Robert James Walton was born October 15, 1942 in Webster, SD to parents J.L. and Gladys (Bertz) Walton. He died April 9, 2012 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls at the age of 69 years, five months and 24 days. Bob attended country school for 8 years and rode horse 2 ½ miles each way or even walked sometimes. After grade school he claims to have made the biggest mistake of his young life when he traded his horse named Sox for a 1939 Ford. Bob worked for a neighbor farmer for three summers and a local carpenter building silos and granaries for two summer. Following his graduation from Webster High School in 1960 he joined the US Navy. Following his honorable discharge in 1963 he worked in Fort Worth, Texas then moved back to Webster where he worked in a bakery. In 1968 Bob joined the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and spent 25 years with them. Throughout his career he had a lot of good memories and experienced a lot of changes in the Department. He received the Governor Award for Employee Excellence in Safety/Heroism in 1991 from then Gov. Mickelson. Bob married Gail Bovill November 9, 1991 and they moved to the Beresford area. He worked maintenance in a couple of nursing homes and for 9 ½ years at Woodfield Center in Beresford. He retired from there due to shoulder injuries and worked at a convenience store in Beresford for 8 years before retiring due to health reasons. He enjoyed family, life and his many friends, especially spending time with Gail. Bob spent most of his last years doing what he loved- fishing. Many happy hours were spent fishing with Gail and his two boys, mainly in the Canton, Beresford and Waubay area lakes and rivers. Survivors include his wife, Gail Walton; two sons, Jay (Beth Nyberg) Walton and Tracey Walton all of Canton; two stepsons, Charles (Sheree) Ball of Sioux City, IA and Kelley Ball of Los Angeles, CA; stepdaughter, Cindy Burns of Rockton, IL; stepdaughter-in-law, Darla Ball of Larchwood, IA; four grandchildren, Tori, Derrick, Brandon and Elias Walton; 6 step grandchildren, Jennifer Froelich, Jesse Burns, Cory, Jamie, Kayla and McKenzie Ball; sister-in-law, Cheryl Smith of Coeur d'Alene, ID. His parents preceded him in death. A memorial service with military honors will be 2PM Saturday, April 14th, 2012 at Romsdal Lutheran Church in rural Beresford, SD.