Robert George Wales

It has come to pass that Robert George Wales has taken his last breath on Earth on November 18, 2025. He was born in 1945 to the adventuresome couple George Delbert Wales and Helen Randine Bondeli Wales in the small town of New Rockford, North Dakota. George made a living teaching farming techniques to Native Americans. Helen ran a tight ship on the home front and kept tabs on her Norwegian bachelor farmer brothers. Bob’s arrival was greeted with much joy by his older sister Helen Wales (now Helen Thompson). The two remained close his entire life.

When Bob was in elementary school the family moved to Fargo, North Dakota. There Bob got a wonderful childhood. He was a free-range kid who developed a love of baseball by sneaking through a hole in the fence to watch professionals play. It may have been there, watching games, where he found a passion for statistics that would carry him through to degrees in economics from the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University.

Bob arrived in Washington, DC for a job with the federal government. He believed strongly in the idea of civil service and was proud to devote his career to his country. It was on his commute to work on the 11D bus that he met his wife, Constanze Crea.

On one of their first dates, Bob coyly stated “Betcha can’t guess where I’m from!” which was a little annoying to Connie so she guessed the most obscure place she could: Fargo, North Dakota! The rest is history. Bob and Connie married and raised their children Eric and Christina in a quiet neighborhood south of Old Town, Alexandria.

Bob was a great role model. He had strong work ethic and infectious enthusiasm. Most of all he modeled kindness. One of his mottos was “life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.”

Bob was proud of his progeny, although, ever the Midwesterner, not one to brag. He delighted in Eric and Christina’s career successes, celebrated their marriages and was overcome with wonder at the arrival of his grandchildren.

He had, in short, a great life.

Bob is survived by his wife of 47 years, Constanze, his son Eric and daughter-in-law Andrea Yan Wales, his daughter Christina and son-in-law Jeffrey Rosebach, his sister Helen, his sister-in-law Vivien Crea and brother-in-law Ron Rutledge, four grandchildren, and niece and nephews Randi Thompson, Bradley Thompson and Corey Thompson and their families.

A small -and according to Bob’s orders, short! - memorial service will be held at Nativity Lutheran Church, where Bob was a member for many decades, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 11:00am. Following the service, a committal will take place at Mount Comfort Cemetery on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1:00PM.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the American Red Cross, an institution Bob supported for many years.