Robert Lew Collins

Robert “Bob” Lew Collins 1938-2026

Robert (Bob) Lew Collins of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota passed away peacefully on August 19, 2026, at Oak Crossing in Detroit Lakes. He was 88.

He was born in Deadwood, South Dakota on February 8, 1938, to Robert and Elizabeth (Duff) Collins. During his childhood, he and his family spent time in several locations throughout South Dakota and Nebraska, graduating from high school in Lexington, Nebraska in 1956. Bob would further his education in Moorhead, Minnesota where he became a dragon and met the love of his life Connie Engle.

Bob and Connie were married on Dec. 1, 1962, in Forman North Dakota. They started their married life in Detroit Lakes, later moving to Crookston and White Bear Lake, before returning to Detroit Lakes in 1977. Together they had 2 children, Kim and Chuck.

Bob got an early start in the communications industry by sweeping floors for the Northwestern Bell office in Lexington, Nebraska in 1956. He continued to work in the communication field for 34 years before retiring from US West in 1991. After that, he continued to work a few odd jobs, including contract work for US West, delivering leeches, running the weed machine on Detroit Lake and even trying his hand at bartending.

Bob was an avid outdoorsman! He spent many days in a fishing boat or a duck slew and always cherished his time in the Boundary Waters. Deer Camp was a special place for him, as well, where he could tell endless stories to his grandkids. Camping was also a loved activity. Bob’s later passions became muskie fishing and wood carving. Ducks, in particular, were his favorite as proven by the more than 200 drawings, paintings, carvings of ducks at the lake home on South Shore that he and Connie built in 1979. He also enjoyed volunteering for Let’s Go Fishing and the Becker County Food Pantry.

Bob is survived by his wife of 63 years, Connie; daughter, Kim (Brent) Dovre of Carver, MN; son, Chuck (Kari) Collins of Detroit Lakes, MN; grandkids, Ben, Jake, Erin, Conner, Isaac, Leah and Jeffrey; great grandchildren, Jackson, Grayson, Cove, Charlie, Callahan, Lucy, Zoe, Elaina, Tate, Ariana and Layla; and sister, Pat Will of Apple Valley, MN.

Family and friends are invited to help us celebrate his life on Monday, September, 21, 2026 at the Detroit Lakes United Methodist Church, 885 Pembina Trail, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501. Visitation at 10:00 a.m., services at 11:00 a.m. with a luncheon to follow.

The family is grateful to the staff at Oak Crossing for their kind, patient and compassionate care.