Robert Charles Hammond

Robert Charles “Bob” Hammond was born October 15, 1932 in Salmon, Idaho and passed away in the University of Utah Medical Center of congestive heart failure. He was the eldest son of Robert B. and Sue O’Connor Hammond. He attended schools in Mackay and Challis. After graduating from Challis High School in 1950, he enrolled at Idaho State University. He was a member of the 1953 Rocky Mountain Conference Champion Bengal football team coached by Babe Caccia. In 1954 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business and received the Distinguished Military Student award. He served in the United States Army for two years at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Bob married Lorna Fern Osterberg on February 27, 1955 in Idaho Falls, Idaho and she accompanied him to Erlangen, Germany where he served as a Field Artillery officer in a 155 howitzer battalion during the Cold War. Upon his return to Idaho, he located in Idaho Falls and was involved in the construction machinery business for 26 years. He had farms in New Sweden and with his brother built the KOA campground in Idaho Falls.

He was always active in civic affairs, serving as President of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce 1973-74 and worked with many fundraising events for both charitable and religious organizations. He was one of the original founders of University Place. In 1977 Bob was asked to serve on Intermountain Healthcare Hospital’s first Board of Directors in Salt Lake City.

In 1983 he had the honor of being named Idaho Business Leader of the Year by Alpha Kappa Psi of Idaho State University. Bob served on the Advisory Council of the College of Business at ISU. In 1986 he purchased Jenson Oil Company in Challis, Idaho. This company still serves several service stations and the mining and agricultural industries. After Bob and Lorna sold the company to the Stinker Stations of Boise, they traveled numerous to Cancun, Mexico and St. George, Utah where they have many friends.

Bob was a member of the Presbyterian Church, Masonic Order AM and FM for 58 years and a member of the El Korah Shrine in Boise for 48 years. He was a member of the American Legion. His special interests were his family, flying, traveling, golfing, reading, and in following agricultural activities.

Bob and Lorna were the fourth generation owners of the Challis Hot Springs Resort in Challis, Idaho. The owner/management duties have been passed to their daughters.

He is survived by Lorna, his wife of 58 years, one son, Robert Lance (Kerry) Hammond of Hendersonville, Tennessee, two daughters, Kathrin Sue “Kate” (Robert) Taylor of Challis, Idaho, and Mary Elizabeth (Jeffery) Conner of Boise, Idaho. Five grandchildren Jarrod Robert (Megan) Hammond of Kansas City, Missouri, Marisa Nicole Hammond of Boynton, Pennsylvania, J. D. Taylor, Sean Kelly and Nicholas Clancy Conner. One great-grandchild, David Robert Hammond.

Funeral services for Bob will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Buck-Miller-Hann Funeral Home, 825 East 17th Street in Idaho Falls. Burial will follow at the New Sweden Cemetery. Bob’s family will greet friends one hour prior on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations be made to either the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Fairfax Road at Virginia Street Salt Lake City UT 84103, or the Idaho Youth Ranch, 5465 W Irving Street, Boise ID 83706-9957.