Robert Eugene Van Fleet, 83, died Sept. 15, 2016 peacefully at his home in Rapid City, SD, after battling liver cancer for four years.

Bob was born in Des Moines on Jan. 17, 1933. He was the oldest of four children born to Katherine and Harold Van Fleet.

He graduated from Tech High School in Des Moines, served in the Navy and Naval Reserve for 10 years, and worked for the Des Moines School District as a receiving clerk. He was also a printer for L.J. Baker Company for 10 years, and worked for 20 years at National Travelers Life Insurance Company as manager of office services.

Bob's love of the mountains, hunting, fishing, woodworking and rock collecting lead him and wife, Nancy, to Lander, WY where they became business owners. They owned the Pioneer Court Motel for 14 years, and Shirts & More, a retail t-shirt printing business, for 10 years.

The Van Fleet's retired from being business owners in 1994, and then Bob got to see his dream of building a log home become a reality when they built their home in Dubois. He got to put his woodworking skills to good use by doing most of the finishing work on the home himself. He also put those skills to work making pine log beds and having a little side business called "Father Time," making clocks. Twelve years later Bob and Nancy moved to the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Bob is survived by his wife Nancy of Rapid City, daughters Rev. Karen Jones of Tyler, TX, Kris Brown of Lander, WY, stepchildren Bobbi Barrett and Jimmy Barrett of Lander, WY, Alan Barrett of Rapid City. Siblings Kay Veak of West Des Moines, Dave (Laurie) Van Fleet of Lander, WY, ex-wife Pearl Van Fleet of Tyler, TX and sister-in-law Donna Stengel of Rapid City, SD and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother Charles Van Fleet.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial for family and friends will be held August 8 in Lander, WY. Bob will then be taken back to the mountains that he loved.

Memorials may be sent to Nancy Van Fleet at 22987 Morning Light Dr., Rapid City, SD 57703. They will then be sent to Bob's favorite charities.