Dr. Robert Rogers Kelso

Dr. Robert Rogers Kelso, 87, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2019.

Born September 10, 1931, in Rock Springs, Wyo., Dr. Robert Rogers Kelso, grew up in Wyoming and spent the better part of his life in the state. He attended Whitman University in Walla Walla, Wash., for his Bachelor's degree, completed in 1953. He returned to Wyoming as a social worker in Uinta County and it was during this time that he met Janine Hoagland, whom he married in 1965. Bob and Janine moved to Laramie where he began work on his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. They had their first child, Julia, in 1968.

After completing his Ph.D., Bob and Janine moved to Greeley, Colo., where his second child, Laurel, was born. In 1974, the family returned to Wyoming, where Bob took a job as a psychologist at the Gottsche Rehabilitation Center in Thermopolis. He was the longest-running employee at Gottsche and was voted Wyoming Psychologist of the Year in 1990. "Dr. Bob" also volunteered with the Children's Center. This was one of his greatest professional joys.

Bob retired in 2008 and he and Janine moved to Billings, Mont., in 2013. Bob and Janine lived a quiet and peaceful life in Billings until 2018, when they moved to Washington to be closer to their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. It was his relationship with his grandson over the last seven years that brought him the most joy.

Bob was a devoted husband to Janine, whom he cherished. He spent countless hours assisting Janine with volunteer projects including serving and delivering meals as part of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church's meal program. He was a quite but fiercely dedicated family man, making him not only the light of his wife and daughters' eyes, but also the favorite uncle of his nieces and nephews.

Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janine; sister, Laura Ann (Lolly) Jolley; daughters, Julia and Laurel; son-in-law, Rolando; grandson, Paolo; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister Jean Phillips in 2011.