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FAIRMONT -- A Funeral Service for Robert "Bob" L. Tenney, 89, of Fairmont, Minn., will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at the United Methodist Church in Fairmont. Burial with military honors provided by the Lee C. Prentice American Legion Post 36 and Martin County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1222 will be held at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Bob passed away on Monday morning, July 27, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Fairmont. Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Fairmont is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Robert "Bob" Lee Tenney was born on July 6, 1937, to Albert E. and Alice H. (Lenz) Tenney in Fairmont, Minn. He attended District 8 country school and graduated from Granada School District. Bob served in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Hood, in Killeen, Texas and then the Reserves from 1960 to 1966.
On Sept. 4, 1960, Bob was united in marriage to Gracie Anderson at the United Methodist Church in Fairmont, Minn. The couple moved to Killeen, Texas for a year before returning to Fairmont and finally making their home on Gracie's family farm near Fairmont.
Bob lived a life defined by hard work, faith, service, and kindness. A lifelong farmer, he took great pride in working the land and was well known throughout the community for his custom grain drilling and custom hay baling. For many years, he was also a partner and mechanic at D & R Repair in Fairmont, where his mechanical knowledge and willingness to help others earned him the respect and friendship of many.
Bob was deeply committed to his community. He served as the East Chain High School PTA President in 1983 and drove school bus for the East Chain School from 1962 to 1969. He was a longtime member of East Chain United Methodist Church.
When he wasn’t working, Bob found joy in life’s simple pleasures. He was an avid Minnesota Twins fan who rarely missed a game, loved spending time fishing, and enjoyed tending his garden--especially raising potatoes and sweet corn. He never turned down a trip to Dairy Queen for an ice cream treat and cherished every opportunity to visit with friends, neighbors, and anyone willing to share a conversation.
Above all else, Bob was a loving and devoted husband to his beloved wife, Gracie. Their love was evident to everyone who knew them, and they were truly inseparable. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, hard work, and unwavering devotion. The love they shared will remain an enduring example to all who knew them.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children, Twyla (Robert) Morgan of Jacksonville, Fla., Duane Tenney of Fairmont, Minn. and Diane (James) Wiese of Northfield, Minn.; grandchildren, Tyler Tenney, Noah Tenney, Ethan Tenney, Rachel Tenney, Jonathan Wiese and Adam Wiese; sister, Marilyn Blanchard of Elk River, Minn.; sister-in-law, Kathy Tenney of Fairmont, Minn.; many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Alice Tenney; wife, Gracie Tenney; brothers and sisters, infant twins, Shirley Klinkner, Darrell Tenney, Lyle Tenney, Carol Tenney and Kenneth Tenney; and brothers-in-law, Arnold Klinkner and Brian Blanchard.
www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net