Robert George Befort

Robert George Befort was born on June 4 1932, in Rochester, Minnesota, to George and Luella Befort. One of six children, he grew up on a number of farms in Minnesota and Iowa. After graduating from Lourdes Catholic High School in Rochester in 1950, he and his family moved to San Diego, California. Soon after his arrival in California, he would meet the woman of his dreams. His best friend, Bill, was dating a girl named Carlene. When Bill left San Diego for a brief trip, he jokingly asked Robert to “take care of Carlene” while he was away. Always the loyal friend, Bob did as he was told, and on October 16, 1954, he married Carlene Mae Dunkelberger, with Bill as best man. With Carlene, he raised three children, Bonnie, Robert, and Barbi. He and his father bought a former miniature golf course in Chula Vista, and converted it into a German Restaurant, Pine Garden, where he worked as a cook. He and his father eventually sold the restaurant and became general contractors. He and his father worked together many years building and remodeling homes in Southern California. Robert eventually became a supervisor at Rohr Industries in Chula Vista, California, where he would work until retirement in 1994. Robert is survived by his wife Carlene, daughters Bonnie and Barbi, sister Joyce, brother Daniel, Grandchildren Robert, Cynthia, James, Stacy, Jessica, Andrew and Sarah, and several Great-Grandchildren. His son, Robert Carl, passed away in 2000.

To the many family, friends, and perfect strangers that were blessed to know him, Robert was gentle, kind, generous, and jovial. He had a magnetic smile and sense of humor. His love of family, both human and canine, was always at the center of his being. He loved nothing more than watching the bats fly through the sunset with his grandson in Montana, letting his granddaughter paint his nails, and receiving a call from his daughter every day of his life. He was an immensely talented craftsman, and loved to build, paint, and saw. Every year, he crafted over one hundred gifts and decorations for the staff luncheon of his daughter’s elementary school, an activity he continued through the final weeks of his life. He had an incredibly quick wit, and seemed to know something about everything. He gave his grandson his first driving lesson, tutored his granddaughter in Latin pronunciation, and managed to help his daughter with math that he hadn’t studied in decades. He imparted many lessons to his friends and family, among which the most significant are: popcorn is not something to eat, it’s something to do. No matter what the weather man says, it’s hot. And anything, anything, can be fixed with a hammer. Robert Befort will be sorely missed by all who had the honor to know him.