Robert William Nissen

Robert William Nissen, age 91, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 4, in Bellevue Washington.

Robert was born in Ritzville on January 19, 1923 to William and Amelia (Koeplin) Nissen. He graduated from Ritzville High School in 1941. After graduation, Bob worked on the family farm near Ralston until he enlisted in the Navy in 1944. He served in the Navy in the South Pacific until shortly after World War II ended and then moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend vocational school to study electronics.

Bob returned home to Ralston when his father needed help with the farm. There he met his future wife Vera Smith and they were married in 1953. Bob and Vera moved to Mesa, Washington where he went to work for Big Bend Electric until he and Vera moved to Lind to farm in 1959. Bob purchased his father and mother’s farm in Ralston and farmed both properties until he moved to Spokane in 1984. Thereafter, he shared farming responsibilities with his son, David Nissen. Bob and Vera moved to Bellevue in late 2009.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Francis Lobe and Arlene Lobe.

Robert is survived by his wife Vera and their two children, David Nissen of Portland, Oregon and Robbin (Nissen) Schill of Bellevue and his two grandsons in Littleton, Colorado.

Although no funeral services are planned, a memorial luncheon will be held in Ritzville at the end of the summer.