Robert "Bob" J.D. Lees passed away peacefully at home after a brief illness at the age of 95 in Brookings, SD, on February 10, 2021.  No services are planned at this time. Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Bob was born in Elkton, SD, on January 5, 1926, to Walter and Caroline (Risch) Lees.  He was the youngest of four children.  Bob joined the Navy at the age of 17 to fight in WWII.  He served on a battleship in the Pacific that survived a typhoon, Kamikaze and submarine attacks.

After the war, Bob married Dorothy Kurtz.  He graduated from SDSU in 1950, with a degree in Agricultural Engineering.   Bob was a contractor, who was instrumental in the growth and development of Brookings.

Bob was an avid gardener and he loved to read and travel.  Together, Bob and Dorothy spent their retirement seeing the USA, Europe, and taking many cruises.  They also loved to dance and traveled many miles to Polka Fests.

Bob's family was blessed by him sharing his life story before his passing.  They learned that he had many adventures before and during the war that he had never shared before.  His high school teacher told him "if he had enough ambition to get into trouble, he had enough to make something of himself," and he did.

Survivors include his wife, Dorothy, six of their nine children; Peggy Price of Longmont CO, Rebecca Belsaas (Richard) of Rapid City, SD, Mark Lees (Sue) of Fairmont, MN, Gregg Lees (Kari) of Aurora SD, Richard Lees (Connie) Brandon, SD, and Cindie Baken (Mark) of Wisconsin Dells, WI; grandchildren: Bradon Price, Kamaria and Alan Griffen, Amy and Megan Lees, Kristina, Erica, and Andrew Belsaas; and great-grandchildren, Aubrey and Amelia Griffin.  He was preceded in death by three children, Scott Robert Lees, David John Lees, and Roberta Rae Lees; brother, Wallace Lees; and sisters, Grace Kurtz and Gladys McCary.