Rev. Robert L. Williamson, age 56, "…finished the race…" (II Timothy 4:7) on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He died a few months after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis.

Bob was born in Dickinson, North Dakota on July 26, 1955, to Les and Fran Williamson. Bob's dad was superintendent of the North Dakota State University Experiment Station at Hettinger, North Dakota at the time. The family later moved near Rosemount, Minnesota, where Bob attended grade school at Castle Rock. In 1965, they moved to Clarkfield, Minnesota and Bob graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1974. Throughout his school days, he loved to entertain and in high school sang in his own 50s band called Big Dick and the Rat-a-tats. He often served as MC of events and did some great impersonations.

Bob served in the U.S. Army as a medic from August 1974 until he was honorably discharged August 1977. After the army, he worked as an EMT and LPN and later attended Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, graduating in 1982 as a registered nurse. In 1984, he graduated with a BS from Sioux Falls College. Bob met Marcia (Marcy) Berg while both were working as RNs at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls and on October 26, 1985 they were married and continued to live in Sioux Falls until 1987, when Bob graduated from North American Baptist Seminary with an MA in biblical studies. Bob and Marcy moved to Centerville, Iowa in October 1987 and started a new church, Centerville Assembly of God. While living in Centerville, Bob served as chaplain for the local national guard unit, Company C, 224th Engineer Battalion and received an award from then governor Terry Branstad for 'Outstanding Volunteer Service to the State of Iowa". Bob pastored that church until 1994, when God called them to Hot Springs, South Dakota, to pastor the Hot Springs Assembly of God church, later renamed Fountain of Life. It was just a few short months after Bob and Marcy arrived in Hot Springs that God brought a baby girl to them, Brianna Kay. Bob enjoyed being Brianna's daddy and they shared many special times together these 17+ years. In 2002, Bob earned a doctorate in practical ministry from Wagner Leadership Institute. Bob pastored Fountain of Life A/G until 2007, when Bob and Marcy were called to start a new "out-of-the-box" fellowship in Hot Springs called Koinonia Center and to establish a global ministry, Crossolutions International (CSI). He was pastoring and overseeing the ministry until the time of his death.

Bob enjoyed mentoring pastors around the world and just last summer, he was honored to be able to meet in person one of the young pastors in Liberia, Pastor Joshua, when he, Marcy and Brianna traveled to Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. At this very time, CSI is helping them build a new church. Despite his diagnosis, Bob had not given up hope of going to Myanmar (Burma) to encourage three young pastors who are a part of CSI, hoping on that trip to be joined by friend/personal body guard Pete Morgan, as it isn't considered a safe place to take his family at this time. Bob was a man of prayer and loved getting alone with God in his 'prayer closet'. He knew and listened to God's voice and did his best to follow the voice of his heavenly Father, despite sometimes being misunderstood by man. He loved to just soak in the presence of God during worship and prayer. Bob also enjoyed writing articles and has a book on spiritual warfare just waiting to be published. He sent out weekly words to the pastors affiliated with CSI and was encouraged by someone to put his weekly words in a devotional some day.

In 2008, Bob went back into nursing as he continued in ministry, working at Star Academy and then the VA Domicillary Clinic and he was currently serving as the school nurse for the Hot Springs schools. He was also a member of the Hot Springs Ambulance Service, working as an EMT, until the time of his death. Bob was active in the Hot Springs community, serving several years as president of the Hot Springs Ministerial Association and he also coached youth boxing. To be more involved in Brianna's world, he started substitute teaching in the Hot Springs school system in 2009 and Brianna really enjoyed when he was in school. Hearing Brianna call out "Hi Dad" in the hallways of the high school was very special to him. When Bob became the school nurse this past school year, Brianna continued to enjoy seeing her dad in school, enjoying Wednesday lunches with him at his office, and oftentimes getting to meet some of his young patients. He was currently serving as vice president of the Fall River Republicans. Music continued to be a big part of Bob's life. He enjoyed singing and playing guitar, leading worship for many years as he pastored. One of his greatest joys was listening to Brianna play piano and sometimes he would sing golden oldies, as she played along. Having been raised in Minnesota, he was a Twins and Vikings fan, but only wore his hats if they were winning.

Bob did wear many 'hats' in his life. To some, he was Pastor Bob. To many students he was Nurse Bob and to some, he was Bob, the EMT. He was spiritual father to some, mentor/counselor to others and friend to many, but his greatest joy after being a 'child of God', was being husband and best friend to Marcy, daddy to Brianna and best buddy to King, their German Shepherd. Bob said the week before he died that he had 'no regrets' in the life he lived, though he desired to live to see Brianna graduate on May 12th and he fought hard. We are thankful that he has brand new lungs in heaven, where "there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain" (Rev 21:4) and we know we will one day be together again, though for now, Bob will be missed greatly.

Bob is survived by his wife Marcy and daughter Brianna, both of Hot Springs and two brothers, Ed Williamson of Madison, MN and Vance (Val) Williamson of Scottsbluff, NE, as well as nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, March 15, 2012, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs.

A Celebration of Bob's Life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 16, 2012, at the Mueller Center Theater in Hot Springs with Pastors Jim Hessler, Bill Martin, Pete Morgan and Ed Williamson sharing. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m., March 16, 2012 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial will be established in Bob's name at National Jewish Health Center in Denver, Colorado for research to find a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. Memorials may also go towards missions projects associated with Crossolutions International, the ministry Bob founded in 2007.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences may be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.