Robert 'Bob' Softing

Robert ‘Bob’ Softing, 88, of Dilworth, MN, died on May 21, 2024 at Sanford on Broadway in Fargo, ND.  A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 11:00 am at Maranatha Free Lutheran Church in Glyndon, MN. Visitation will be held for an hour prior to the service. 

Robert Mardell Softing was born on March 8, 1936 to Marth and Ragnald (Abrahamson) Softing in Hawley, MN, their only child.   He grew up on a farm near Rollag, MN. He started elementary school in Hawley before changing to Barnesville in 1948 where he continued his education and played trumpet in the band. He graduated from Barnesville High School with the Class of 1954.

While riding the school bus, Bob would meet Clarice Larson and they would later be married on October 26, 1954.  They were married at Rev. Stokka’s parsonage. They began their married life living with Bob’s parents and eventually moved to Moorhead, MN. Their son Jeffrey was born there in 1955. Bob was a jack of all trades throughout his young life.  He worked as a farm hand on a couple different farms, the Armour Packing Plant in West Fargo, and then onto M & H Gas and Service Station, starting out in Moorhead.  He would eventually be transferred to be the manager of the store in Fergus Falls for about four years.  His dad became ill with leukemia, so he returned to Rollag to take over the family farm.  From 1962 to 2018 he and Clarice would continue operating the farm. 

Bob would serve on the Barnesville Fire Board, Skree Township Board, and was the president of the Grong Lutheran Church in Rollag for many years.  

Tractors and tractor pulls would be a passion of Bob’s as he would buy tractors from the tri-state area and restore them. He and Clarice spent many years on the tractor pull circuit, travelling near and far.   Bob also liked to find time to go fishing, boating, camping, and helping be a mentor at his church.  He was also active in supporting Wilderness Bible Camp, a camp of the Free Church Association, on Big Cormorant, by constructing buildings and improving the grounds. Later in life they became members of the Maranatha Church in Glyndon, MN. They sold the farm in 2018 and moved to Dilworth, MN.

Bob is survived by one son, Jeff (Valerie) Softing of Fargo, ND; two grandsons: Michael Softing, of Las Vegas, NV, and Greg (Megan) Softing, of Fargo, ND, parents of great-granddaughter Camille Softing.

He was preceded in death by his wife Clarice in 2021 and his parents Marth and Ragnald Softing.