Robert W. Radcliffe

Funeral Service:

Prayer Service:

From growing up in the sandhills to marrying his prairie rose, he is now living in the heavens above. Robert (Bob) Williamson Radcliffe died on Saturday, August 30th, 2025 surrounded by family. Bob was born on June 19th, 1922 in rural Richland County on the family farm, the second child of Joseph and Lucy (Sprague) Radcliffe. He attended Helendale #2 rural school and graduated from Leonard High School in 1941. Growing up in the dirty 30s, his school years were interesting. He spent a year staying home from school to help run the farm while his father was a foreman in the national grasslands fencing project. His mother wanted him to meet his California relatives so he completed one year of school at Edison Junior High in Los Angeles, CA.

Bob enlisted in the Marines in 1943 and was discharged in 1946 during World War II. He spent his tour of duty at the Marine Corps Station Cherry Point in NC working with airplane engines and their pilots. The best thing that came out of this assignment was meeting his southern bell, Doris Mae Sawyer. After his discharge, they were married and lived in Currituck, NC where their first daughter was born. After his service, he worked with his buddies in Norfolk, VA transitioning war planes for civilian use.

A few years later, Bob and Doris moved home to the farm where their family grew by two more daughters. He did make time for fun: working with friends to build and use a ski jump in the hills, building and co-owning the Leonard Golf Course with a special group of friends, potlucks, rodeos, and a boxing match or two. When ranching, he registered his brand as an L with a dangling D for Lucy/ Doris. He joked that it stood for Lazy Daughters, but his girls always preferred Lovely Daughters instead.

Service and people were important to him; he served on several boards including Garrison Diversion, Helendale and Leonard School Boards, and numerous church boards. He was also a Gideon and had a heart for sharing the Bible with others. Well into his 90s, he volunteered for Hospice of the Red River Valley as a visitor and delivered Meals on Wheels. He loved visiting with people and hearing their stories, often finding a connection that he remembered.

Under the care of HIA Hospice and his family, Bob died having led prayer with his family several times in his final days. He always said, “Don’t worry about me cause you know ‘to die is gain,’ so I’m going to be fine.” He is survived by his three daughters, Vikki (Paul) Holte of Sioux Falls, SD; Elizabeth Walberg of Leonard; Roberta Young of Leonard; seven grandchildren, Joshua Holte (Danielle), Cari Luchau (Lance), Christopher Walberg (Sarah), Dustin Young (Kaylie), Alison Frueh (Chris), Anne Meyer (Paul), and Isaac Young (Petra), plus seventeen great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Doris Radcliffe; siblings, Ruth Olson and Richard Radcliffe; granddaughter, Bethany Young; and sons-in-laws, Steve Walberg and Bert Young.

The Prayer Service will be held in Kindred on September 4th at 7:00pm at Fredrikson-Boulger Funeral Home. The funeral will be held on September 5th at 11:00am at Helendale Lutheran Church in rural Leonard. Visitation will be one hour before both services.