Robert Tongen, 70, of Red Lake Falls, MN died Friday, August 14, 2009 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls with Rev. Gary Graff officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Red Lake Falls. Military honors will be provided by the Red Lake Falls American Legion Post.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with a 7:00 PM prayer service.

Robert LeRoy Tongen was born on December 20, 1938 in Montevideo, MN the second of four sons born to Herman O. and Odella (Olson) Tongen. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. He attended country school near Montevideo and graduated from Echo, MN High School in 1956. While living at home, Bob worked on the family farm and also worked at Chapman Gravel.

Later, Bob worked road construction prior to entering into service with the United States Army in November 1961. He did his basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas and served in the 1st Infantry Division overseas in Germany. Bob was Honorably Discharged from the reserves on October 31, 1967.

He met Carol Dobmeier of Renville, MN and the couple was married on January 9, 1965. To this union there were four children born: Neil, Dean, Kathryn and Mitchell. They made their home in Balaton, MN for a short time where Bob worked for Farmers Union.

He became manager of the Farmers Union in Breckenridge, MN where they lived until 1968 when they moved to Red Lake Falls, MN. Bob served as manager of the Red Lake Falls Farmers Union for the next 15 years, and in 1983 he became Department Manager of the Red Lake County Co-op propane division.

In the late 1970s, Bob was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, a condition he battled for the rest of his life. He enjoyed hunting, especially goose hunting, fishing, gardening and bird watching. Bob retired early enough where he knew he could enjoy retirement.

He was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church and enjoyed being part of the Mens Bible Study. Bob was also a member of the American Legion Post in Red Lake Falls where he was past Post Commander. He volunteered for the local food shelf and Dial-A-Ride.

Survivors include his wife, Carol of Red Lake Falls; children, Neil Tongen of Dickinson, ND, Dean (special friend, Julie Hamburg) Tongen of Argyle, MN, Kathryn (Chad) Jacobson of Crookston, MN and Mitchell (special friend, Amy Sand) Tongen of St. Cloud, MN; grandchildren, Nicholas Tongen, Matthew Tongen both of Red Lake Falls, Amanda Tongen of Santa Maria, CA, and Erik Jacobson of Crookston, MN; brothers, Merton (Marion) Tongen of Fredricksburg, TX, Paul (fianc, Connie Buschette) Tongen of Perham, MN, John (Jane) Tongen of Soldotna, AK; sisters-in-law, Judy Gluth of Renville, MN, Suzanne (Denny) Kaufenberg of Sartell, MN, Vicky (Mike) Ashburn of Sacred Heart, MN and Jacquie (Dan) Mulder of Renville, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law, Earl Dobmeier and brothers-in-law, Dale Dobmeier and Gene Gluth.