The Bismarck tribune., 1923-01-17
ROBERT ORR
WIDELY KNOWN
CITIZEN, DIES
Taken Suddenly While Presid-
ing at Meeting of Loan AS
s0ciation Stockholders
PASSED WITHOUT PAIN
Deceased Had Been Active in
Business and Civic Affairs
in City for Many Years

Robert Orr for many years one of
Bismarck's best known and best love d
citizens, and a pioneer in the devel-.
opment of Bismarck as a distribution
center for large area, was taken
suddenly by death about 8 O'Clock
last night while attending a business
meeting of the Bismarck Building
and Loan Association i'm the Offices of
the Provident Life Insurance com.
pany.
Mr.. Orr, who had been president
Of the association since 1917, and
other stakeholder had just finished
their business meeting and review of
successful past year for'the associa-
ton, when he turned and slipped out
of his chair. Death, due to heart
failure, came so suddenly that he
passed away without pain.
Although he had absented himself
from his business affairs for a con-
siderable period sometime ago and
knew of his serious condition, Mr.
Orr had resumed his work, had new
er betrayed any anxiety to his friends
and maintained his usual cheerful
and sunny disposition.
Born in Canada
II 4
Province of Quebec, Canada, Mr.. Orr
when a young man embarked to make
his own way in the United States
OF Scotch ancestry, he put his indie
fatigable energy and ability into his
work and achieved business success
during his lifetime. He first went
to Mapleton, Mimi, entering a gen
eral merchandise store. There he
was wed to Elizabeth Dobie in 1885.
The ability of Mr.. Orr as a salesman
attracted others and later he became
associated with the Patterson Mer-
camille Company Of Mankato as a
district salesman, living for many
years in Fairmont, Mimi. He came
to Bismarck in 1902 with the Bis
marck company, then small con-
Germ, and applied the same energetic
principles which had resulted in his
successful rise from the small store
in Minnesota. At the time of his
death he was a director in the Bis
marck Grocery company, which has
grown to be one of the big concerns
of s~l H.
in charge of Mandan and Bismarck
sales.
Active in Civic Affairs.
During his period of residence in
Bismarck Mr.. Orr also found time to
participate in many civic, charitable
and church activities. He was
member Of the Presbyterian church
virtually all of his life, and had
contributed much to the upbuilding
of the First Presbyterian church in
Bismarck, where he xill be sorely
missed. He had been a member of
the Masonic lodge for about 81 years,
and was a member of the Knights of
Pythias and Ancient Order of United
Workmen. He had been an active
member of the Commercial club for
many years, and served as direc-
tor of that body, and had served on
the city council of Bismarck.
Scores of messages of coincidence
were received at the Orr home at No.
8 Avenue A, from friends, many of
whom had enjoyed the hospitality
which always was to be found there.
Many messages were received at the
Bismarck Grocery company from men
whom Mr.. Orr had known in busi-
ness. His uniformly cheerful anu
charitable disposition had brought
him hundreds of friends in Bismarck,
Mandan and in other cities Of the
state. :,
Mr.. Orr is survived by his widow,
one son, Merton, who is manager OF
the Gamble Robinson company ut
jamestown, Miss Agnes, wnu is in
New Haven, Conn, engaged in pub
licity work; and two brothers and
two sisters. One brother lives inI
Riverfeld, Canada. the -Orr home;
another in Sioux Falls, S. D., one sis
ter resides, in Montreal and another
in Howick, Canada.
FunOal arrangements we're not
made today, arrival Of Merton Orr
being awaited. He was in Mime
apolis attending meeting of man.
ayers of the Gamble Robinson COM
pany, preparatory to making an east
ern trip. when news Of his fathers
death was communicated to him.