Robert Harper

1932 - 2023

Robert J Harper was born January 27, 1932 in Blackfoot, Idaho, 1st child of Marvin and Opal Harper. He grew up and went to school in Blackfoot, ID. In high school, he ran track and played baseball, basketball and football and participated in drama. He still holds the record for the 220-yard dash in Idaho. He played football and ran track at Brigham Young University. Bob shared his love of sports with many of his grandchildren.

Bob married Kay Goodwin on August 2, 1952. He joined the army in 1953 till 1955, stationed in California and then Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. After the army, they returned to Blackfoot and worked and raised a family. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colorado. After returning home he worked at the atomic energy site at Arco and then started working in the trucking industry, starting as a driver and eventually running trucks of his own and working in management, which he did mostly the rest of his working career. He and a cousin built a race car in 1967 and he raced that in Idaho, Utah, Montana and Canada for several years, even at one point managing a racetrack in Blackfoot. His other hobbies were motorcycles and airplanes. He and Kay spent many years and many miles on road trips with their motorcycle club the 'Retreads', and he loved to fly the airplane he bought.

He is survived by wife Kay Goodwin Harper of Kamiah, ID, Daughter Gail Anderson of Las Vegas, NV, Son Brady (Shari) Harper of Spokane, WA and daughter Carol (Mark) Sizemore of Kamiah, ID. Also, sister Bernice Palmer of Bremerton, WA, Kathy Wood of Salt Lake City, UT and brother Walt Harper of San Tan Valley, AZ. Also 7 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by parents Marvin and Opal Harper, sister Carol Pendlebury, brother Jack Harper, brother Sam Harper and grand-daughter Crystal Gail Cronquist.

A visitation will be held Friday, September 22, 2023 from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Grangeville Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Dedication of the Grave will follow at Prairie View Cemetery, Grangeville. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com. (A recording of the service will be available on website also.)