Robert Douglas Bronson

Sep. 17, 1943 - May 12, 2013

Date of Service: May 17, 2013

Robert D. Bronson

BURLEY – Robert D. Bronson was born in Burley, Idaho, the son of Robert M. and Lucille Margaret Peacock Bronson, on Sept. 17, 1943. He died Sunday, May 12, 2013, at the age of 69.

He graduated from Burley High School in 1961 and went to Idaho State University for the next four and a half years. Bob was drafted into the United States Army at this time, training in Arlington, Texas, and later being deployed to Tokyo, Japan. While in Japan he worked at the United States Army Hospital, Kishine. He married Mitsuko Mori on Nov 29, 1968.

They returned to Burley, Idaho in 1969, where he started to work with his father in the business of ranching and farming. Bob and Mitsuko spent summers at the ranch working to clear ground or fencing. He dedicated his time and effort to being a good steward of the land and knew sagebrush, cedar trees, and noxious weeds would not produce fat and healthy livestock.

Bob and Mitsuko have two children, Sean and Nicole (Josh Liddiard).

Bob served as the first chairperson for Cassia County Public Lands Committee. He served on the West Cassia Soil and Water Conservation District board of supervisors for 11 years, serving as chairman for two terms. He also served as a S.W.C.D. Division IV officer. He was asked by the Cassia County commissioners to be the representative for Cassia County for the Animal Damage Control Board, he served on the Noxious Weed Committee for Cassia County and served on the Steering Committee for the Idaho Snake River Plain USDA Water Quality Demonstration Project. He also served as the project officer for the Managed Aquifer Recharge of the Oakley Fan Area. In 1998, he was nominated and received an award for Grassman of the year for the State of Idaho.

Bob enjoyed fishing but truly loved to go hunting. He hunted elk, caribou, bear, deer, and pheasant. He enjoyed spending time at the ranch and even built a fishpond. Bob got a kick out of taking his five grand kids fishing. He would carefully bait each hook with a worm and help them cast their line. Around the fishpond he transplanted elderberry bushes and each fall the family would go harvest these berries and make syrup. Bob enjoyed collecting ranch and farm antiques and liked to show his latest discovery to family and friends. He brought home old bottles, date nails, and other great finds.

Bob is survived by his wife, Mitsuko Bronson of Burley; his children, Sean Bronson, and Nicole (Josh) Liddiard all of Burley; his father, Bob Bronson Sr., and his wife, Jane Bronson of Burley; his siblings, Kristi (Jim) Kingma of Grangeville, Idaho, and Brent (Sandy) Bronson of Denver, Colo.; and five grandchildren, Michael Bronson, Aiden Liddiard, Khali Liddiard, Anika Liddiard, and Ethan Liddiard.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucille M. Bronson; and one brother, Karl Bronson.

The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 17, at the View LDS Church, 490 E. 550 S., of Burley, with Bishop Art Thornton officiating. Military rites will be provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Organization.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 9 until 9:45 a.m. Friday at the church.