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Robert (Bob) E. Platt, 83, Ada, MN passed away on Friday, October 30, 2020 at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND.

Robert (Bob) Eugene Platt was born April 24, 1937 to Esther and Frank Platt of Ada, MN. After Graduating in 1955, he thought he had is his life all planned out. He would work to for a construction company to earn enough money to attend Bottineau School of Forestry and later get a job as a Forest Manager or Wildlife Manager. September 6, 1955, changed his life forever. While working on an elevator in Garretson, SD he lost his footing and fell 20 feet to the ground landing across a sawhorse, breaking his back and severely damaging his spinal cord. After five months of recuperating, with the help of an encouraging therapist working with Bob, he was determined to live his life to the fullest and returned to Ada, walking. He bought himself a motorcycle and went horseback riding. "Can't" was not a word used in his vocabulary going forward.

One day while having lunch at the Quickie Lunch Cafe, he noticed a cute little waitress, Wanda Dittmer, from Gary. They courted for a time and were married on June 17, 1961. It was to be their 60th wedding anniversary in 2021. They raised two children, a son, Daniel, who is retired from the Air Force and lives in Clovis, NM with his wife Linda, and a daughter, Debie, who resides in Circle Pines with her husband Bob Bullis, son, Cody, daughter in-law, Shausty, and great grandchildren, Harlie and August.

While deciding what to do with his life to make a living as a handicap individual, he learned that Selmer Wick was selling his shoe shop business. Bob decided that this was something he could do. He started his own business, Go-Far Gun and Shoe Repair. In 1963 he became a certified orthopedic repair man on braces and prosthesis, one of only 17 in the state of MN. He also took a home study course to become a certified gunsmith. He also went on to become a Johnson Motor Dealer in 1968. In 1975 he received his Master Tech Degree to do warranty work on Johnson and Evinrude motors. He also worked on chain saws. He carried various lines of fishing and hunting equipment, and guns and ammunition. He had all the seasons covered.

Loving the land, Bob raised vegetables and flowers to sell and share. He spearheaded the Conversation Field Day for 6th graders in Norman County. It was held at his parents farmstead outside of Ada. He served on the Ada City Council for 24 years. Throughout his life, Bob held various positions on many committees. He was also a member of the Rod and Gun Club since 1956.

In his spare time he liked wood working and made many beautiful clocks, tables, cedar chests, cabinets and a cross.

A quote from Bob, "I have learned that with every change in life there are opportunities, do not be defeated by disappoints, but to find a way to work around them. I couldn't have done all these things by myself; it was through Wanda's help that I did them."

And a final quote, Bob was always known to tell all his family, "Come home when you can."

Bob is survived by his loving wife and caretaker of 59 years, Wanda; son, Daniel (Linda) Platt, Clovis, NM; daughter, Debie (Bob) Bullis, Circle Pines, MN; grandson, Cody (Shausty); two great-grandchildren, Harlie and August; sisters, Jane Ihry, Carol (Richard) Braunsweigh, Betty (Tom) Pazdernick, Kathy (John) Nysen; brother, Albert "Bud" (Joan) Platt, Bruce Barness; many nieces, nephews, and many special friends and neighbors.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Esther and Frank Platt; sister, Edna Barsness; and brother in-law, Dave Ihry.

Funeral Mass: 11:00 AM, Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ada, MN, with a maximum capacity of 100 people in attendance and following all of the Minnesota and CDC COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. All must wear a mask to attend.

Visitation: One hour before the funeral at the church.

Interment: Ada Municipal Cemetery, Ada, MN.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests sending a donation in honor of Bob Platt to Options Resource Center for Independent Living, Attn: Randy, 318 3rd Street NW, East Grand Forks, MN 56721.

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