Continuing the Crook County News Since 1884
Robert LeRoy (Jenison) Beaudoin passed away at the age of 86, Friday, March 8, 2019 in the home he helped build.
Bob was born January 6, 1933 in Alexandria, South Dakota, to Gertrude E. Cummings and Melvin (Jack) Beaudoin but raised by his mother Gertrude and stepfather Meritt Jenison. During his early years, the Jenison family lived in a number of states during World War II, but settled in Avon, South Dakota where Bob attended school and developed his love for high school athletics.
Following high school in 1951, he attended Southern State Teachers College, in Springfield, South Dakota, where he later received his degree and teaching certificate.
He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a communications center specialist and served in North Africa and later California. It was in California he first married, and to that union was blessed with three sons.
Education drew him back to eastern South Dakota where he began his life's ambition of teaching and coaching. Following a separation and divorce, Bob settled as a single father raising his boys in Mitchell, South Dakota, where he later met and married Bonnie Jean Heronimus on March 11, 1964.
Bob moved his family to Sundance, Wyoming, in 1964, and with the blessing of two more children, lived the rest of his years in Bulldog Country. Bob taught civics, history and coached high schools sports for over 35 years.
In those years, he cherished being a part of so many wonderful lives and helping develop many outstanding athletic and academic young men and women. During his summers, Bob attended graduate school at South Dakota State University, in Brookings, earning a master's in education, and also worked for local businesses including the Bernd's family, building houses in Sundance and driving truck for Robert's Construction.
Bob had many hobbies, especially woodworking, golf and bowling. He made wonderful friends over the years, many enjoyed playing golf, bridge and bowling allowing the consummate coach Beaudoin to share his wisdoms and solutions to making meld and correcting the occasional hook or slice. Bob loved his dogs and could be seen driving to the post office with his girl sitting on his lap.
Bob was preceded in death by his father, Meritt; stepfather, Agner Bach; mother, Gertrude; brothers, Ed, Ray and Clarence Jenison. Robert leaves behind his wife of almost 55 years, Bonnie; his brother. Larry (Betty) Jenison; sons. Mike (Kathleen), Jan, Eric (Terri), Guy (Marianne) and daughter, Angela (Jim); seventeen grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
Bob was a Mason for over 60 years, a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and the Kalif Shrine of Wyoming and he lived the Theological and Cardinal virtues of Freemasonry.
No services have been scheduled at his request, but a celebration of life will be scheduled in the spring with honors at Black Hills National Cemetery. Memorials will be established with the United Methodist Church of Sundance and the Shriner's Hospital; donations may be mailed to PO Box 942, Sundance, WY, 82729, and with the Crook County Senior Services at PO Box 648, Sundance, WY 82729.
Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance. Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com