM at the Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Robert Bob" Eugene Monson was born on June 9, 1931, the son of Bergie and Selma (Nelson) Monson on the family farm near Ringsted, IA. He grew up in Halfa, IA and graduated from the Armstrong High School in 1948. On September 27, 1952, Bob was united in marriage to Verdell Cassem at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong, IA. Also in 1952, he was drafted into the Army where he served two years being honorably discharged in 1954. Bob farmed for awhile and then moved to Rock Rapids where he was an insurance agent for Farmers Bureau for a number of years. After retiring and until now, Bob worked as a parking valet at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Bobs church life was very important to him. As a member of the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Armstrong he served on the board when the new church was being built. He had also been very active in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, where he served as a member of the choir and the worship committee. Bob also served on the board at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, MN for six years. Bobs joy was music, where he shared his talent as a member of the Barber Shop Quartet and the Barber Shop Choir for thirteen years. He enjoyed spending time at the lake, going to his grandchildrens activities and especially being around his family and friends. Bob is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Verdell Monson of Rock Rapids; three children: Kristy (husband Paul) Henriksen of Pipestone, MN, Kyle Monson of Rock Rapids and Kirk (wife Sheila) Monson of Urbana, IA; six grandchildren: Jess, Erik and Berit Henriksen and Rachel, Kaia and Sydney Monson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Betty Petersen and Ema Jean Monson; one brother, Bruce Monson and one grandson, Karl Arthur Henriksen.