Robert D. Hendricks

Robert Dean Hendricks, 78, of Fargo, N.D., passed away on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, at Bethany on University due to Parkinson's Disease.

Robert was born on Dec. 4, 1937 to Ned and Margaret Hendricks in Verdon. His family moved to Sidney where he graduated from Sidney High School in 1956.

Robert attended Kearney State College where he met his future wife, Nancy Lonn.

Robert and Nancy married on May 29, 1960. Robert and Nancy began their teaching careers in Fullerton where he taught from 1960 to 1963. They moved to Kearney in 1963 and taught there until 1965 when he moved his family to Fargo, N.D., where he began his 36 year tenure with the Fargo Public Schools.

He began teaching at Central High School prior to the school burning in 1966 where he endured the next two years of split classes at North High while South High was being built. Robert was one of the original staff members for the first day of classes at South High, where he taught until retiring in 2001.

Robert taught English and journalism during his career and was the advisor for both the Sudhian Newspaper and the Bruin Yearbook. Robert took great pride in passing along his knowledge to his students on how to be great reporters, photographers, how to verify the facts, and that reporting the truth is always absolute.

Robert lived and breathed as a Fargo South High Bruin; bringing to the school wide spread recognition and many national awards for himself and for his student's outstanding journalistic abilities. Robert could always be seen walking the halls and at every home game with camera in hand. Robert, better known by staff and students as "RD", was well known in the community for his ability to capture the Bruin spirit and the pulse that kept the Bruin spirit alive during his tenure. RD was the true living "mascot" of the South High Bruins.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Ned and Margaret Hendricks; brother, Ned Hendricks Jr.; two infant brothers; sister, Betty Grothe; in-laws, Earl and Beth Lonn.

Robert is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Nancy; daughter, Lynda (Buck) Paulson, Woodbury, Minn.; son, Bryan (Nukhet) Hendricks, West Fargo, N.D.; daughter, Sally (Ty) Schmidt, Albertville, Minn.; and son, Bradley (Tina) Hendricks, Mayer, Minn. He is also survived by his grandchildren, John (Vanessa) Paulson, Abby (Tim) Yocum, Jessyca Macklin, Logan Schmidt, Madyson and Morgyn Hendricks; sister-in-law, Joy (Jim) Coffey; brother-in-law, George Grothe, and 13 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 7, 2016, at 2 p.m., at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, Fargo, N.D. with visitation beginning at 1 p.m.