Robert "Bob" Parker, 98, Cando, ND passed away on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at Towner County Living Center in Cando, ND. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 from 4 to 6 pm at the Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home in Cando. No services will be held.

Robert (Bob) Parker was born April 25, 1916 in Cando to Reuben Stuart and Etta Mae (Howell) Parker who lived on the Parker homestead one mile south of Cando. His grandparents were Perry P. and Ida Mae (Pew) Parker who came from Missouri.
When Bob was 8 years old his parents moved from the homestead to a farm seven miles south of Cando. He went to a country school called the Gopher school or Maza Township School for one year. Bob then attended the Cando School where he graduated in 1935. He is a baptized and confirmed member of the Cando Lutheran Church.
When Bob was a young man he would occasionally visit the Ora Burkhart farm and play softball. He drove a blue coupe and Della Mae, who was 14 at the time, was pretty fascinated with his car. During one visit Bob pulled a trinket off the top and gave it to her. She still has it. About 10 years later they met again and on June 25, l947 he married Della Mae in the Brethren Church at Zion ND.
After marriage, they lived in Cando for a couple of years and in 1950 bought a farm 3 miles south of Cando. Phillip Perry was born in Rugby in 1948; James Robert was born in Rugby in 1951. David Ray was born in the new hospital in Cando in 1955 and Robert William, Jr. was born in Cando in 1961.
Bob's true passion in life, next to family, was farming. He began his career in farming in 1928 with 30 acres that he received from his father. In 1928 he drove a team of horses and in recent years, he drove a great big 4 wheel drive tractor with GPS navigation. Over the years he raised many types of crops. In the early years it was mainly potatoes, wheat and barley and over the years it evolved into soy, pinto beans, corn, sunflowers, canola, canary seed, mustard and flax. Bob farmed with his father and brothers for many years and was a partner in the Parker Brothers Potato Company. After the Potato Company was sold, Bob farmed on his own.
In 1987 the Grand Forks Herald ran an article about him called Seeds a Sowing. In 2010 PBS started production of a documentary about Bob but it was never finalized or aired. The raw footage of the documentary can be found on www.ppparkerphotography.com.
Bob was one of the first directors of the Towner County Crop Improvement Association and was with them for forty years. He was active in the school district and served on the Cando School Board. Bob was a founding member of the Cando Gun Club and was rated by the NRA. He also competed at Camp Perry. Bob was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also loved dogs and had several over the years.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife Della Mae, four sons, Phillip (Ruth), James (Janeth), David (Rita), Robert Jr. (Michelle) and his sister Helen Gibbens. Grandchildren are grandsons Lane, Joseph, Patrick and Samuel. Granddaughters: Lisa Parker, Denise (Darren) Jacoby and Valerie (Jason) Borkgrevink. Great grandchildren: Zachary, Zoie and Zared Parker, Alex Jacoby, Brody and Delaney Parker and Alexis and Hans Borkgrevink. In addition he is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Bob is also survived by his golden retriever Cabela.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and a sister.