Robert Fearing
Robert Francis Fearing died on New Year’s Day, 2022, a day shy of his 85th birthday. He was born January 2, 1937 in Valley City, ND to Ray and Helen (Kelly) Fearing. He attended school in Valley City until age 16 when he left home, hitchhiking to California where he worked odd jobs until joining the Army under the name of William Reed. He became a member of the 82nd Airborne, advancing to jump master. Before being discharged at the age of 19 as a sergeant, he had changed his name back to Robert Fearing. He moved to Washington, D.C., working as a courier for the embassy of Pakistan, where he was called “Mr. Bob”.
Bob returned to Valley City in 1956 and attended Valley City State College and met his future wife, Patty Gamrath. They were married on June 9, 1957. Five children blessed their marriage: Michael, Mitchell, Marshall, Nicole and Sloane. Patty and Bob were married for 64 years.
Bob was employed by the United States Post Office as a temp while a student at VCSC. He later became full time as a mail carrier, window clerk and ended his 36 year career as superintendent of postal operations.
Bob was constantly remodeling the family home, with the kids often saying “he’s torn another wall out again”. He enjoyed playing ping pong, pinochle, games of all kinds; loved swimming, fishing, canoeing, boating in and on the Sheyenne River or camping at the “dugout” with his sons. The Fearing dock was a hangout for the neighborhood kids, him being the biggest kid of all.
He was a practical joker. The jokes he told are well known to family members and friends. He started many water fights, hid quarters in the yard for his daughters’ birthday parties and picked up his daughters from school sometimes wearing a clown mask and cowboy hat. He was proud of his children and wanted them to live happy lives.
He is survived by his wife, Pat; sons, Mike of Jamestown, ND; Mitch (Sandra Dosch) of Williston, ND; daughters, Nicole (John Anderson) of Fairway, KS; Sloane (John Floberg) of Bismarck, ND; his brother, Jim (Nancy) of Andover, MA; 14 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Monica Cresap and Karen Ferris; brothers-in-law Gerald (Mary Ann) and Wayne (Cathy) Gamrath and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ray Jr., sister Genie, son Marshall and daughter-inlaw, Vikki; stepfather, Warren Whitson.
Interment will be at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, ND at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to the Barnes County Historical Society or a recipient of choice.
Visitation will be held at Lerud-Mathias Funeral home starting at 5pm on Friday, January 7 with prayer service following at 7pm. Funeral services will be at All Saints’ Episcopal Church on Saturday, January 8 at 1pm with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Bart Davis will be officiating. A reception
will be held at the Chautauqua Park pavilion following the funeral. The family asks you to please wear your mask. If you do not have one, a mask will be provided for you. The services will be live streamed
then archived and available to view along with his obituary on his tribute page at www.lerudschuldt.com. An online guestbook is available there as well.
The Lerud Mathias Funeral Home in Valley City is assisting Bob’s family with arrangements.