Robert Murch Dryden

Robert (Bob) Murch Dryden, age 91, died peacefully at home on January, 3, 2023 in Roseville, Minnesota. He was born at Lewistown, Montana on November 27, 1931. His family moved to a farmstead near Harlow, North Dakota to live for a time with his maternal grandparents and a year later to Brinsmade, North Dakota. He graduated from Leeds High School in Leeds, North Dakota.

After high school Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force completing basic training in San Antonio, TX and was then sent to radar electronics training in Biloxi, MS. He was stationed in Germany for four years where he attained the rank of Staff Sargent. On leave in 1953, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Alice Shambach who joined him for his final year in Germany. Bob received an honorable discharge in 1954 and next accepted employment with the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. He had a thirty-four year career with the phone company - beginning as a craftsman and advancing to the position of District Engineering Manager covering North Dakota and northern Minnesota. He was particularly proud of the many people who advanced within and through his organization.

Returning to the US from Germany, Bob and Mary started a family with the birth of sons Robert (Bob Jr) Bruce Dryden (1955) in Dickinson, ND and James (Jim) David Dryden (1957) in Bismarck, ND. Moving around the state for a number of years with Bob's job promotions, the family settled in Fargo, ND in 1969.

Bob enjoyed golf, hunting, fishing, and along with Mary - gardening and travel. While pursuing their challenging careers, Bob and Mary also owned and operated the Redtop Resort on Bad Medicine Lake for twenty-five years where they spent much of their free time.

In retirement, Bob and Mary traveled the southwest in an aluminum Avalon travel trailer across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona , and southern California - too many adventures to mention here. After years of nomadic life, they found their special place in Lakeside, CA (just above San Diego) with a home overlooking Lake Jennings. While in the San Diego area, they discovered friendship and community at Summit Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

Subsequent to years of adventure and life in "paradise," Bob and Mary returned to Minnesota to be closer to family in 2017.

Robert (Bob) Murch Dryden was a caring, loyal, thoughtful man. He will be remembered as a man of great integrity who always did his best to do the right thing.

Bob Dryden is preceded in death by his father, Bruce Holloway Dryden, and mother, Ruth Olga (Bennes) Dryden. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary Alice (Shambach) Dryden, brother, Jerry Bruce Dryden, sisters, Dorraine (husband Vic) Backstrom and Lorraine McCabe, sons, Robert (Bob Jr) Bruce Dryden (wife Julie Dryden) and James (Jim) David Dryden (husband Wayne Groff), and grand-daughter, Taylor Marie Dryden, and many nephews, nieces, grand-nephews, and grand-nieces.

Robert (Bob) Murch Dryden will be buried at Brinsmade Cemetery in Brinsmade North Dakota.