Robert Allen Bode
Robert (Bob) Allen Bode passed away July 3, 2014, at age 65, in Bellingham, Washington, where he had resided for several years. Bob was born August 31, 1948, to George Arthur and Eda Mae (Schmidt) Bode in Chamberlain, South Dakota. He graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1966 and served three (3) years in the United States Navy, most of it on board the USS Iwo Jima.
After his military service, he attended the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD, where he earned Bachelor and Master Degrees in Communications. While in college, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service and became a well-known mail carrier around town. Bob earned a Ph.D. in Speech Communication and Rhetoric from the University of Oregon, in Eugene, Oregon.
Bob’s career as an educator began at Valley City State College, Valley City, ND, followed by a time as a professor at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. He then held a full professorship at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA; teaching a variety of communications courses over the years.
In addition to his family Bob had a host of colleagues, friends, classmates, and former students who greatly enriched his life. He loved the northwest and the environment and offerings of Bellingham, WA. It truly fit the person he was. His way of making others laugh, his storytelling and love for friends and family give those that knew him many reasons to smile. Bob loved the freedom of riding his motorcycles; fast. He had an adventurous side to him, experiencing time in Alaska and the Arctic Circle, and driving a racecar at the Talladega Speedway.
Surviving him are his brothers Jerry (Janet) Bode of Oro Valley, AZ, Larry (Jennifer) Bode of Bozeman, MT, and Richard (Tracy) Bode of Rapid City, SD and one sister Dianne Bode Wegner of Custer, SD, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Bob was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Reiner Shaw, and his parents.
Inurnment will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery in the near future.
Correspondence may be sent to family members at P.O. Box 176, Custer, SD 57730.
Memories
From Linda Olson
Dear Diane and family members,
My sympathies are with you all. Bob was a dear friend and will be missed beyond words I can express. I loved him dearly and will cherish my memories.
Please let me know when the memorial service will be.
From Les Brown
During the two short years that I had the pleasure of knowing my friend and neighbor Bob Bode I gained a friendship that felt like true brotherhood, we connected in a very special way. I will miss my back yard buddy.
Les
From Dennis Caine
Dear Diane and family
We were so sorry to read of Bob's passing in the Grand Forks Herald this morning. My wife, Caroline and I were friends with Bob during our years living in Bellingham and working at Western Washington University (WWU). We also lived in Sudden Valley (SV) for several years and would get together for pizza at Tino's with Bob or meet for dinner at the Cafe Akrotari in downtown Bellingham. We enjoyed his great sense of humor and his stories about South Dakota. It's such a small world - I was also a graduate of University of Oregon and Caroline taught there as well during the 1980's, although we didn't meet Bob until we were working at WWU. Bob was a well-respected professor and friend and, I'm sure, will by truly missed by many. Please accept our deepest sympathy.
Dennis and Caroline Caine
Grand Forks, ND
From Diane Olson
Hands down, best professor I had at UND! May he rest in peace.
Diane Olson
East Grand Forks! MN
From Linda K. (Bode…
Our sympathy is extended to all of your family. Robert was a wonderful cousin growing up in South Dakota. I remember him from high school as a kind and fun loving person. He was happy, playful, respectful to others, and he had many friends. I would have loved to have taken his classes at Bellingham.
May God's love comfort you.
From Dianne Wegner
Dear Linda,
Bob's family and friends will gather on Sunday, September 14th between 1-4 p.m., at Cedar Shore Resort near Chamberlain, SD. It will be a casual gathering to celebrate Bob's life. Refreshments will be served, including Bob's favorite...chocolate. The following day, Monday, September 15th, Bob's ashes will be buried at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD at 10 a.m., It will be a 30 minute military honors ceremony. Peace to you. Dianne
From Kenneth L. Stubbe
My warmest regards and sympathy for Dr. Bode's family. Bob Bode was my primary adviser and professor at Valley City. He was also the best professor I every had. His easy humor, quick laugh, relaxed manner and funny stories made learning fun; but his classes were not an easy grade. He gently but firmly expected serious inquiry and study. I don't think he ever did give me an A for a class (I was a bit too relaxed then). I also remember him as the tall cool young professor with the big fuzzy hair who often rode his chopper to school (in his suit). As fellow veterans, we would occasionally laugh over war stories.
From kr
Diane & Bode family, I hope you all honored Bob's birthday on Sunday with a large chocolate treat. I did and I'm sure he loved it too! I plan to attend the service in Chamberlain but need the weather to cooperate so I can get wheat harvest done. Still think of Bob daily, wipe a few tears away, then smile with all the wonderful memories & laughs we shared. I hope your healing is going well too. God bless him and the memories!
From James Crawford
My deepest sympathy and condolences to Dr. Robert Bode's family. I worked with Bob at VCSU and we often had lunch together. We shared stories about students, colleagues and the world in general. He loved teaching and, if memory serves me correctly, he dared to advised a group on campus first know as the Lonely Hearts Club (later called Older Than Average or Other Than Average) consisting of other than traditional college age single women. I am happy he continued teaching and telling stories.
From Lindsay & Mart…
Dear Bob's Family,
We had the pleasure of knowing Bob since he moved to Valley Crest Way, Sudden Valley quite a few years ago now. Bob was a beautiful kind man inside and out and a most friendly neighbor that we were all glad to have. Bob's kind smile and his spontaneous wave will be sorely missed. RIP Bob. We send our condolences to your family.
Love and peace from The Spencer Family at # 54
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From Charlotte
Dear Bob's Family,
I am so sorry and sad to just read of Bob's/Bode's passing. He was a dear, dear friend, a wonderful mentor, and one that I will never forget. I genuinely wish I had seen him before he passed away. I feel privileged to have gotten to know him. My best to your entire family. Charlotte (the Dane).
From Karin
My condolences to the family of Dr. Bode. He was the most exceptional professor I had at UND. His classes were full of lively debate and engaging discussions. I'm so sorry for your loss.
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From Dan Wildeson
Dear Bob's Family,
I am writing this on April 25, 2019. I was a classmate of Bob's in our doctoral program at the University of Oregon. His perpetual kindness, sense of humor, and deep valuing of human life was both inspiration and encouragement to me. I was in DC yesterday (4/24/18). The light rain and blossoms made me think of the Washington at the other end of our continent, which got me musing about the Pacific Northwest. And when I think of that, I think of Bob. One of my most vivid memories of the beauty of the Pacific NW, was on an incredible day my family and I had pancakes with Bob near Bellingham--I can't remember the year, possibly early 2000s. But he was so interested, compassionate, and supportive of us, and our diffiicult landing in Minnesota. That was my enduring and lasting impreession of Bob that began in grad school and continued long after. It was intrinsic to his character to care. I could say a lot more about conditions, circumstances, etc. that would contextualize the significance of his choices, his mode of being. But they would distract from a focus on him. I don't know what else to say: I miss him.
Dan
From Brooke (Benson…
Dr Bode was one of my favorite professors at Western. He had so many great words of wisdom that 18 years later I still use them! Today i found myself quoting him to one of my employees and I decided to google Dr Bode or see if I could find him on Facebook. That’s when i discovered that he had passed away. I’m sorry that I never expressed to him the impact he made on me. I hope his family will take comfort in knowing that his words are still alive out there in the world.
From Dana Paolino
Rest In Peace...my dear friend.
From Doug P
I still remember Bob's Interpersonal Conflict Resolution course, and some of the stories he told. He seemed to have a "big heart" and a deep care for others. Thank you Bob for changing my perspective on what it means to design spaces and environments for non-violence.
From Adrienne Bode
My uncle truly had the biggest heart. My dad being his littlest brother, he was protective and endlessly supportive of my dad and my brother and I. I chatted about him today with my therapist and it got me thinking of how much I miss him - I wish I knew him better and got to spend more time in my adult life with him.
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