Robert "Bob" Even

Robert Even, age 98, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at his home near Elkton, South Dakota. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Elkton, SD. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, SD.
Robert James Even was born on May 6, 1926, at Tyler, Minnesota, to Harry and Anna Wiese Even. His family moved to the Elkton area where they farmed for many years. Bob attended country schools and graduated from Brookings High School in 1944.
Bob entered the United States Army in November of 1944 at Fort Snelling and completed his basic training at Little Rock, Arkansas. In May of 1945, Bob joined a large group of soldiers headed on a ship to Germany. As that ship was en route, the news came that Hitler had surrendered, but the work of the Allied Forces was not yet done. Since Bob had taken typing in high school, he became the staff clerk, and as a 19-year-old, was elevated to the status of Staff Sgt, being the youngest soldier to attain that rank. He then became the right-hand man to Major General E. P. Parker, Jr., and supervised the processing of records and discharge for thousands of soldiers being sent back home. Bob was very proud of his time in service and received several commendation medals. In fact, he often reminded his family that the choices we make in life have far-reaching consequences because his simple choice to take high school typing had gotten him a good, safe position during the war. He was honorably discharged in July 1946.
Bob accepted Christ as his personal Savior during his teens at evangelistic meetings at First Baptist Church in Lake Benton. He went on to serve faithfully in many capacities throughout his life, one of those being long-term as church treasurer.
Bob married Gloria Clipper on March 18, 1947, at Lake Benton, Minnesota. To this union were born three children: Linda Lee, Peggy Ann, and Ricky Robert. As the family grew through the years, Bob gratefully accepted the new labels of father-in-law, grandpa, and great-grandpa. Bob was thrilled to be able to celebrate 70 years of marriage to Gloria in March of 2017.
Bob and Gloria did so many things together that it could be difficult at times to determine where one began and the other one ended. Bob was the 3rd generation to farm the property and was always very proud to do so. He was always a progressive farmer, raising purebred hogs and showing them all over the country and frequently adding new methods, machinery, and facilities to make his operation continually successful, and networking with hundreds of friends and fellow farmers by selling seed corn. Bob credited Gloria with being right beside him in every aspect of work, life, and fun. Bob served on the ITC board for many years and shared in the lives of others through the ministry of hospitality that Gloria had a special gift for. He was always known as a man of godly wisdom and great integrity.
Bob delighted in telling anyone who would listen the story of his romance with Gloria. When she graduated to Heaven in 2017, he wasn't sure that his life would go on, but his strength of character and the care of his family has kept him in his home and doing well for these years. He surely missed that dear lady who was part and parcel of his everyday life. Bob's love for Gloria was only eclipsed by his love for his Savior, and he is now enjoying the company of both.
Continuing to celebrate Bob's life on earth is Bob's family: daughter Peg Jordan, son Rick (Anna) Even, son-in-law George (Jodi) Montgomery; grandchildren Jill (Wes) Pratt, Scott (Julia) Montgomery, Stacy Zupan, Shawna Bergman, Jeremy (Esther) Even, Jennifer (David) Cotten; great-grandchildren Hayden (Alex) Pratt, KayLee Pratt, Cole and Jade Montgomery, Anthony, Madalyn, and Morgan Even, and Brady Cotten; and countless extended family members and dear friends.
Welcoming Bob into Heaven are his parents, his daughter Linda Montgomery, son-in-law Nathan Jordan, brothers Don and Ken Even, and sister Marge Hendrickson, and of course, Gloria, his wife of 70 years.
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