Robert "Bob" Clarke Ross

Robert Clarke Ross, 85, of Marietta, MN passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2015 at Sanford Health Palliative Care in Fargo, ND. Bob was born on May 30, 1930 to Clement Clarke Ross and Helen (Luders) Ross in Marietta.

Bob attended grade school at Marietta and graduated from Marietta High School in 1948. He was a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marietta. He was united in marriage to Ruth Schmidt in 1949. To this union, three children were born, Jeffrey Clarke, Jeanne Ruth, and Dan Adrian.

Bob inherited the love of horses from his father, who owned a race horse, competing at horse races. As a child, Bob was the envy of other kids in town, because he had a Shetland pony. Horses continued to be a part of his life. He belonged to the Tri-State Horsemen’s Association. He traveled to horse shows, showing his American Saddle Bred horse in parade class. This was a family endeavor with his children also competing in events.

Bob farmed until 1974, when he moved in to Marietta where he managed the Marietta Legion Club for 12 years.

These last years, Bob rented his land to nephews, Mark and Darin Schmidt. He enjoyed making them crockpot meals when they worked in the field, and riding along to the sale barn when they sold their cattle.

The highlight of his summer was when his great-granddaughter. Jayla came from Colorado. She loved to ride around Marietta in “Papa Bob’s” red pickup as he told stories about the town, ending the ride with a stop at Bruce’s gas station.

Bob leaves to mourn his wife, Ruth; children, Jeff (Judy) Ross; Jeanne Sorensen; Dan (Teresa) Ross; grandchildren, Justin Ross, Erika (Jack) Whitmore, Colby (Amy) Sorensen, Ross (Jill) Sorensen, Shawna Femrite, and Tawnya Barsness; great-grandchildren, Jack, Chase, Cain, and Cash Whitmore; Jayla and Dax Sorensen; Brenden and Ali Femrite; and Brody Barsness.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Virginia Thompson, Harriet Bratager, and brother, Roger Ross.