Robert “Bob” F. Hartford July 3rd, 1936 – January 19th, 2020

Robert “Bob” Hartford was born July 3rd, 1936 to Alta and Victor Hartford in rural Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska. He enjoyed all of the benefits and trials of growing up on a family farm around the time of the Great Depression. He attended country school until high school, where he graduated from Cedar Bluffs High School in 1953. It was in high school that Bob developed his love for the game of football, especially the Nebraska Huskers. After high school, he attended Midland College on a football scholarship. Shortly after arriving he realized that the college wasn’t for him, and he enlisted in the United States Air Force.

While stationed in Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, Bob met the love of his life Wilma. On June 15th, 1957 they were married in Charleston. They welcomed their only child, daughter Lori, in 1961. The three of them spent many years traveling the globe and especially enjoyed their times in Japan and Hawaii. Bob retired from the Air Force in 1980 as a Chief Master Sargent and shortly after became the general manager of the Fremont Golf Club in Fremont, Nebraska. He spent 19 fun filled and eventful years in that position, and may have even worked a little between the red beers and card games. Bob and Wilma moved to Rapid City, South Dakota in the spring of 1998 to be closer to Lori and her family.

He passed away on January 19th, 2020 surrounded by his loving family.

He is survived by his daughter Lori (John) Schaefbauer of Rapid City, his grandchildren Bobbi and AJ (Ali) Schaefbauer of Rapid City, sister in law Minnie Harford of Fremont, Nebraska, brother Kent (Carroll) Hartford of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska and their family, brother Keith Hartford of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska and his family. He is also survived by his dear friends Kathy (Kent) Adams, Jennifer (Mike) Grefe, Jaime (Mark) Long and their son Zhane, and partners in crime, Nick and Mike.

He was preceded in death by his wife Wilma, parents Alta and Victor, brother Gene, and sister in law Julie.