HURON — Robert H. Jones, age 89, of Huron, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025, at his home under hospice care.
His Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 31, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Huron.
Robert Hugh Jones was born on a cold windy December 24, 1935, night in Dupree, South Dakota to parents Art and Freda (Serr) Jones. He graduated from Dupree High School in 1954.
Bob ventured to Rapid City and attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and graduated with a B.S.C.E in 1960.
On October 1, 1961, Bob married Sharon L. Schnathorst in Huron.
Following his college graduation, Bob worked for the Bureau of Reclamation in Huron transferring to the Bureaus office in Reno, Nev., in 1965. Then he transferred to the Bureau’s office in Bismarck, N.D., in 1968. He was appointed Construction Engineer with Western Area Power Administration in Huron in 1979. In 1989 he was appointed as Deputy Area Manager in the Loveland, Colorado area office of WAPA retiring in 1996.
Bob was elected and served as Huron City Commissioner 1999-2002. He served on the city’s Park and Recreation Board and Planning Commission. He served on the water board in Loveland, Colo., and on the Mid-Dakota Rural Water board from 1997-2014, serving as its President. He became a member of the S.D. Rural Water Board in 2006, where he served as secretary. He also served on the Crossroads Board of Directors from 2003-2006. Bob was a member of the Kiwanis Club where he served as its president, serving many a pancake during the State Fair. He was a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, NARFE, RSVP and AARP and helped deliver many Meals On Wheels. Bob enjoyed reading, playing computer games, playing cards and having coffee with his friends.
Bob is preceded in death by parents, brother and sister-in-law Leland and Lois Jones, brother Larry, sister and brother-in-law Kathleen and Clarence Greene, one niece Julie Greene, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Betty Schnathorst and W.P. Swanson, two brothers-in-laws, Scott Schnathorst, A.J. Schnathorst and daughter-in-law Tasha Tupper Jones.
Bob is survived by his wife Sharon of Huron; his children Paige (Darrell) Allen of Otterbein, Ind., Bret (Lara), Castle Rock, Colo., Todd, Vermillion, and Kim (Todd) Smith, Huron; grandchildren Ashley (Luke) Womack, Brittany (Greg) Wardle, Jacob Smith (Taylynn), Cael Jones, Ben (Tracie)Allen, Kristen (Phil) Palmer and Zach (Jill) Allen; great-grandchildren Connor and Grace Wardle, Rylan and Raegan Womack, Christopher, Jackson and Penelope Allen, Theo Palmer, and Max Allen; brother and sister-in-law Elaine (Smitty) Holland of Travelers Rest, S.C.; sister-in law Peggy Jones of Aberdeen; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob cared about his fellow human beings so in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Salvation Army Food Pantry, Feeding South Dakota or other safety net organizations.
