Obituary of Robert Gordon Hourd

Robert Hourd, late of Kipling SK passed away on June 25, 2017 at the age of 76 after a short battle with cancer.  Bob was predeceased by his parents Harry and Grace, and his mother and father in-law, Eva and Charles Vargo.  Robert is survived by his loving spouse Marion; daughter Bev (Blaine Betteridge) of Pilot Butte; and four sons, Jeremy (Kristy) of Regina, Ryan (Jazmin) of Calgary, Jason of Kipling and Allen of Kipling; very special granddaughters Megan and Paige Betteridge and Kaeli and Sydney Hourd; sister Edith (Paul Kovach) of Kisbey and brother Frank of Kipling. Service will take place Kipling Community Hall on July 4, 2017 at 2:00 pm.  Flowers most gratefully declined.  Friends wishing may make donations in memoriam to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Bob was born right on the farm. He attended Fletwode School until he decided he had enough education at 16 years old to face the world.  
Bob married Marion Vargo in 1970.  Marion grew up only a few miles away and Bob had known her all her life. Kids started coming along early and in nine years there were five.
He worked from 1962 to 1968 for Les Katona working on bulldozers and pushing bush.  In 1968, Bob bought his own D6 CAT.  He worked on his CAT privately from then until 1982.  During these years, Bob was farming with his father part time, but in 1982 he started to farm full time.  Bob expanded the farm in the early 70’s after he bought two quarters from CPR, and then two more quarters in 1990.  The farm was mixed grain and cattle, and in 1999, Bob registered as an organic grain producer.
Bob used horses on the farm all his life. It was common to see him on horseback moving cattle or checking crops. Bob was known to jump the gate rather than open it every once in a while. He also used a team of horses every winter until 2010 to feed cattle and do barn chores.  Bob liked his team to have a lot of spirit and not just anyone could drive them.  His family remembers quite a few ‘runaways’ over the years.
Bob was an avid hunter and was happy to tell you stories about hunting with friends.  He spent a great deal of his life hunting in the Moose Mountain Park and area, and many friends said no one knew the trails in the Park better than him.  He earned the nickname “Bush Bob” for a reason.
The farm meant everything to Bob.  It was where he was born, where he hunted, where he worked, where he lived, laughed and raised his family and where he wanted to be.