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- [S927] Obituary.
Speeter, Robert L. age 97, of Minneapolis, died Feb. 9, 2012. Bob was born Nov. 13, 1914 in Eyota, MN, the son of Harry J. and Rose Pouliot Speeter. His family moved to the Twin Cities in the early '20s. Bob graduated from DeLaSalle High School in 1932 and attended St. Thomas College and the University of Minnesota Law School, receiving his law degree in 1939. He accepted an offer to set up a law practice in Pine Island, MN and in 1941, with his business established, married Lucille Rekdahl, the love of his life. During World War II, Bob served as a special agent in the FBI. He resumed the practice of law after the war and remained an active attorney until his retirement in 2004. Bob's practice specialized in the areas of estate planning and administration, corporate governance, real estate and adoption. He also served as general counsel for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for 40 years. Bob was highly regarded as a leader in adoption law reform and served as Chair of the Juvenile Court Section of the Hennepin County Bar Association. Bob was especially devoted to Catholic education and will be remembered for his work in the expansion and development of various community schools and churches. In the 1950s, Bob recognized the need for a Catholic high school west of Minneapolis. He formed an organizing committee, obtained approval from the Archdiocese, and co-chaired the fundraising drive for the construction of Benilde High School. In 1974 he helped mastermind the consolidation of Benilde and St. Margaret's Academy. Bob also served as legal counsel for several area Catholic churches. Bob's volunteer activities were numerous. He was a trustee of St. John the Evangelist Church, St. Mary's Rehabilitation Center, Catholic Charities, St. Margaret's Academy, Benilde-St. Margaret's High School, St. Catherine's College, St. Mary's Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. He served as Grand Knight of Hopkins Knights of Columbus, President of the Minneapolis Serra Club and District Governor of Serra International District 7. Bob served on the Executive Committee of the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul. His many awards included recognition as a Friend of St. Stephen's, an Honorary Christian Brother, an Extraordinary Minister and recipient of the Red Knight Leadership Award. He was especially proud of his role as Chairman of the Pine Island Cheese Festival in 1941. Bob was firmly committed to peace and justice causes on both local and national levels. During the Vietnam War years he traveled with Lucille to meet with various delegations at the Paris Peace Talks in the hope of contributing to a speedy resolution of that conflict. Bob was preceded in death by Lucille, his loving wife of 65 years, his son Greg of Hatfield, MA, who died Feb. 2, 2012, and his brother, Merrill of Kalamazoo, MI. He is survived by his children, Richard (Karen) Speeter of Orono, Cheryl (Alan) Margoles of St. Louis Park, Patrice (Brian) Beddor of Dexter, MI, LuAnne Speeter of Edina and Robert M. (Shanlee) Speeter of Minnetonka; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial 2 p.m. Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, One Lourdes Place, Minneapolis. Visitation 5-8 p.m. Thursday (7:30 p.m. prayer service) at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Home, 3960 Wooddale Av. S, St. Louis Park and one hour prior to Mass at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Church or National Priorities Project, 243 King Street, Suite 109, Northampton, MA 01060 (nationalpriorities.org).
Published on February 11, 2012
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1914 - 2012 (97 years)