Born December 26, 1923, in Cheyenne, OK, Robert Nile Purvis (known by friends and family as Nile), was the youngest of nine children born to Frank and Annetta Purvis. A cowboy almost from the time he could walk, an eight year old Nile and his 12 year old brother George would "batch", herding the family cattle in pasture miles away from home all summer. A cowboy to the end, Nile never went anywhere without his cowboy hat (his great grandson, Riley, identified him as "Grandpa cowboy hat") and boots.
During World War II, Nile served in the Marine Corps Pacific Theater from May, 1944 to July, 1946, achieving the rank of Corporal. After the war Nile worked for various farms in the Great Plains, winding up in Nebraska in 1948, looking for harvest work. It was in Gordon, Nebraska in 1948 that Nile met and married Betty Ann Bruce, beginning a marriage that lasted 67 years until Nile's death, and was blessed with six children, 16 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
In 1957, a promotion to District Manager for Moorman Feed led them to South Dakota, where they settled in Burke. Nile retired from Moorman Feed in 1973 and began his next career in earth moving, buying a dragline crane that traced its lineage to the Mayflower, and an old D6 dozer. In 1982 he retired from the excavation business to ranch and guide hunters.
Nile served on the Burke School Board and the Burke United Methodist Church Board in the 1960's. He spent more than 50 years in the Masons, becoming a Master Mason. He served as a Shriner with the El Riad Temple. Nile was the Commander of VFW Post 9950.
An out-going people lover, Nile was never happier than when he was "visiting" with people over a cup of coffee or a game of cards. He loved to pick up his "email" at Pump n' Stuff with the regulars around a cup of coffee. He was also known for being an infuriatingly lucky Pitch player, "shooting the moon", holding a hand on which no one should have one.
Nile is survived by his wife, Betty, and his six children: Denny ( Linda), Burke; Terri ( Lyle) Schmidt, Sioux Falls, SD; Debb ( John) Brisk, McCool Junction, NE; Vonnie ( Greg) Esterling, Glenwood, IA; Mike Purvis, Scottsdale, AZ; and Tony Purvis , Olathe, KS. Nile is also survived by his sister Opal Myers, living in Oklahoma City, OK.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM at the United Methodist Church in Burke, SD. There will be a visitation on Sunday from 4 PM to 6 PM at the church in Burke.