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Robert Wayne Senger

Aug 1, 2020

Nov. 21, 1937 – July 15, 2020

Robert Wayne Senger,

age 82, formerly of

Bismarck ND, passed

away at Harbor Chase in

Wellington, Florida on

July 15, 2020 from com-

plications of Alzheimer’s

disease. Bob was born No-

vember 21, 1937, along

with his identical twin

brother Richard as a home

birth in Rugby, ND. Bob

was the second child born

to Wendell and Violet

Senger who owned

Senger’s Variety store. As

identical twins, Robert

and Richard were a hand-

ful when growing up and

often tried to trade on

their close looks to get

away with shenanigans.

He married Cecile Lucille

Hilzendager on November

26, 1958, in Rugby, North

Dakota. They were mar-

ried just shy of 43 years.

He is preceded in death

by his brother Richard

(May 12, 1980), wife Lu-

cille (July 23, 2001), and

both parents.

Early in his life, Bob

worked in law enforce-

ment, starting as a police

officer for the Rugby Pol-

ice Force. In 1963 Bob

and his family moved to

Grafton, where he started

working for the North

Dakota Highway Patrol. In

1966 he was promoted to

Sergeant and was

transferred to Bismarck.

In 1971, Governor Willi-

am Guy presented Bob

with the North Dakota

Outstanding Young Law

Officer award. He spent

twelve years with the

North Dakota State High-

way Patrol. As relayed by

Bob to his family he was a

“by the book” kind of guy

and no one was let off

with just a warning.

After leaving the High-

way Patrol, Bob worked as

a property claims adjuster

for American Family In-

surance for a short period

of time in Grand Forks,

North Dakota. Thus was

the beginning for two of

his daughters and two

grandsons to follow in his

footsteps.

He was most proud of

the twenty-four years of

service he put in with the

Public Service Commis-

sion, as Director of the

Motor Carrier Division,

holding numerous hear-

ings, testifying and

modernizing the Motor

Carrier Division’s policies

and operations. He was

well thought of by many

and was considered a very

level headed and thought-

ful person who knew

when to speak his mind.

He successfully served

under multiple Governors

including William L Guy,

Arthur A Link, Allen I Ol-

son, George A Sinner and

Ed Shafer.

During Bob’s retirement

he highlighted being a

part of the 2002 World

Curling Championship

which was held in

Bismarck and where he

assisted as a driver to par-

ticipating international

teams. He also worked as

a page during two North

Dakota Legislative Ses-

sions in the halls of the

Capitol and among the

legislators that he knew so

well.

He is survived by his

older brother John (Doris)

Senger, three daughters,

Robin Ann (Jon)

Senger-Gietzen, Rebecca

Lynn (Richard) Anderson,

and Sara Jane Mullen. He

was very proud of his four

grandsons, Joshua (Jen-

nifer) Gietzen, Eric

(Kaitlyn) Gietzen, Brian

(Hanna) Gietzen, Max

Mullen and great grand-

son, Gregory Gietzen. He

also leaves behind many

nieces, one nephew, sis-

ters- in- law Loretta (Bob)

Johnson, Linda (Tim)

Estes and many long term

friends. Bob enjoyed read-

ing, gardening, canning,

yard work, and the

sunshine. He was a loyal

coffee club member and

was quite fond of his

group of men who met

every morning. Bob en-

joyed debating the politi-

cal topic of the day and

considered this time one

of the highlights of his

day.

He shared a long-term

loving relationship with

Catherine Maxey and they

moved to Hamilton, MT

in 2013. He was able to

spend several years in

Hamilton with Cathy and

her daughter Barbara

Rose, and grandson James

(Bradie) Norberry. Bob

and Cathy enjoyed doing

many things together in-

cluding their shared love

for gardening, crafting and

taking their dog, Brandi,

for walks.

He served his country

in the North Dakota Na-

tional Guard, retiring with

the rank of staff Sergeant

in 1982. Due to current

SARS COVID-19 limita-

tions, memorial services

will be delayed until the

summer of 2021, when he

will be buried at the

North Dakota Veteran’s

Cemetery with military

honors. Arrangements

will be made by Eastgate

Funeral Home, Bismarck

ND. The family suggests

any donations be made to

either Alzheimer research

or the North Dakota Zoo

in Bismarck, ND.