It is with heavy hearts that Bob’s girls announce his passing on May 29^th, 2022, in Birch Hills, SK. Bob was born in Birch Hills, SK to Oliver & May Braaten. He was raised in the Tiger Hills district south of Birch Hills. As a young man growing up on a Saskatchewan farm, Bob learned to wear many hats and was an extraordinary Jack of All Trades! From working the plow to animals to road construction to plumbing and heating and all things in between. In the early years, he worked up north hauling pulp with a horse team. He also worked with Laurie Robertson Construction and Ernie Skaar Construction as a young man. Bob liked to boast that he played a part in the building of the Saskatoon Airport many years ago.

As a young man, Bob had wanted a career in the plumbing and heating trade. While in the trade he worked with Neilsson Plbg & Htg, M&K Plbg & Htg, and the Holy Family Hospital in the boiler room. Except when the Nuns would track him down and re-route him to a plumbing problem elsewhere at the hospital…apparently, this happened a lot!

As a young family, Bob, Jean, and their daughters spent many hours on the road trying to find that significant spot that would be home…they traveled to Penticton BC, Grimsby ON, and numerous locations in Prince Albert (city and rural), and Birch Hills, SK. In the late sixties, they settled North-East of Birch Hills on the farm where Jean had been raised. Until February 2022, Bob has called this location home.

They built themselves a business in Birch Hills called Braaten’s Plbg & Htg which ran full time till October 2004. There was an intermittent break in there somewhere from the business owner to the employee with 44 Electric.

Throughout his life, Bob enjoyed many pastimes including camping at both Waskesiu and Candle Lake. Bob enjoyed fishing, snoozing in the trailer, visiting neighboring campers & family, boating, teaching the younger generation to fish, water ski, and just enjoying life outdoors. He also enjoyed dancing, music, playing guitar & banjo, card games, cribbage, & socializing with neighbors & friends.

Bob’s daughters and their families brought much joy to family festivities, he always had some fun riddle, joke, game, or sticking out his teeth…and so many more things that kept him & the little ones occupied!

Bob had a passion for old cars from a young age and in his post-50’s he began collecting the older models of cars like the Model T Roadster. Many auctions and road trips carried Bob and his son-in-law Warren on the almighty search for that one little part and they must have succeeded as the old T was almost resurrected. Bob was very happy & proud to be driving around in his ’64 Dodge Monaco or his ’63 Chevrolet Impala SS.

Bob lost two granddaughters in a car accident in 2004 just shortly before his retirement.  This loss and the ensuing depression that came with it ended a lot of his motivation for his pet projects.

Over the last several years Bob had an almost daily routine of going to the coffee shop, and a weekly routine of running to Prince Albert for a few groceries then maybe a meal out with his daughter.

In February 2022, when Saskatchewan was on a shutdown from a miserable snowstorm, he was finally convinced at the age of 86 years by his daughter Lorrie to relocate to Senior Housing in Birch Hills, SK. This is where he resided until his passing. Bob enjoyed watching the birds, and the deer out the window, and watching tv shows about animals he had never ever heard of.

Left to mourn Bob’s passing are his daughters Debbie (Warren) Apesland, Lorrie Braaten, & Terry (Bruce) Wait; His grandchildren & great-grandchildren Mathew (Stefanie), Isla, Milo; Alexandra; Jeffrey, Kaitlyn, Tia, Mya; Devin (Krystle), Emma, Ava, & Dax; his sister Violet; his brother and sister-in-law Albert & Vicki and sisters-in-law Marie & Joan; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, & friends. Bob was predeceased by his granddaughters Jennifer & Angela Wait; his fur buddy of 19 years, Poppy; his parents Oliver & May Braaten; his siblings Arthur (Ann), Olive, Arnold, George & Orvin and his brothers-in-law Harvey Boe & Dan Young.  A Funeral Service will be held at Lake Park Baptist Church, Birch Hills, SK on Friday, June 10^th, 2022, at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Foundation, by mail at 1200-2300 Yonge St, Box 2414, Toronto, ON, M4P 1E4 or by calling 1-888-473-4636. Condolences can be sent to the family on our website at www.mackenziechapel.ca.  Arrangements in care of MacKenzie Chapel & Crematorium.  Brian & Bev Stobbs, Mark Gyoerick – Mel Curle. 306.763.8488.

• Date : 2022-05-29
• Location : Birch Hills, SK