Robert John "Bob" Chihak, 89, Sturgis, died, Friday, March 31, 2017, at the Ft. Meade VA Medical Center.

Bob was born May 27, 1927, in Rapid City, SD, to John and Rozella (Pipal) Chihak. He was the youngest of three children; sister, Lynetta, and brother, Wally, a naval pilot. By the time he was 3, he had a fishing pole in his hand and from then on fishing became his number one passion in life. Due to his father and mother working, he was left in the hands of his big sister who would leave him at age 3 under the apple tree when the farmer came running after the children who were stealing apples. He said he never knew if he really made it home or not.

Bob grew up on Omaha Street when there were dirt roads and hobos. He often said they would have to watch the chickens so that the hobos would not run off with any. He talked often of Coney Island right across the road from their place. While in school at RC Central, he along with many classmates was drafted into the service in August 1945. Bob spent 3 years in the US Army, much of it as a medic and would tell how he took the train with the others to boot camp. These boys came home and graduated with his future bride's class on May 26, 1949.

He married Betty Evans June 24, 1951. To this union were born 5 children; Debbie (Bob) Looby, Judy (Ken) Miller, Karla (Sean Makepeace) McDonald, Bobby (Becky) and Paula (Don Bertalot) Basker; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren round up the family tree. Betty remained his loving wife for 65 years.

Many times Bob would talk about walking the dirt road from Sturgis to Deadwood. In his younger years, he worked as a taxi driver, a Western Union delivery boy, a metal shop worker and many other jobs. He worked hard. Bob found his most favorable employment at the Gamble's Store in Rapid City, where he worked in various departments including sporting goods. He was offered to come to Sturgis and run the store there of which he eventually purchased. Bob was a proud store owner when Main Street was Main Street, customers came first, and there was no 9 to 5. This store caved in during the May blizzard of 1983 and he and Betty went on to purchase the Gamble's store in Belle Fourche.

Bob served as an Elder in the Rapid City First Presbyterian Church. In 1995, he was presented a certificate by the VA Medical Center Director of Ft. Meade for 6,067 hours and 15 years of volunteer service to veterans. In August of 1968, he and Betty purchased their cabin on Camp 5 road. He grew to love this place and there he and his dog, George, would find their solitude. Bob was both an Honor Guard member which made him very proud, and the Commander of the Sturgis American Legion for many years.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Deanna Lynn O'Connor; son-in-law, John McDonald; his siblings; and his parents.

Visitation will be Tuesday, April 4, 2017, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 5, 2017, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis. Burial with military honors will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard.