Funeral services for Robert "Bob" Schlinkert age 93 of Mobridge will be 11:00 AM Monday, March 7, 2016 at Zion Ev. Lutheran Church in Mobridge. Burial will be in the Norway Lutheran Cemetery rural Glenham, under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be Monday from 9:00 AM until service time at the church. Military honors provided by American Legion Post #4 of Mobridge. Bob passed away Monday, February 29, 2016 at Mobridge Regional Hospital. In lieu of flowers memorial may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church, or the Great Plains Lutheran High School, 1200 Luther Lane NE, Watertown, SD 57201

Farmer. Printer. Preacher. Teacher. With these words a newspaper publisher friend summed up Bob Schlinkert's life in a letter to the editor of his paper following Bob's resignation from the Bowdle School System. Bob was all of these and more during his life time.

Robert (Bob) Schlinkert, the son of Elsie (Lee) Schlinkert and step-father Frederick Schlinkert was born in Minneapolis, MN, on 1 October 1922. He was baptized into the Christian faith on 28 October 1922. He confirmed his Baptismal Covenant on 13 June 1937, at the First English Lutheran Church, Little Falls, MN. He grew up on farms and attended rural schools around Little Falls, MN, graduating from Little Falls, MN, high school on 29 May 1941. During his high school days, he worked in a print shop as a printer's apprentice learning the printing trade.

Upon graduation from high school, Bob enrolled at Luther College, Decorah, IA, where he met the young lady who was destined to be his wife.

His college career was interrupted when he enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in October 1942. He was called into active service in March 1943, the day after the family had received word from the military that his brother was missing in action in the North African campaign. His brother was later reported to be a Prisoner of War in Germany. Bob spent his basic training at Fort Leonard-Wood, MO. He joined the 120th Combat Engineer Bt., a unit of the 45th (Thunderbird) Inf. Div., in Venafro, Italy, on 1 December 1943. Bob was involved, with his Division, in the invasion of the Anzio Beachhead, Italy, in January 1944. In August 1944 he was in on the southern France invasion and served with the 45th Inf. Division to the end of the European conflict in May 1945. He was discharged from the Army in November 1945.

January 1946 found bob back in Luther College to continue his education. Robert Schlinkert and Arlene Schmidt, Lewiston, MN, were married in Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN, on 25 May 1946. Six children were born to that union. He graduated from Luther College on 2 June 1947. September 1947 found Bob a student at Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He spent the third year of his Seminary education as a vicer at Sherwood Lutheran Church, Sherwood, ND. Bob graduated from Luther Theological Seminary in May 1951. He was ordained into the Sacred ministry 22 July 1951, a pastor in the Norwegian Lutheran Church in America at the First English Lutheran Church, Little Falls, MN.

The first parish Bob served was a two-point parish: Bethel Lutheran Church at Rogers, ND, and Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Dazey, ND. His second parish was a three-point parish: Woodworth Lutheran Church, Woodworth, ND, Pingree Lutheran Church, Pingree, ND, and Pettibone Lutheran Church, Pettibone, ND. On New Year's Day, 1958, the family moved to rural Selby, SD, to serve Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Selby, SD, and Norway Lutheran Church, rural Glenham, SD.

While serving the Bethany-Norway parish, Bob began teaching in the South Dakota public school system. He resigned from the parish at the end of August 1970. He taught at Selby 1966-1968, Bowdle 1968-1971, Gregory 1971-1976, Wakpala 1976-1979, and Pollock 1979-1980. Bob received his MS Ed from Northern State College on 13 August 1971.

On his return to the Mobridge area in 1976, Bob entered private business with the opening of the Wheel-In-Cycle Shop. In 1978 he added the Walco Security Services which he operated until July 2007.

Bob was the pulpit supply pastor at Christ Lutheran Church, Lebanon, SD, during a vacancy from October 1979 through August 1980. He returned to serve Bethany Lutheran Church, rural Selby, on a part time basis from March 1980 through March 1991. On resigning from Bethany Lutheran Church, Bob became a member of Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, Mobridge, SD, and became a member of the Dakota-Montana District pastoral roster of the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod and served as pulpin supply pastor in the district for a number of years. Due to eye and health problems, Bob fully retired in 2007

Bob is survived by one son, David Schlinkert of Rapid City, SD; five daughters: Eunice, Mrs. William Hanson of Oceanside, CA., Junia, Mrs. Doug Meyer of Willow Lake, SD, Marcia, Mrs. Kim Kempton of Rosholt, SD, Naomi, Mrs. Roy Deegan of Austin, TX, Paula, Mrs. Eugene Holzer of Mobridge; two sister in laws: Gladys, Mrs. Eldon Steuernagel of Inner Grove Heights, MN, and Sheila, Mrs. Kenneth Mueller of Lewiston, MN, 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 6 step great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his wife Arlene in 2008, his parents, his brother & wife Eugene & Loraine Lee, nephew Dennis Lee, Ken Mueller & great grandson Levi Kempton.