Robert H. “Bob” McLaughlin, 84, of Havana, ND, passed away November 20th, 2020 at the CHI Area Health Services, Lisbon, ND, with his loving wife and family by his side.
Bob was born to Harold and Freida (Seeman) McLaughlin at Britton, SD on September 14th, 1936. He was raised and educated at Havana, where he was a good athlete and participated in football, basketball, track and Legion baseball. As a young man, he was a member of the Boys Scouts of America. A special memory was going on a Troop Trip to Washington D.C., New York City and camping for a week on the Gettysburg Battlefield. During his teen years, he worked summers on a local farm and there developed a love for the land.
He graduated from Havana High School in 1955 and continued on to NDSSS to train in Auto Body Repair. While there he also played on the football team. In 1957, he graduated and began his career working at Webster, SD.
Bob married his high school sweetheart Margie “Midge” Barbknecht in Britton, SD on June 1, 1958. They later moved to Britton, where he established his own Auto Body Repair Shop until 1961 when he was drafted into the US Army. He served his active duty in the 1st Armored Div at Ft Hood, TX where his wife could join him. Upon his release in 1963, they returned to Webster and he was assigned to the Army Reserve in Aberdeen, SD for 4 more years. Bob was honorably discharged in 1967 with the rank of SSG (Staff Sergeant).
In 1968, they moved to the Barbknecht farm at Havana to begin his dream of owning his own farm. He raised livestock and crops. There they raised their family of 4 children. After completing his education, their son Clint acquired his own land and they became McLaughlin Farms. In 1999, due to ill health Bob retired from the grain farming but remained in the livestock business.
Bob was an active member of his community and was still serving on boards up until the time of his death. He was a member of the American Legion for 54 years, served on the Taylor Township Board for 44 years and the Havana Cemetery Association. He was a member of the Havana Trinity Lutheran Church and served on the church council, many years as president, the Havana Community Club, Alumni Association and the Forman Lions.
Bob loved spending time with his grandchildren. Especially taking them for tractor or pickup rides and later teaching them to drive the old pickup out in a field. Bob loved sports at all levels and especially enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren compete. He was proud of all their activities and achievements. Bob had a wry sense of humor and loved to tease his family and friends. He loved good food and a box of chocolates.
Bob felt his greatest achievement was his family. Surviving Bob is his wife of 62 years Margie “Midge”. Four children, Gina (Steve) Worms, Mahnomen, MN, Paula (Derrick) Hansen, Gwinner, ND, Karla McLaughlin, St. Paul, MN and Clint (Julie Kudelka) McLaughlin, Forman, ND. Five grandchildren, Kaitlin Worms, Jake Worms, Hanna Worms, Nate Hansen and Nick Hansen. His two sisters, Betty (Steve) Magnusson, Rothsay, MN and Connie Hare, Apple Valley, MN and one sister-in-law, Shirley Lindvold, Miles City, MT, along with many nieces and nephews.
Bob was a man of God. He enjoyed being a father and a steward of the land. He was able to stay on the farm and enjoy watching the change of the seasons and the farm operations.
A private funeral will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Havana Trinity Lutheran Church. Bob’s funeral can be viewed later that evening on the Dahlstrom Funeral Home website www.dahlstromfuneralhome.com on his obituary page. Masks are required and social distancing is encouraged.
Military rites will be held at the Havana Cemetery following Bob’s service for any friends that would like to join his family there.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bob’s name to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children or the Havana Cemetery Association.
