Robert Ledbetter

Robert Ledbetter, 84 of Baker City, died on September 22, 2025, at home surrounded by his family.  A celebration of life will be held at the Baker City Event Center on April 18, 2026~11 a.m. A potluck reception will be held immediately following the service.

Robert Lafe Ledbetter was born on October 9, 1940, in South Gate, California.  He attended elementary school at Carmenita and graduated from Artesia High School in 1959. Following graduation, he proudly joined the Oregon National Guard and the United States Army Reserve. While in the Army Reserve, he worked as a Tank instructor which he loved.

Robert met Marlene Koos through some family friends, and they married November 1964 in Molalla Oregon, had three children—Michelle, Dana, and Lafe—and divorced in November 1982.  He then met Dorothy Hartt at a dance. They were married in November 1983 in Redmond Oregon. He gained a stepdaughter Tracy and stepson Billy.

Robert worked various jobs throughout his life which included working for Deschutes County as a heavy equipment operator, a logger and a mobile home installer. He was the owner of both a wrecking yard and a dairy and was a lifelong farmer and rancher.

Robert enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. He was a natural at shooting and even spent time shooting on the National Guard Rifle Team. He especially loved hunting season. His favorite colors were blue, camo and army truck green. Robert adored his dogs Snoop, Slinky, Ginger, Shilo, Fluffy, Chocka and Rusty along with his favorite horses Fury, Babe and Pretty Boy.

Robert never met a stranger.  He was loved and he was onery. His favorite catch phrase was yeah, yeah, yeah and yeah, right.  He never met a dirt road he didn’t like or didn’t know. 

Memorable dates in his life included receiving an Army Accommodation Medal for saving a fellow guardsman’s life during summer camp. His children’s births and his marriages to both Marlene and Dorothy.

He will be remembered for his kind heart and the love for his country. Robert always made sure his children knew he loved them and was proud of them.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents Wayland and Evelyn Ledbetter, brothers Waylan Lavern and Thomas Ledbetter and sister Lilian Silva.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy Ledbetter; son Lafe Ledbetter of Grand Ronde, OR; daughters Michelle Ledbetter (Tiffany) of Lafayette, OR, Dana (JR) Streifel of Baker City, OR, LeAnne Hartt of Albany, OR; brother Kenneth Ledbetter of Ashwood, OR; grandchildren Nicole (Cameron) Kerns, Rachel Talbot (Tyler), Austin and Caleb Voechting, Sean Cox, Robby Martinez; great grandchildren Miah and Henley Talbot.

Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com