Robert G. Bright

Robert Gordon Bright, age 79, of North Mankato, Minnesota, died at Birchwood Cottages Memory Care September 16th, 2025 after a short but intense battle with Alzheimer’s Dementia.

A visitation will be from 10:00am to 12:00pm Saturday, October 4th at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. A celebration of life will be held from 1:00pm to 3:00pm Saturday, October 4th at Social House Mankato (509 S Front St., Mankato, MN). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the Alzheimer's Association or Saint Croix Hospice.

He was born on September 26th, 1945, in Montevideo, Minnesota to Gordon and Gloria (Schrapp) Bright. Bob graduated from Montevideo Highschool in 1963 and went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Mankato State University in 1968 where he later taught night school classes in Computer Science.

Bob was in the front row for the Information Revolution. From 1968 to 2013 he worked on mainframe computer systems and then their successors at Cargill, National Cash Register (NCR), Fingerhut, Ramy Seed, Honeymead, MICO, and finally retired from Navitor (Taylor Corp.) as an IT Project Manager.

Bob married high school sweetheart Bonnie Miller at the Congregational Church in Montevideo, on August 27th, 1966. Bob and Bonnie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016 with family and friends.

He was a long time member of Crossview Covenant Church (formally Evangelical Covenant Church). He enjoyed golfing, hunting, reading, fishing, cards, going to the lake, and spending time with friends and family. He was particularly involved in youth hockey, including the introduction of the very successful MAHA charitable gambling program. Bob never met a stranger. He would strike up a conversation with anyone and everyone, young, old, human or canine.

Bob is survived by his three children: Natalie (Brian) Hoppe of North Mankato, Minnesota; Nathan (Sophia) Bright of Saint Louis, Missouri; Andrew (Jeana) Bright of Delano, Minnesota; five grandchildren, Tyler and Brianna Hoppe, Vanik Bright, and Presley and Peyton Bright; brother and sister-in-law RIck and May Bright; sister Kim (Bright) Olsen; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie (2017), mother and father, Gordon and Gloria Bright; and brother-in-law, Bradley Olsen.