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Josie Mines
Robert George Mines
March 30th, 1944 - October 19th, 2020
March 30th, 1944 - October 19th, 2020
Robert George Mines, aka Bob Mines, 76, of Colman, McIntosh, and Hot Springs, SD, Chihuahua, MX, and Bisbee, AZ, passed peacefully last week in Tucson, AZ.
Bob was a well-traveled and high-minded spirit whose footsteps, whether in cowboy boots or his preferred sandals, took him through chapters as a rebellious oldest son of a large South Dakota homesteading family, to the University of South Dakota in the 60s, to the University of Denver Law School, and on to pursuits as an attorney, rancher, pilot, raconteur, and a life novels are written about.
Whether defending his clients or his ranch in Mexico, hopping trains, or hitchhiking into his seventies, Bob will be remembered for his strong beliefs, equally strong opinions, passion, recklessness, and (mostly) healthy contempt for convention and authority.
Bob led a prolific life, both literally and figuratively, well past his expected expiration date considering his disregard for his personal health and safety, and due in large part to the daily attention of his daughter Josie, cardiologist Dr. Navin Kedia, his dedicated patient healthcare worker, Olivia Gamez, and his sister Mary Jane, who helped nurse him back to health after triple bypass surgery, for all of whom the family is greatly appreciative.
Bob will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by his beloved children, Reason Mines, Adrian Mines, Michael Mines, Josie Mines, Tanner Delannoy, Eli Mines and Levi Mines, his grandchildren, his surviving siblings, Mary Jane Nelson, Thomas Mines, David Mines, Nancy Hansen, Mark Mines, and Brian Mines. Bob's passing is preceded by that of his parents, George and Genevieve Mines, his brothers, Roger and Paul, and his son, Zachary.
Masses will be said in his name in Bisbee, AZ; Rapid City, SD; and Coleman, SD (dates to be shared once finalized); he will be celebrated at a Sun Dance in Porcupine, SD with close relatives and elders in July of 2021, and friends and family are encouraged to continue sharing Bob Mines stories in his memory. There are lots to tell.
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Andy Reid
Wow - just found out Bob has passed on to act out somewhere else. He told me his Mudville, New Mexico story (ear in bottle, someone roping the juke box and hauling it out, etc.) back in 1980 or so when I was doing cases with him out of his law office in Hot Springs. I was around when Bob built his beautiful rammed-earth Hacienda and got his buffalo herd - scored some imported clay tiles from Mexico from him for my house (he also took my kids for a ride in his plane and had an "exciting" crash landing - all survived fortunately). I remember back then Bob was concerned that semi automatic weapons were going to get banned, so he then promptly went out and bought a couple and showed me how to fire one over on the Gull Ranch. Later, while sitting in Katherine Ortner's living room in Hot Springs with Katherine, Bob, me, and US Rep Tom Daschle (a Fall River County Democratic Party meeting) with Bob advocating for gun rights and Daschle for gun control, the debate boiled down to whether or not the Second Amendment authorized the possession of hand-held nuclear weapons (Bob was wondering where he could purchase one). Another story Bob told several times (don't know if it is true), is that while he was growing up on his family ranch he and his father were checking electric fences when his father grabbed the live wire and told Bob it wasn't on and to grab it. Bob did and got a pretty good shock. Bob said his father had a wooden leg and was standing just on that leg when he grabbed the wire so he didn't ground it. His father told him: "That'll teach you never to trust anyone." I remember some other stories from Bob, but they are too salty to put in writing. Happy Trails...
Josie Mines
Elaine
Bob was an older cousin that I never had the opportunity to know. Last summer he and his sons Eli and Levi came to Canada to help us celebrate 50 years here. He managed to father some of the most amazing people. Eli and Levi are amazing people and I hope they will always be part of our lives. Prolific was used in Bob’s eulogy and it is a term that was used loosely for him. He was prolific in siring children. I’ve had the privilege of only meeting 2. Everything I’ve heard about any others is that they are equally amazing. My deeper condolences to all his siblings and children. Not sure what I should say to any of the Mothers of his children besides saying you’ve done an amazing job
Peggy Lynn
I miss Bob. I am in England right now and thought when I got back to Arizona we will pick up from where we left off and have a blast. Bob and I were great friends. I met Bob at Friends Southwest Center a Quaker Community where he ended up around 2014. He had lots of stories to tell and was writing a screenplay about an incident that happened to him in a town in New Mexico. The story went something like a rogue sheriff who sets up a speed trap to make some side change in nowhere dusty empty crossroads, this speed trap creates a town; a motel to keep the offenders, a bar, a restaurant etc. There is a barroom fight where someone bites off another’s ear and it is placed in a jar on the bar. A speedtrap creates a town and lively tales. And here Bob ends up living for a few years in a Quaker Community. One of the Advices and Queries of Quakers is “To live adventurously.” Well, Bobs life was very adventurous. A lot of the time I knew him it seemed I was getting him out of trouble and here he was in his 60’s a beloved rebel rouser. He found a hat in a thrift store that had Infidel written on it and he wore it with pride (and humor). He loved to write and he loved the law and spent a lot of time filing law suits. He seemed to be involved in multiple court cases though a lot did not have a beneficial outcome for him. But it was using his brilliant mind to challenge what he felt unjust. I just took for granted that he would always be here. I didn’t see him much this last year because of Covid but we would talk on the phone quite alot. I have just started a book that Bob had recommended by Hilary Mantel about Thomas Cromwell. Bob was very much interested in history. We had similar political views. Back in 2016 we both voted for the same candidate and watched the results together and were both stunned and devastated by the result. We would talk politics for hours. and take lovely nature walks. Once we came upon a dead Bobcat and Bob came back later to remove the skull and clean it up and now it resides in my cabinet, after first offering it to Josie who did not find it wise to transport a skull home by plane so I was the lucky receiver of this prize. Bob will be missed by me and all of our community.
Harry Evans
I was a high school classmate of bobs. I think two of his best friends in high school were Virgil Gannon and John Reed. So glad I got to visit bob in his last years.
Rod Mines
Bob his dad my dad and I spent the first summer in Wy where each owned an irrigated farm. Bob was going in to eighth grade and I into fifth. It was pretty sparse conditions Mary Jane was also with us for some time. Aunt kathern and bing would come and bring fruit ect which was highlite of our time there. Bob always had a horny toad tied up with string. One day ditch carrying water washed out and away went his buddy string and knife stuck in ground to hold him One of last times we visited he was still wondering if the knife ever showed up there are still new stories being told about his adventures and to be sure the wilder they are it is almost certain they are true
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