Robert “Bob” Ratter, age 66, of Sweet Home died on Tuesday, January 13, 2009. He was born on March 12, 1942 in Portland, Oregon; the son of Robert and Karen (Bruhn) Ratter.

Bob grew up in Portland and attended Madison High School and Benson-Polytechnic High School, working at the radio station at the school.

He enlisted in the Army in the early 1960s after high school. He served as a Military Police Officer in Ethiopia, Africa until he was able to serve on the Armed Forces Radio. While in the military in Salinas, California, he worked at a radio station on the weekends.

After receiving his honorable discharge from the Army, Bob started dating his “bride.” After proposing to Bettie Sue, they married and moved to Astoria, and Bob took a job at KAST radio.

Bob attended Ogden’s Radio Operational Engineering School in Burbank, California and received his First Class Broadcasting License. Bob and Bettie Sue moved to Pendleton, Hermiston, and then Salem, taking jobs that increased his knowledge and skill in the radio industry; going from DJ to sales, to management and part owner of KGAY in Salem.

In 1989, Bob lived his dream. He moved to Sweet Home, Oregon and purchased and operated KFIR radio. He built two more stations over the course of the twenty years that followed their move to the area.

Bob was a member of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters, Rotary, and the Elks Lodge, and was a member of Fir Lawn Lutheran Church. He loved his wife, his family, his community, and going camping, but Bob loved radio!

Bob is survived by his wife, Bettie Sue (Reeves) Ratter; sons, Richard and wife Michelle Ratter of Aurora, Oregon and Dennis Ratter of Beaverton, Oregon; daughter, Tamara Furst and Patrick of Beaverton, Oregon; grandchildren,: Siarra, Jordan, and Nathan Furst and Cole and Devyn Ratter; and siblings, Betty (Ratter) Schilling of North Hollywood, California and Carol (Ratter) Loesel of Pinconning, Michigan.

He was preceded in death by sister, Nancy Ratter.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 16, 2009 at Sweet Home Evangelical Church. Final entombment will take place later at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland, Oregon.

The family appreciates the assistance of Sweet Home Fire District and would appreciate any contributions in lieu of flowers to be sent to: Sweet Home Fire District, 1099 Long Street, Sweet Home, OR 97386.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling services.