Born August 9, 1922, in Pierre, South Dakota to Deane Wilson Starkey and Lucille LaPlante
Starkey. At time of death on October 16, 2019, he joined his parents, brother John (Jack)
Frederick Starkey and sister Marjorie Jane (Starkey) Solomon. His beloved wife Barbara Lee
predeceased him in 1980. Surviving are his daughters Marjorie Jane Starkey, Kay LaPlante
Starkey, Grandchildren Camille LaPlante, Selah, Wren and his great grandson Edan (Wee
Wanbli Mahto).
Following his Pierre High School graduation in 1940, Bob was honorably discharged from the
147th Field Artillery, South Dakota National Guard. He immediately enlisted into the U.S. Army
Air Corps. He remained on active duty after WWII, and was retired from the United States Air
Force on November 1, 1972, after 32 years of service.
During WWII, he served in the European Theater of Operations, as a combat Glider Pilot. He
landed airborne troops and equipment in enemy infiltrated positions. He was decorated with the
Air Medal, Bronze Star, Presidential Citations and the Bronze Arrowhead for an initial invasion.
For the liberation of Holland, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands awarded him The Order of
the Orange Lanyard for Valor. Subsequent foreign service included Alaska (1949), Greenland
(1955), Spain (1959) and Panama (1966). The family accompanied him during tours in Spain
and Panama.
As a 4th generation member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, he spent his youth at the Old
Cheyenne Agency, the Half Moon Ranch and Pierre, SD.
When asked why, as a American Indian, he enlisted to fight for the U.S. Military, he replied, "My
people lost our land and freedoms once, I wanted to help keep it from happening again."
He will be laid to rest with his beloved wife at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San
Antonio, Texas.
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