Robert G. “Bob” Denison, 80, former longtime Cando resident, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, at his home in Golden Valley, MN, from complications due to Parkinson’s disease. A joint Celebration of Life for Kathie and Bob Denison is planned for Saturday, Aug 26 at Cando Lutheran Church, at 11 a.m., with interment in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Cando Arts Council (PO Box 368, Cando, ND 58324) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (michaeljfox.org.)
Robert George Denison was born Feb. 7, 1942, in Blue Earth, MN to Blanche (Gullikson) and F.W. “Pete” Denison. In 1947 the Denisons returned to their hometown of Cando, ND. Pete and his brother Robert purchased the Towner County Record-Herald, the second generation of Denisons to own the business. Bob grew up in Cando, salutatorian of CHS Class of 1960; he was active in chorus and band, also playing football and basketball. In 1964 he graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN with a bachelor’s degree in English; he and roommate Jerry Geddes celebrated that summer with a memorable months-long European trek. While at Concordia he met Kathleen “Kathie” Anderson, freshman roommate of his sister, Diane. Bob and Kathie married on Aug. 21, 1965, at Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They remained in FargoMoorhead, and in 1966 he completed a Master of Arts in English from North Dakota State University. Bob’s initial vocation was teaching high school English, with positions in Hoffman, MN, and Abercrombie, ND. They next moved to Parkers Prairie, MN, where Kathie and Bob also launched a habit of musical submersion in whatever church they attended — she on organ or piano, him singing, and either or both leading a choir. In 1970, on recommendation of family friend Daryl Johnson, Bob took a position at Two Harbors (MN) High School. Their years on the North Shore were formative: daughters Kristin, Karin and Missy were born, and forever friendships forged through THHS and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. While still teaching, Bob frequently traveled US Highway 2 between Two Harbors and Cando in the summers to help his parents — now the co-owners — operate the Record-Herald. In 1979 Bob and Kathie purchased the newspaper and offset printing business outright from Pete and Blanche. As third-generation owners, they carried on the Denison tradition of comprehensively chronicling life in Cando and the surrounding “Durum Triangle” of northeast North Dakota. Bob and Kathie were joint editors and publishers and wore many additional hats to keep things running: he was chief photographer and advertising salesperson, attending to necessary city and county business; she contributed features, typeset copy, and physically assembled pages for the press. Both were prolific and talented writers, producing personal weekly columns and building on Blanche’s reputation as respected editorialists. Bob also played an active role in the larger newspaper publishing industry. He served on the North Dakota Newspaper Association board, eventually as their president in 1993. The Record-Herald was a stockholder in North Central Printing Corporation, formed in the 1970s for regional newspapers to share the necessary costs and reap the efficiencies of modern printing process. Like many in the agricultural communities surrounding, Bob and Kathie gave 110% to the relentless schedule and stresses of a 52-week-a-year business. But that nearly 29 years of dedication was whole-hearted. They took great pride in their promotion of fellow businesses and industry. Their blanket coverage of area sports and arts programs was given — Bob a familiar figure on sidelines, camera in hand, getting the “Scoop.” When Cando celebrated its centennial in 1984 and the state of North Dakota in 1989, they collaborated with community leaders to conceive, edit and produce hardcover books containing hundreds of family, church, business, club and township histories. Bob’s boosterism extended to arts and civic organizations. He was instrumental on the Cando-Area Chamber of Commerce and Cando Audi Theatre boards, as well as activities of the Cando Arts Council and community chorus and band. In the 1980s and 90s, Bob enjoyed a late-blooming run of leading roles in CAC productions of Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, Oklahoma! and as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. Along with Kathie, he actively participated in worship life at both Cando Lutheran Church and Cando Church of the Brethren. In December 2007, Bob and Kathie sold stake in the businesses and later in 2008 moved to Buffalo, MN. In retirement they immersed themselves in activities at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church and Buffalo United Methodist Church. Bob sang baritone in the Wright County Chamber Chorus and the Twin Cities-based Apollo Male Chorus; a life highlight was the latter group’s 2014 trip to New York City to sing in Carnegie Hall. With family nearby, they enjoyed the ease of traveling to cultural and grandchildren activities in the Minneapolis area. Kathie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2015 and Bob with Parkinson’s in 2016; these health conditions eventually facilitated a move to Golden Valley. Bob’s lifetime passion was singing, providing bass harmony whenever he could. He was an avid golfer, card-player, bowler and Sports Illustrated lover, and he enjoyed few things more than watching professional sports on TV, no matter the sport or team. He did, however, have a particular soft spot for the Minnesota Vikings and Twins, attending NFL matches and a World Series win at the Metrodome. As Kathie has grown ill in recent years, his dedication to her care was unparalleled and provided his life purpose. But to all, he was known as a good sport and a truly “good man” — selfless, sincere, kind, loyal to friends and family, and always willing to sacrifice his opinions to the greater collective good. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kathie, of Golden Valley; daughters Kristin (Bill) Young of Plymouth, MN, Karin Denison of South Boston, MA and Melissa (Chad) Habeck of New Brighton, MN; grandsons Henry Robert and Oliver Denison Habeck; sisters Diane Denison of Aurora, CO and Kathryn Swank of Sheridan, WY; sisters-in-law and their spouses Barbara and Douglas Larson of Deerwood, MN and Patricia and Patrick Day of Minnetonka, MN; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Online guestbook is available at www.dunnigandix.com.
Dunnigan-Dix Funeral Home of Cando, ND is in charge of arrangements.
