Everything Fell Into Place

My husband’s uncle, Bobby Cole, was born and raised in South Dakota. I’m not certain about all the details of how he met my husband’s aunt, Linda “Knox” Cole, but I know they crossed paths in Colstrip, Montana, where her parents were living at the time. I would imagine that Bobby was working at the coal mine there, when a certain girl caught his attention. Once he met Linda, he was smitten, knowing she was the love of his life…and as it turns out, he was right. They married on December 29, 1965, and shared their lives together until Bobby’s passing on May 30, 2014.

Bobby grew up on his parents’ farm, so the country lifestyle was second nature to him. Still, like many kids, the idea of a change of pace…and a little independence…was enticing. After high school, most kids either move out for work or head to college, and for Bobby, moving to Colstrip, Montana turned out to be the best decision he ever made. When he met Linda, everything fell into place. They dated for a while before heading to Las Vegas, Nevada to get married. After their wedding, they welcomed two children…a daughter, Sheila, and a son, Patrick…and later, their lives were further blessed with multiple grandchildren.

When their kids were young, Linda and Bobby moved to Kennebec, South Dakota, where they ran a hotel and welcomed a few guests…pretty good for such a tiny town. For us, visiting felt like staying at a bed and breakfast, though the other guests had to find breakfast elsewhere. Too bad for them!! Our trips were always so relaxing, filled with that unmistakable small-town charm I loved. I wouldn’t want to live in a small town full-time, but as an annual getaway, it was perfect. Maybe it was the break from daily life that made it so appealing. Since we didn’t see Linda and Bobby often, having unhurried time together was a rare treat. Visits were always filled with laughter and fun.

A few years later, their hotel was hit by lightning during a summer storm and burned to the ground. After the fire, they decided to leave both the hotel business and Kennebec. That’s when they moved to Winnemucca, Nevada, and for the most part, the annual trips came to an end. Winnemucca was just too far for a weekend getaway like Kennebec had been. I was always sad to see those trips stop…it felt like the end of an era. The only thing sadder was when Bobby passed away, and later, when Linda did. I’ll always miss them. They were a fun couple, and we really enjoyed visiting them. Today would have been Bobby’s 83rd birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Bobby. We love and miss you very much.