A good cowboy, fine buckaroo, and wonderful family man has gone to be with the Lord. His bride, brother and best cowboy friends were waiting for him at the gates of Heaven. As friends described him, Bob was an experience! His most treasured times were on the back of a horse, and he always felt like he was born in the wrong century.

Robert Duane Lantis was born on January 28th, 1935, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Mildred (Maschmeier) and Merl Lantis. Starting at 2 years old he was horseback and stayed horseback his entire life. He grew up working in the family restaurant and learned how to connect with people as a young boy of 10 years old.

He proudly served as an Aircraft Maintenance Crew Chief in the U.S. Army in Texas and Korea. He was honorably discharged and then attended the University of South Dakota where he was instrumental in starting the Rodeo Club. At a dance at Mount Marty College, he met the love of his life, Julie Holmes. After a two-year courtship, they married on September 30th, 1961. Four children would come from their union.

Bob began his career with Boeing on the Minute Man 2 Missile sites which took him and his family to many towns in Missouri, Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. He finally settled his family in Rapid City working as a traveling salesman for Huntington Laboratories for over thirty years. He spent summers refinishing gym floors and going on pack trips. It was those pack trips that launched his outfitting business, Gunsel Horse Adventures, which spanned fifty years. Guests, children and grandchildren all enjoyed spending time with Bob in the backcountry.

In 1968 he joined the Western South Dakota Buckaroos and was proudly responsible for starting the Buckaroo funeral ceremony. He rode on numerous departed Buckaroos. In 1972 Bob started helping with the roundup and branding of buffalo in Custer State Park. He rode in his last buffalo roundup at the age of 89 with his children and grandchildren riding alongside him.

Bob is survived by his children: Sarah (Robert) Thompson, Molly (Steve) Olivier, Laura (Rob) Varilek, Mark (Kim) Lantis. Grandchildren: Austin (Sara) Olivier, Josh Shoemaker, Levi (Erin) Olivier, Tessa (Trace) Timmer, Wyatt Lantis, Faith (Chase) Vinatieri, Morgan Lantis, Rachel Varilek, Garrett Varilek, Haley Gruba. Great-grandchildren: Henry, Brexton, Quinn, Adley, Krew, and another baby due in June. Brothers, Don (Reta) Lantis, Ken (Chris) Lantis, sister, Marge Bagley and numerous nieces and nephews. Bob is preceded in death by his wife, Julie, parents, Merl and Mildred Lantis and brother Will Lantis.

Memorials can be made to the Western South Dakota Buckaroos Scholarship Fund, PO Box 186 Belle Fourche, SD 57717.