Robert Houge, age 86, of Huron, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side, on Friday, August 11, 2023.

His funeral service was held at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, August 15, at the American Lutheran Church. Burial followed in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Military honors were conducted by the Huron Veterans Council.

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His visitation was held from 1:00 to 7:00 PM, Monday, at the Kuhler Funeral Home, with his family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Robert Lane Houge was born on the family's kitchen table in the small town of McLeod, North Dakota, on November 15, 1936. Bob was quite the worker, even at a small age as he worked alongside his father, who was a truck driver, rancher, and hay dealer. At age 14, Bob was driving a gravel truck full time.

Bob joined the Army in 1955, when he was 18 years old, and served his country during that time. During his active duty, he was deployed on a mission to Turkey for 15 months.

Once he was back in the States, he went home to McLeod, North Dakota. In January of 1959, he met the love of his life, Lois Floberg. It must have been love at first sight because they were married shortly after meeting in February of 1959.

Bob and Lois shared the love of dancing together! They moved shortly after getting married to Watertown, South Dakota. During their short time in Watertown, their three children were born, Greg was born in 1960, Jeff in 1962, and Leann in 1963. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Huron.

They chose to move to Huron, South Dakota, where Bob started his career at Armours as a loading dock foreman, where he would stay for 17 and a half years before Armours closed their doors. Bob was never an idle person-while working at Armours, he also sold shoes as well as radio advertising for KXRB. He also owned several rental properties in Huron. Bob soon found a career at an investment firm company, where he went on to sell investments for the next 20 odd years.

In 2000, Bob found his next passion in life - The South Dakota State Fair. He would work very hard to ensure that the campers and individuals coming to the fair were well taken care of! Bob became known to those around him as "Camper Bob". It is well known that 22 years after starting at the Fair, that Camper Bob still has a love for the people coming and going to the fair. He aims to always make their experience; whether it is their first time or their hundredth time at the fair, the greatest and most memorable. In 2018, Bob was awarded the Robert Duxbury award for all of the work and time he poured into his passion for the South Dakota State Fair.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his parents, Fred and Merlie (Crowfoot) Houge; and his brother-in-law, Herb Huseth.

He is survived by his siblings, Bud (Harleen) Houge and Bev Huseth, all of McLeod, North Dakota; his children, Greg (Lorna) Houge, Jeff Houge and Leann (Bill) Watson; his grandchildren, Brandon (Kelsi) Houge, Ashley (Alex) Glaspell, Derek Houge, Dylan (Amanda Kuster) Houge, Jessica (Keith) McReynolds, Chelsea (Casey) Brandolino and Ben Watson; his great-grandchildren, Emma and Bennet Houge, Parker Glaspell, Will, Makayla and Kensley McReynolds and Lane and Laci Brandolino; and his life partner, Darlyne Rozell.

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