Robert Ranft

Aberdeen, SD-Funeral Service for Robert “Bob” Ranft, 92, of Aberdeen will be 11:00 am Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory. Pastor Mark Marion will officiate.

Burial will be 11:00 am Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at Restlawn Memory Gardens, Huron, SD with military rites.

Bob died peacefully May 7, 2021 at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital.

Bob was born June 21, 1928 in Vayland, SD, the son of Walter and Dorothy (Stewart) Ranft. After graduating from high school in 1946, Bob enlisted into the United States Army.

On September 17, 1949, Bob married Kathryn Kearns and they lived in Huron, SD for 50 plus years. It was here they raised their three children, daughter, Brenda (Tom) Schmitt, son, Dale Ranft and Kevin (Robin) Ranft. In 2003, they moved to Aberdeen, SD.

In addition to raising their children, Bob worked for many years for Metz Baking Company, starting out as a route man and managing the bakery itself. After his career at the bakery, he also worked at Shallbetter’s Manufacturing and Skagg’s Grocery Store, all in Huron, before retiring.

Bob enjoyed collecting coins and was an active member of the Huron Coin Club for many years, as well as being a member of the Lions Organization. For many years, he was an avid pheasant hunter and enjoyed going deer hunting with his son-in-law, Tom.

Bob had a wonderful and outgoing personality and genuinely enjoyed being around people and visiting with everyone he came in contact with. He was the man with a smile on his face all of the time. Bob enjoyed life, always had a garden and flowers and while a resident at Prairie Heights Healthcare he loved planting flowers in the courtyard and watching the birds at the birdfeeders and in the bird bath. Bob, his daughter and son-in-law, spent the springs and summers tending to those flowers and birds, taking care of the vegetable garden – he was known as “Mr. Cucumber” at the nursing home – had bragging rights for the number of cucumbers they harvested each year, in the hundreds! Bob won ribbons for entries at the Brown County Fair for the vegetables from the garden.

Bob was involved in many of the activities at Prairie Heights Healthcare and especially loved to play bingo and collect prizes that filled two bookshelves in his room. He also enjoyed watching sports on television – golf, football (was an Indianapolis Colts fan all his life) and basketball (favorite team was the Boston Celtics), baseball (long-time Dodgers fan).

Bob enjoyed music and especially was a BIG fan of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

Bob is survived by his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, half-sister, Carolyn Forman, half-brothers, Tommy (Rose) Ranft, William Ranft and LeRoy (Mary) Ranft.

Preceding Bob in death are his wife, Kathryn (June 14, 2019), parents, sisters, Helen Ranft who died in infancy and Betty Reilly, half-brothers, James Ranft and Doyle Sass.

The family wishes to thank all of the wonderful and caring staff at Prairie Heights Healthcare who took such good care of Bob during his time there, in those years he was there, the staff became very much family to Bob. His family will be forever grateful for the care and the friendship he shared with the staff.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials.

Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen has been entrusted with arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Robert Ranft, please visit our floral store.