Rob Minister passed away on Monday afternoon, July 6, 2009 at St. Mary's Hospital in Reno after suffering a stroke at his home on July 4th. He was 86.

He was born in Poterville, California on February 11, 1923 the second child of Bolton E. and Georgia Minister. RobyRoy Joseph Minister attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles where he excelled in baseball and track. In 1941 he entered Santa Clara University where he studied Mechanical Engineering. In July 1943 he joined the U. S. Navy's V-12 program and was sent to the University of Oklahoma to finish his engineering studies. There he met and fell in love with the Ione Magoffin, whom he married in July 1946. After finishing his Naval training at Annapolis, he became the engineering officer of a US Navy ship carrying top-secert underwater radar. After leaving the Navy, he worked for an engineering company designing steam turbines for power plants in Los Angeles. Shortly thereafter, he joined his father and brother, Bolton F. in purchasing the Maionchi Ranch 11 miles south of Yerington. For the next 30 years, Rob and his brother developed the Minister Ranch into one of the most productive in Mason Valley. In the early 1950's they started one of the first cattle feedlots in western Nevada. Rob put his mechanical and electrical engineering skills to good use, designing and building the feed mill from scratch. At it's peak, the feedlot fed over 2,000 cattle for the beef market. Their cattle was sold to People's Packing Plant in Yerington, as well as to Swift and Safeway. While working full-time on the ranch, Rob still managed to find time to be President of the Lyon County School Board; chairman of the Lyon county Republican Central Committee; founder and president of the Nevada Haygrower's Association; and an officer in the Nevada Cattlemen's Association. After retiring from ranching in 1976, Rob became very active in Lyon County and northern Nevada civic affairs. he was appointed by two different Nevada Governors to the State Board of Equalization and served 1981 - 89. He was the founder and head of the Mason Valley Economic Development Council, which he lead from 1976 - 1986. he council promoted new industry and good-paying jobs in rural Nevada. He was intimately involved with the Lyon County Republican Central Committee for over 60 years.

He is survived by his son, David and his wife Regina of Lafayette, CA; two granddaughters, Shelby and Paige Minister; his brother, Bolton F. of Yerington; and by many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Ione of more than 50 years in 1997.

A Rosary will be recited 7:00 pm Thursday, July 9th at the Holy Family Catholic Church 37 N. West Street Yerington. The Funeral Mass will be at the Church 10:00 am Friday, July 10th with burial in the family plot at Valley View Cemetery.

Family and Friends may sign the online guest book at www.FRFH.net

Arrangements are under the direction of Freitas Rupracht Funeral Home, Yerington (775) 463-2911.