Robert John Borho

Robert “Bob” J. Borho, 94 of Devils Lake passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks.

Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. led by Reverend Mr. Ken Severinson, Deacon and the Knights of Columbus.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake with burial in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. A time of fellowship will follow the graveside service at the Parish Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Joseph School and St. Mary’s Academy in memory of Bob.

Robert John Borho, son of Albin and Lucy (Fischer) Borho was born on February 5, 1931 in Langdon, North Dakota. He grew up on the farm in rural Wales, North Dakota. He attended country school then graduated from Wales High School in 3 short years. He also attended Lake Region Junior College for one year.

After graduating from high school Bob continued to farm with his Dad. For 3 winters he would go out to California to find work and worked as a riveter at Northrop Aircraft Company.

While joining in the celebration of the city of Munich, ND 50th Anniversary, Bob spotted this beautiful clarinet player in the Munich Community Band. He stole the heart of that girl, Viola Schommer and they were united in marriage on October 25, 1955 and were looking forward to celebrating 70 years of love, laughter, trials, and triumphs this year.

After their marriage, he continued to farm, living in the PeeVee Elevator house in Wales, which was pretty rustic so in the winters, they would live in Devils Lake so the kids could attend St. Joseph’s Elementary and St. Mary’s Academy. When Bob had time away from farming he worked at Keatings and laborer at K & K Cable.

The family made the permanent move to Devils Lake in 1963. In 1972, Bob built the Tastee Freez and was the owner/operator until 1989. This venture was definitely a family business and also employed many young people from the community.

Retirement was never in Bob’s vocabulary. He worked Keatings installing carpet and linoleum plus hanging drapes, then Hesch’s Furniture and at MacDonald’s Family Furniture. Many of his years at MacDonald’s included vacuum sales and service which he operated until the time of his death. He also managed to work as a land surveyor for USDA for several years.

Bob was an active member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, served on the church council, St. Mary’s School Board and many community boards. He enjoyed league bowling, played basketball and baseball in high school, membership in the Elks Lodge, and a Cub Scout Master for Troop #28. Bob never said no to a game of cards and in later years really enjoyed gardening, supplying family and friends with delicious produce.

What words can best describe Bob? He was a dedicated, devoted, loving husband, dad, grandpa and great grandpa. He treasured family, friends, his fellow Knights and all those valued customers he served each and every day.

He loved his Lord, his family, his friends and his community. Though he may no longer walk beside us, his spirit will be with us always. Rest in peace.

Those who treasured him and survive him are his wife Viola; children Gerald (Beth) Borho, Minot ND, Alan (Pamela) Borho, Grand Forks, ND, James “Tiny” Borho, Devils Lake, Marla (Terry) Luehring, also Devils Lake, Ron (Nancy) Borho, Thornton, CO and Duane (Norma) Borho, Abilene, TX; grandchildren Sara (Raphael) Chakanestsa, Adree (Benjamin) Steventon, Rory (Ashley) Borho, Tanya (Nathan) Kraft, Angela Borho, Amanda (Jeremy) Lee, Jennifer (Nathan) Axdahl, Austin (Jenny) Luehring, Ciera Borho, RC (Veronica) Summers, Reese Borho, and Ryan Borho; great grandchildren Samuel, Atyra, Anashe, Noah, Micah, Lilly, Ellie, Corban, Madden, Dawson, Bridger; sisters Myrna Rivard and Dorothy Montplaisir both of Fargo, ND; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Shirley Schommer, Selina Rohde, Darlene Schommer, Bernard and Aletha Schommer, Bernetta Ritter, James and Connie Schommer, Lois and Wes Parker, Elaine and Robert Perius, Arnold and Liz Schommer and Vernon and Linda Schommer; many beloved nieces, nephews, and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter-in-law Vickie Borho, sisters Albina Reichmuth and Donna Waltz, brothers William Borho and Richard Borho, parents-in-law Andrew and Annie Schommer.

Casket Bearers will be grandsons Austin Luehring and Rory Borho and nephews Craig Montplaisir, Mark Rivard, Mike Rohde, Terry Waltz and Doug Schommer; Honorary Bearers will be grandsons RC Summers, Reese Borho and Ryan Borho and great grandsons Samuel Echanis and Bridger Watson; Lectors will be Sara Chakanetsa, Corban Lee, and Adree Steventon; Gift Bearers will be granddaughters Amanda Lee, Jennifer Axdahl, Tanya Kraft, Angela Borho, Sara Chakanetsa, Adree Steventon. And Ciera Borho; Music will be provided by Patty Cote, Lynne Webster and Jay McCanna.