Robert J. Viktora answered God's call to come and join him on Sunday, November 3, 2013, enjoying what he loved, being out on the land.

Bob was born January 12, 1937 to John and Marie (Humpal) Viktora in Fairfax, South Dakota.  He attended 12 years of school and graduated from Fairfax.  He later attended business school in Rapid City, South Dakota.  While there he met his future wife, Deanna Tietgen, and they were married on May 10, 1958 in Fairfax.

Bob ranched in Fairfax, then worked in Houston, Texas and Mitchell, South Dakota.  They settled in Hot Springs, South Dakota where Bob worked at the VA for over 25 years.

Bob was president of the Hot Springs School Board and served as chairman of the Black Hills Federal Credit Union in Hot Springs.  He was a member of the Hot Springs Volunteer Fire Department for over 15 years.  After retiring from the VA, he split his time between Hot Springs and Fairfax on the ranch.

The greatest joy in Bob's life was the time he spent with his wife in all their good visits.  They discovered something new each day to visit about.  He enjoyed the fun of having the nieces and nephews come to the ranch and later their children as they discovered the farm and ranch life.  A special joy he had was dying Easter eggs with his great-niece and great-nephews.

One thing that many people will remember about him, especially the women, were his big bear-hugs.  If you ever had one, you would never forget it.

Over the years Bob enjoyed ranching and farming, as he always enjoyed the changes that God could create, both in the land and in the livestock.  He enjoyed hunting both at the ranch and in the Black Hills.  He believed in allowing young people and anyone interested in hunting to have a place to hunt.  He saw to it that the ranch was set up for free walk-in hunting, which has been enjoyed by many.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Joseph; a sister, Marilyn; his grandparents, Frank and Tracy Viktora and Charles and Sophie Humpal and several aunts and uncles.

Bob is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Dee of Hot Springs, SD; his brother, Leo (Jan) Viktora of Saint Paul, MN; his nieces: Kristi (John), Liza (Bill), and Vanessa (Joe), great nieces: Julia, Evelyn, and Ana; and great-nephews Christopher and Benjamin; brothers-in-law: Darwin (Janet) Tietgen of St. Michael, MN; Charley Tietgen of Park City, UT; Don (Rennae) Tietgen of Brandon, SD; nieces: Lisa (Joe), Leslie (Charley), Kim, and Stacy (Mike); his nephew, Jared (Marianne); great-nieces: Victoria, Cammie, McKenzie, Ceylee, Tiffany, and Candice; great-nephews: CJ, Austin, Brooks, Ian, Remington, and Trig; his special aunt, Pat Koenig and uncles Marvin (Alice) Humpal and Loren (Cleone) Humpal and many cousins.

A memorial fund will be established at

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke, SD. Visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 PM at the church. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the Herrick Cemetery, Herrick