Robert 'Bob' Richard Brown, 87, of Hot Springs, SD, died November 19, 2014, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital Hospice House with added care by Hospice of the Hills. Bob was born in Hot Springs on August 22, 1928, to Robert and Emma (March) Brown. Growing up he lived in the Hot Springs area, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and Illinois. In 1946, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Robert married Shirley Oberlander in 1947, in Muscatine, IA. They had two children, a son, Charles and daughter, Cindy. He worked in management for John Deere and Montgomery Wards in Illinois. Upon returning to Hot Springs he owned and operated a café, sporting goods store, car dealership and worked at the Silverman car dealership. After 37 years of marriage Bob lost Shirley following her valiant struggle with cancer in 1984. In 1985, he married Leona Hageman, July, 2014, they celebrated their 29th anniversary. He was employed eleven years at the Hot Springs Campus of the Veterans Administration Black Hills Health Care System. He retired in 1990, from the VA and then worked fulltime at Bob Brown Sales and Service which he started as a part-time business while working at the VA. Although Bob was legally blind he was gifted to be able to identify engine problems by how they sounded. He was recognized for his outstanding sales and service by Toro, Troy-bilt, and Stihl with receiving many trips which included one to Hawaii.

Bob was president of the South Dakota Federation of the Blind for two terms as well as president of the Hot Springs Chapter. He headed up many fund raisers to provide services for the blind. He assisted many individuals gaining access to services and tools.

Bob loved working with people and made many friends in all aspects of his life. He enjoyed working in sales, playing card games, sailing, piloting small planes, and collecting cars. He belonged to the Marine Corps League, VMCCA Gold Dust Chapter Car Club, St. John's Lutheran Church, Southern Hills National Federation of the Blind, Hot Springs American Legion, and Hot Springs Lions.

Survivors include wife, Leona Brown of Hot Springs; son, Charles Brown of Rapid City; granddaughter, Sonja (Jon) Stevenson; and two great grandsons, Andy and Adam, all of Chandler, AZ; step sister, Beverly Kulm of Deer Park, WA; step sons-in-law, Wayne (Sally) Hageman of Hot Springs; and Chris (Cheryl) Hageman of Montgomery, TX.

He was preceded in death by his spouse, Shirley Brown; daughter, Cynthia (Gary) Selvy; brother, Charles Brown; and his parents, Robert and Emma Brown.

Memorials have been established for St. John's Lutheran Church in Hot Springs, Hospice of the Hills and the National Federation of the Blind.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held 10:00 a.m., Monday, November 24, 2014, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Hot Springs, with Pastor Dwane Hunzeker officiating. Interment will be held at 12:30 p.m., Monday, November 24, 2014, at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.