Robert Dean Samuelson

DECLO – Robert Dean Samuelson (Bob), 94, of Declo, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at Countryside Care and Rehabilitation Center in Rupert.

Bob was born April 27, 1918, in Holdrege, Nebraska. His parents were Swedish immigrants who farmed first in Nebraska, and then moved the family to Colorado in 1929 during the dark days of the depression.

Bob learned to work hard at a very young age and to always put family first. He lost his father in 1941, and became the sole supporter of his mother and two of his three sisters. After the war, they sold the farm and moved into town. There, Bob tried mining, construction, and ranch help before settling on the trade of mechanic.

At a dance in Estes Park, Colorado, Bob met Helen Perdue. They married on New Year’s Eve 1948 during a record-breaking snow storm. Bob and Helen were married for 64 years before Helen’s passing in March of 2012.

In 1953, Bob responded to an ad in a Denver paper for a diesel mechanic in Burley, Idaho. He packed up his family, which now included two children, Vicky and Bobby, and went to work for the Chisholm brothers – a job he kept for the next 17 years. When not fixing farm machinery, Bob was building a small herd of beef cattle and looking to move to the country. In 1970 the family, which now included Larry and Cindy, purchased a farm north of Declo. Soon they were running a small dairy and Bob was able to be an independent mechanic.

After retiring in 1982, Bob and Helen were able to spend time traveling. They were very active in the Burley chapter of the Good Sam and the Burley United Methodist Church. Bob loved horses and continued to ride well into his seventies. He participated in several trail rides traveling as far as Arco, on his beloved horse, Nicky. Bob took his first golf lesson at 75, was still hunting in his 80’s, and learned to sing at 93.

Bob is survived by his son, Larry Samuelson (Cindy) of Declo; daughters, Vicky Estridge of Twin Falls, and Cindy Povlsen (John) of Heyburn; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandsons. In addition to his wife, Helen, he was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters; one brother; and two sons, Danny and Bobby.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at the Burley United Methodist Church, 450 E. 27th St., in Burley, where friends and family may call one hour prior to the service. Officiating will be the Rev. Kathy Abend. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery under the direction of the Rasmussen Funeral Home of Burley.