Robert Arnold Groom

You can find the live stream of the service below starting at 1:45

Robert (Bob) Groom passed away on Friday March 17th, 2023 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND. He was born on August 16, 1933 to Donald Groom and Wilda Groom in Fargo, ND.

He was the oldest of 10 children. He was raised by his grandparents, Mr and Mrs E.A. Lunde until age 7, and he then joined the family on the family farm in Cavalier County and attended Langdon HS where he was involved in FFA and graduated from Langdon High School in 1951.

On March 20, 1955 he married the girl of his dreams, Margaret Laverne Rusten. From this union came five children, David, Richard, Mark, Gary and Marea.

He attended North Dakota State University and received a B.S. in General Ag in 1957 and a Masters of Science in Entomology in 1959. He actually discovered a species of insect that was previously unknown.
He was part of the ROTC at NDSU while he attended the University and then started his military career with the US Air Force as a jet fighter pilot.

He was selected for Fighter Weapon School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. He served in the capacity of a test pilot for the military, maintenance officer, and served with 178th Fighter Squadron and later with the 119th of the Air National Guard. He served a total of a combined 21 years in the military with the Air Force and the Air Natl Guard and retired as a lieutenant, colonel,. He was a proud member of the Happy Hooligans Guard unit ! He received Top Gun honors in 1970 and 1972. The Air Museum recently honored Bob along with his fellow Happy Hooligans team last fall.

Although his military career ended in 1974, his passion for flying continued with small aircraft where he enjoyed flying friends and business associates all over the country for many years.

He purchased a farm near Lake Park, Minnesota in 1959 and started a dairy operation several years later and milked cows until 1980. He continued to grain farm until age 82. The grandkids and great grandkids loved coming to the farm where they had the experience of riding in the tractors, the John Deere Gator; getting to experience farm life at its best! Over the years, Bob and Margaret always opened up their farm to family and friends from all over the country, who got to have a taste of farm life, harvesting, and enjoying God’s creation.

His faith in Christ, as his Savior, was the cornerstone for his life. That personal relationship helped form him to be a man who lived a life of honesty, and he lived life to the fullest. He enjoyed having fun, laughing, and he never met a stranger! He always will be remembered for his infectious smile and bright blue eyes!

He is survived by his wife, Margaret of 67 wonderful years. His sons, David Groom of Lake Park, MN, Richard Groom and fiancé Marni Peterson of Wellton, Arizona; Mark Groom and his wife, Penny, of Lubbock, Texas; Gary Groom of Fargo, ND; and daughter, Marea Berg and husband, Brian, of Fargo, ND. Grandchildren are Andrea Carter(married to Corey Carter)Rusten Groom(married to Amanda Groom), Kayla Kenady(married to Chandler Kenady), Chris Groom, Kelsey Havens(married to Evan Havens), Tyler Berg, Ariana Groom, Joe Groom, Justin Berg, Erin Groom and Kara Berg. Great Grandchildren are Jaxen Kenady, Elizabeth Havens, Levi Havens, Addison Kenady, Abigail Joy Havens and Brayden Kenady.

He is also survived by the following siblings: George Groom, Charles Groom, James Groom, Margaret Van Orden, William Groom, Chelta Arens and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Burrell and Donald along with his sister Weltha, sister in law Alice Johnson and brother in law Vernon Rusten.

Funeral: Wednesday March 22, 2023 at 2:00 at Bougler Funeral Home in Fargo, ND with visitation 1 hour prior to the service .