Robert LeRoy Merchant

Robert LeRoy Merchant After a courageous battle with multiple myeloma, Robert "Bob" Merchant, 88, died in the early morning hours of June 9, 2016 with family by his side. Born November 10, 1927 in Wahpeton, North Dakota to parents Besse Pease Merchant and Roy Milton Merchant, he grew up and graduated high school there. He attended ND State School (now College) of Science in Wahpeton until he turned 18 and then enlisted in the Army duringWorld War II. After his honorable discharge he attended the University of North Dakota where he met his future wife, Constance "Connie" Alander. They were married on November 13, 1949 in Warren, Minnesota. Their daughter Cathy was born in 1950 while they lived in Grand Forks when Bob was working for J.C. Penney Company in the Management Training Program while attending school. They later moved to Marquette, Michigan where son Rick was born in 1954. Bob then accepted a job offer to help manage the J.M. McDonald Company department store in Bozeman, Montana and a year later transferred as a store manager to Lewistown, Montana where their sons Christopher (1963) and Corey (1965) were born. They later moved to Miles City, Mt., Colorado and Kansas where Bob had the opportunity to manage larger department stores in malls. In 1982 Bob returned to Montana to manage the C.R. Anthony Company department store in Great Falls. While in Great Falls, Connie passed away from lung cancer on October 28, 1988. For many years Bob worked in the retail sector, managing department stores and winning numerous awards for his hard work and creative innovations for selling, marketing and providing exceptional customer service. He was voted Mall Merchant of the Year while in Kansas, and had a personal record of 26 consecutive years of producing net profit as a store manager. He belonged to numerous organizations and Chambers of Commerce. He served on numerous boards of directors, held officer positions, and was a deputy district governor while a member of the Lions Club. He was the treasurer of the Fergus County Republican Central Committee and a delegate to state Republican conventions. He helped organize many sporting events throughout the years, and helped secure tournaments. When living in Miles City, he was co-chairman of the committee which brought Montana's first state girls basketball all class championship tournament to Miles City. He was a member of the Methodist Church and served on many boards and committees in the church wherever he lived. At his 45th Wahpeton High School class reunion Bob got reacquainted with a former classmate, Loretta "Birdie" Novetzke Hatlie, and they married on July 5, 1991 in Mound, Minnesota. With this marriage, Bob gained four more sons – Martin, Norton, Phil and Peter. They lived in Mound on Lake Minnetonka and Bob worked as a night auditor for The Marsh, an exclusive health club and spa. Bob and Birdie had many friends and were active in their retirement years. Birdie passed away from cancer on August 1, 2010. In the spring of 2011 Bob bought a condo in Leisure World retirement community in Seal Beach, CA to be closer to family and resided there until his passing at the VA Long Beach Healthcare Center. he family extends its heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff of the VA Long Beach Medical Center for the phenomenal care given to our Dad. Bob was preceeded in death by his parents, his brother Carroll M. Merchant, his sisters Mary Jo Olbrich and Betty L. Ahnger, his son, Rick, and his wives Connie and Birdie. He is survived by his daughter Cathy Shenkle and son-in- law Doug, and their children Robert Shenkle (Hillary) and their children Madelyn and Wyatt, and Angela Kirkland (Trever) and their son Derrick; son Christopher Merchant and daughter-in- law Terri, and their children Rick and Mikayla; and son Corey Merchant and daughter-in- law Teresa, and their children Connor, Katherine and Jessica; his daughter-in- law (son Rick's wife at the time of his death) Hania (Lysecki) Apkin (Joe) and their children Sarah and Alex; and his step-sons Martin Hatlie(Chuck); Norton Hatlie(Kathy) and their children Ann and Katie; Phil Hatlie (Sue Allers) and their children Jesse and Jacob; and Peter Hatlie (Barbara Roggema) and their children Iola and Rosa. Dad aka Grandpa Bob aka Grandpa Merch was a man of faith and family. He had a strong work ethic which he passed down to all of his children. He was a man of integrity and character, well respected and loved, and was so very proud of all his family. He was a sports enthusiast, a proud member of the UND Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks, and loved his Broncos. At the time of his death, Bob was an active member of the Leisure World Community Church. A memorial service will be held at the Leisure World Community Church, 1400 Church Place, Seal Beach, CA 90740 on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at 10:00 AM. He will be buried next to his first wife, Connie, in Great Falls, Montana on August 26th with a small service and military honor guard. Memorials may be given to FCOPI.org; The American Legion (www.legion.org); the Community Church Leisure World, 14000 Church Place, Seal Beach, CA 90740; to Bethel United Methodist Church, 2116 Commerce Blvd, Mound, MN 55364; or to a charity of the donor's choice.