Robert William Perkes

June 10, 1931 - June 10, 2025

Robert William Perkes, passed away peacefully at home in Mesa, WA on his 94th birthday, Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Robert was born June 10, 1931, to Asa and Ethel Belnap Perkes in the small town of Moreland, Idaho. He was born in the home of his Grandparents, Oliver and Jael Belnap. He was the oldest of 16 children.

During Robert's childhood he lived in Moreland, Lavaside and Leslie, Idaho where he grew up using coal oil lamps for lighting and no indoor plumbing. He was his father's right-hand man, helping with all the farm duties that a grown man would do. In between growing crops, he maintained cattle and 2000 head of sheep.

After studying Agronomy and Engineering at the University of Idaho, and Animal Husbandry at Ricks College, he returned home to farm and later used the knowledge he acquired to build his homestead in Mesa. Shortly after returning from college in 1952, he met the love of his life, Betty Fern Bowen, and took her on their first date Thanksgiving night. The courtship lasted a mere two months and one week, before they decided to be married in the Idaho Falls Temple on February 5, 1953. Just two-and-a-half months later on April 21, 1953, he received his draft call with orders to report to the Presidio in San Francisco. There he was inducted into the Army on May 6, 1953.

He served in the U.S. Army for 2 years during the Korean War Era. Though he was originally sent to San Francisco, he was later assigned to Ft Lewis, WA for Artillery training. That's where he lost the hearing in his right ear from a large caliber artillery shell exploding in too close proximity. This loss of hearing was a "blessing in disguise" that prevented him from being sent overseas. He was then reassigned to the 204th MPCo in Great Lakes, IL and was able to fulfill his military obligation while living at home with Betty and their soon-to-be-growing family. After completing his assignment, he decided to take a big leap of faith and, on his 27th birthday in 1958, he chose the spot on Block 14 Unit 128 where he and his wife, Betty, would come with a brave group of pioneers to settle in the Columbia Basin.

Robert and Betty purchased for $950 a small 30'x26' barracks that had been used during the Grand Coulee Dam project. They had the building moved to the new Doubletree Ranch, where he and Betty made it into a home. They lived together on the homestead until his passing. Betty will continue to live there with her oldest daughter, Susan, and her husband, Kim. Over the next 67 years, they worked on their land and raised their family. During all of that, they remodeled that little house in every direction, creating the loving home that stands today as a testament to their perseverance and commitment to each other and their family.

Robert was a progressive and talented farmer. He enjoyed raising farm animals and a variety of different crops. What he enjoyed most of all, though, was growing sugar beets and hybrid poplars. He farmed until a back injury led him to seek employment elsewhere. He ultimately went to work for Wilbur-Ellis where he enjoyed delivering fertilizer and chemicals to all of his friends until his retirement 10 years later. Never one to be idle even in retirement, he jumped right into working alongside Betty in her Adult Family Home business until they retired together in 2013.

Robert faithfully enjoyed his fellowship in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in a variety of callings in the Columbia Basin Ward including serving in the Bishopric as the Second Counselor and as Ward Clerk for nearly 20 years.

Robert enjoyed having his children nearby, close enough to connect with and share in each other's lives. He loved attending his grandchildren's sports and activities, gardening, raising chickens. He also enjoyed sharing stories from his nearly a century of life experiences. One of the highlights of his later years was being in the Basin City 4th of July parades. He had always dreamed of owning a Cadillac and you may have seen he and Betty proudly waving from that white 1978 Cadillac Sedan de Ville.

Robert is survived by 5 Generations of family, his wife, Betty of Mesa, WA; and children: Susan (Kim) Pauley of Mesa, WA; Rex (Sharalyn) Perkes of West Richland, WA; Brenda (Ray) Koehler of West Richland, WA; Shirli Perkes Bowen of Richland, WA; Randy (Sharon) Perkes of Kennewick, WA.

12 Grandchildren: Amy K Pauley and fiancé Shane of Pasco, WA; Jed (Alyssa) Pauley of Mesa, WA; Bob (Britta) Perkes of West Richland, WA; Tom (Brianne) Perkes of Oak Ridge, TN; Beth (Ryan) Douglass of Pasco, WA; Christi (Byron) Nield of Rose Hill, KS; Jake (Fernanda) Hilderbrand of Los Alamos, NM; Kalli Shupe of West Richland, WA; Kami (Tim) Johns of West Richland, WA; Taylor (Rayne) Huntzinger of Eltopia, WA; Kenneth Perkes of Kennewick, WA; and Tana (Max) Smith of Kennewick, WA.

25 Great Grandchildren: Ridge (Sydney) Pauley of Deer Lodge, MT; Sierra Pauley of Spokane, WA; Bouwe VanderMeulen of Mesa, WA; Rex Perkes of Rexburg, ID; Eli, Asa and Max Perkes of West Richland, WA; Jayni Perkes of Auburn, WA; Mason Perkes of Oak Ridge, TN; Ender, Cooper, Amelia and Claire Douglass of Pasco, WA; Stryker, Drake and Paisley Nield of Rose Hill, KS; Pearl (Jaxon) Blackburn of Rexburg, ID; Emily Hilderbrand of Alburquerque, NM; Jacob Hilderbrand of Los Alamos, NM; Hudson Shupe of Spokane, WA; Makenzie and Wyatt Shupe of West Richland, WA; Heather (Jonathan) Winegarden of Rochester, MN; Reid and Cade Smith of Kennewick, WA.

3 Great Great Grandchildren: Knox and Vivian Pauley of Deer Lodge, MT; and Adalyn Winegarden of Rochester, MN

Siblings: Jean Bowden, Theo Perkes, Becky Powell, Todd Perkes, and Beth Duncan.

Robert is reunited with his son Bobby, his parents Asa and Ethel Perkes, and siblings Asa Jr, Nancy, Joyce, Richard, Kathryn, Tommy, John, Leon, Don, and Duane.