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Robert "Bob" Kilzer, age 88, of Bentley, ND, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025.

Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at St. Vincent's Catholic Church in Mott, ND. Visitation will be Friday, April 11, 2025, from 4-6 p.m. at Evanson Jensen Funeral Home, and Rosary will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Vincent's Catholic Church.

Robert was born on the family farmstead out on the prairie south of Bentley, ND on the blustery winter day of January 16, 1937 to Alois and Jean Ferguson Kilzer. He was the middle child of three children. The youngster attended country schools in his early years before heading to the "big" school in Bentley. His parents choose Catholic education for the children's final schooling, sending them all to boarding school at St Mary's in New England, ND. The teenagers traveled home by train for school breaks. Robert later attended college for a year at St John's University in MN before choosing to return to ND to continue farming with his parents.

Through mutual friends he met Katherine Hoerner while she was working in Elgin as a nurse. The lovestruck man had to court her from afar as she moved to Minneapolis to experience city life. Fortunately, he quickly came around to her way of thinking, proposed, and a short 6 months later they were wed. The wedding was held on June 18, 1966, in Dickinson. They lived in the town of Bentley while farming nearby. The couple purchased and moved to the Beisigl Ranch 14 miles south of Bentley in 1973. While The Ranch was the beloved home, biyearly moves were made between The Ranch and the Bentley Farm for 30 years.

While farming was in his blood, his love and passion was in raising cattle. He was in his true element buying and selling livestock at the sale barn. Checking the herd was his favorite pastime, bumping over pasture terrain in the pickup and later the Ranger. The children and grandchildren loved joining him in this grand adventure.

Robert loved the land and was a conservationist at heart. He oversaw the planting of thousands of trees (hundreds by his hand spading), the construction of several dams, and the conversion of poor cropland back to grassland through CRP.

Committed to his community, Robert served on the Beisigl Township, Beisigl School, Adams County FSA, and Bentley Elevator Boards. Though, his proudest service was through the local Knights of Columbus as a Fourth Degree Knight.

Who would have foreseen Robert as a camper, traveler, and an exotic animal collector? The ranch hosted peacocks, llamas, guineas and other fancy chickens, and so many more. After one night of van camping, Katherine convinced him of the merits of a 5th wheel camper to join family throughout the summer. The brave rancher turned into an extensive traveler seeing Alaska, Hawaii, all 4 corners of the US, Italy, and the Holy Land.

He is survived by his wife Katherine, brother Ralph (Marcia) Kilzer, children Carolyn (Brian) Benz, Donald (Joleen) Kilzer, Diane (Kevin) Marcotte, Wanda (James) Stipek, daughter-in-law Melissa Kilzer, son-in-law Steven Nott, Adam (Jennifer Eckman) Kilzer, Gwendolyn (Gilbert) Bisek. Grandchildren: Danelle (Marccus) Marsh, Shawn and Caitlyn Benz; Kaylene Kilzer, Justin (Jennifer) Kilzer; Nathan, Aleasha, and Kyle Marcotte; Caden and Rachel Stipek; Eryn, Liam, and Clay Kilzer; Mitchell and Brooke Nott; Jeffrey and Elizabeth Kilzer; Katherine and Genevieve Bisek; great-grandchildren Aiden Volk, Blakely and Wyatt Kilzer, with baby sister on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alois and Jean (Ferguson) Kilzer, daughter Beverly Nott and son Jeffrey Kilzer, his parents-in-law Valentine and Dorotheia Hoerner, sister Dorothy (Alvin) Schmitz, and several in-laws.