Robert Henry Stange, 70, of rural Woonsocket, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at his residence.

His memorial service was held Tuesday, April 9, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs with Rev. John Paulson officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in St. Wilfrid’s Catholic Cemetery at Woonsocket. A memorial visitation was held Monday, April 8, with a prayer service and a time of sharing at the church.

Robert “Bobby” Henry Stange was born Jan. 5, 1949, at Memorial Hospital in Wessington Springs to Harry and Wilma Stange. He attended a country school called Woodmansee until eighth grade, then graduated from Lane High School in 1967. As a young boy, he helped out on the family farm and had some fun with his brother, Billy, by riding calves to have their own little rodeo. In high school, he enjoyed playing basketball.

After high school, he attended South Dakota Sate University for a year, and then enlisted in the National Guards. He eventually started farming with Billy.

Robert was united in marriage to Kay Sandness on April 23, 1976. That same year, they purchased the “Stange Homestead,” which was home for the next 43 years. Throughout the years on the “Stange Homestead,” Bobby and Kay farmed their land and had a variety of livestock, including sheep, pigs and cows.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Kay; his four children, Justin (Alyssa) Stange of Sioux Falls, Brandon (Kara) Stange of Mitchell, Tara (Daniel) Baukus of Sioux Falls, and Erin (Bradley) Beck of Sioux Falls; 13 grandchildren; sisters, Joyce Bowar of Lincoln, Neb., Phyllis Swenson of Woonsocket, Lois Edwards of Letcher, and Judy (Dick) McQueen of White Lake; a brother, Billy (Nancy) Stange of Mitchell; sisters-in-law, Jan Stange of Woonsocket, and Ann Stange of Woonsocket; brothers-in-law Gary Sandness of Woonsocket, Tim Sandness of Mitchell, and Mike Sandness of Plankinton; numerous nieces and nephews.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; a toddler son, Jason Stange; a sister, Carol Morgan; brothers, Donald Stange and John Stange; brothers-in-law, Bill Bowar, Edward Swenson, Merle Edwards, Larry Sandness and Bill Morgan; and in-laws, Elmer and Joyce Sandness.