Robert A. Bustin, 85 of Grand Forks, ND, passed away Saturday, July 27, 2013 in Valley Eldercare Center in Grand Forks. Robert Allen Bustin was born June 10, 1928 in Grand Forks, ND, the son of John H. and Camilla (Hofto) Bustin. He was raised in Grand Forks and graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1946. He attended The Citadel, Charleston, SC, the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND and Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO. He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi Fraternity. He served as a platoon leader in the United States Marine Corps Reserve from May 2, 1949 to December 27, 1951. Robert spent most of his adult life in advertising, marketing, broadcasting, and sales. He was employed with DDBO in San Francisco, CA and CBS Television in New York, NY for eleven and a half years. He was the on-air host of the 4th period UND hockey games, as well as being a sports announcer at WDAZ Television in Grand Forks and a co-host of the daily half-hour talk show,”Party Line.” Later, he served as Vice President of Marketing at First Federal Savings and Loan in Grand Forks. Bustin always stated, the University of North Dakota Hockey Team was his avocation in life. This took off from the time he served as student manager under Cliff “Fido” Purpur from 1949 to1951. He later was the impetus for the funding and putting together the Hockey Sculpture at Ralph Engelstad Arena, the Cliff “Fido” Purpur display, the Dave Christian Olympic display, and the All American UND Players display. He was a former President of the UND Alumni Letter Winners Club. Robert married Ruth (Hewitt) Paulson on July 27,, 1974. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Hewitt Bustin; his daughter, Gretchen Bustin, St. Paul, MN; Step-daughter, Ann Paulson (Ramon Silva), Langdon, ND; grandchildren, Shane Bustin, Minneapolis, MN, Hannah (Jonathan) Banks, Forest Lake, MN; great-grandchildren, Gemma and Tate Banks; and former spouse Maggie Kearny. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Bridget, a son, John and a brother, John, killed in action in China during World War II. The family would like to thank the staff at Valley Eldercare Center and at Altru Hospital for the kind and compassionate care they showed Robert. Please, no flowers. A Celebration of Life: 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Friday August 9, 2013, in the community room at 3210 Cherry Street, Grand Forks, ND. Interment: At a later date. The online memorial registry may be signed at www.normanfuneral.com (The Historic Norman Funeral Home, Grand Forks, ND.
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