Mass of Christian Burial for Robert Kessler, age 72, of Eagle Butte will be at 10 AM MT, Monday, May 17, 2010 at the All Saints Catholic Church in Eagle Butte under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 6 PM with a Rosary at 7 PM at the church. Robert passed away Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Robert Bruce Kessler was born on April 19, 1938, to Eloise Melda LaPlante and Donald Kessler. Bob was raised by his Grandma Fannie & Grandpa Charlie LaPlante and had fond memories of his younger years at Pretty Creek, north of Red Scaffold. In 1945, he began attending rural school #2152-Johnson School, a short distance east of his grandparents' home. When he was nine years old, his mother married Casimir LeBeau and their family moved to the Old Agency.

At 17 years old, Bob decided to use the buddy system with Claire Ducheneaux to enlist in the U.S. Navy. Bob always laughed about how he and Claire had a plan to serve through it all together and as quick as boot camp was over the Navy separated them. He received an honorable discharge on August 1, 1963. Bob traveled a bit after his time in the Navy, but it did not take him to long to realize he wanted to return home and began doing the work he loved – ranching.

Ranching led Bob to John & Elsie Maupin's branding on Rudy Creek in the summer of 1961. Their daughter, Judy, was there that day and by the end of the year her and Bob were married. Bob & Judy tried a couple of different places out in ol' Armstrong County, but decided to make their home and raise their children, Todd, Mary Etta, John, and Fanny, where they first met on Rudy Creek. Bob & Judy started their ranch by buyin' in with his Uncle Vic and by the time they moved to Rudy Creek they had an established herd of their own. As a young couple they worked hard tending to the place to make it a successful operation. From the start, Bob began to acquire horses and built a herd that he was very proud of. He was a true horseman who had to use a 4-wheeler from time to time but much preferred for the ranch work to be done by the power of a horse.

The busy ranch life was made easier by the good neighbors they came to know and love. The Kessler Ranch was a welcoming place where Bob would whip up a good meal for anyone who'd stop by, make up a bunk for someone who needed it, and just when they got comfortable he'd crack a good joke on 'em. Bob had a knack and the patience to take in anyone who needed a home and over the years characters such as Joe Brown, Jim Dunn, Jill & Patty Knight, Pete Longbrake, Blaine, Judd, & Lakota Nordvold, and Martha Rae Garreau became permanent members of the family. Bob's favorite times were down on his ranch. In his later years, he was proud of the fact that his grandkids came along and he got to spend time with them down at the place tinkerin' on machines, ridin' horses, goin' fishing, loadin' 'em up on candy, showin' them his sense of humor, and teachin' them about ranch life.

After the ranch had been established, Bob ran for Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council and was elected to office from 1968-1978 under three different administrations. During his Council tenure the Tribe accomplished numerous initiatives including completion of the main water line from Cheyenne River to Eagle Butte along with building a 1200 mile rural water distribution system and a state-of-the-art water treatment system; completion of a modern underground telephone system; establishment of CRST Computer Division with centralized accounting, purchasing, and records systems; securing cigarette/sales tax agreements with the state; secured the return of sub-marginal lands from the United States to the CRST. In 1987, he decided to try his hat as a Ziebach County Commissioner and at the time of his passing he had served in that position for 23 years.

After the kids were raised, Bob & Judy began to spend more time enjoying each other's company. They made time for more hobbies which included card playin', traveling, horse races, and watchin' boxing. When the grandkids started comin' along, Bob & Judy started having more family gatherings where he always managed to get Judy riled up with his over use of garlic, his huge amounts of food, or his latest view on politics and society – it was all in good fun and Bob usually managed to get the last laugh on those days. Yet, his love for Judy was never more evident when she became ill, as Bob was her constant companion and even when she was bossy he tended to her every whim. Life proved not to be the same without Judy by his side and a short eleven months later Bobby joined Jude to begin their next journey.

Grateful to have shared in Bob's life are his step-father, Casimir LeBeau; children: Todd & Audrey Kessler of Rio Rancho, NM; Mary Etta Kessler of Long Beach, CA; John & Carmen Kessler; and Fanny & Jesse Brewer; 15 grandchildren: Jill, Amber, Derek, Kallee, Marshall, Jordan, Chris, Cole, Shantell, Bobby Dale, Jada Gail, Shari, Jaymie, Cindy, and Jade; 8 great-grandchildren: Lauryn & Damien, Jersie Rayne, Marshall, Matthew, Michelle, Moses, & Amy; sisters-in-law Etta Wharton of Pierre and Mary Sue (Doug) Collins of Long Beach, CA; numerous relatives and friends.

Greeting him in his next journey are his wife, Judy; his mother, Melda; his grandparents, Fannie & Charlie; grandsons Cesar Collins-Perez and Don'te Kessler-Parks; numerous friends including Jim Dunn, Judd Nordvold, Jill Knight, Mike Liboldt, Joe Brown, Bill Zorc, and Lisa (Ducheneaux) Farlee.