John “JP” Robbins

John “JP” Robbins

John Patrick “JP” Robbins, 39, of Knox, North Dakota, passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, with his family by his side.

John was born July 14, 1972, at Rugby, North Dakota, to John and Patty (Larson) Robbins. JP grew up in Knox and graduated from Leeds Public High School. He earned degrees from Lake Region College in Devils Lake, and from Bismarck State College. He worked at Larson Implement in Leeds for five years, and was hired as a Weights & Measures Inspector for the Public Service Commission (PSC) of North Dakota in 1998. He fulfilled the requirements of the Basic Mass Metrology Training Course and went on to complete the Laboratory Metrology Seminar at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland. With these new skills he worked as an assistant to the state metrologist in addition to his other job duties.

JP enjoyed his work, farming, and hanging out with his family. He was very active in the Knox Community Church. In addition to building and maintaining the church website, he arranged to have the weekly sermons broadcasted on radio and online. He was a trustee of the church for a number of years, and served as a Knox City Council member for 12 years. He also enjoyed working on all kinds of equipment and machinery at his “shop”, and visiting with all his buddies who stopped in.

He is survived by his mother, Pat Robbins of Knox; his sister, Karen (John) Arlien of Baldwin; nephews, Jared Arlien of Rugby, Ethan Arlien of Bismarck, and Keenan Arlien of Baldwin; a special family friend, Marcus Olaveson of Rugby; several aunts and uncles; and numerous cousins.He was preceded in death by his father (Feb. 16, 1998) and his paternal and maternal grandparents.

A Service of Remembrance was held Monday, July 25, 2011, at First Lutheran Church, Rugby. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Knox, at a later date.

Pastor Brenda Burns, of Knox Community Church, officiated. Music was provided by Richard Bischoff, Arlene Johnson, and Eldon Borgen.

Bearers were his family, who carried him through.

Honorary Bearers were his Weights & Measures Crew, his Farming Crew, and his Shop Crew.

Arrangements by Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby.