Ronald Froland
d. February 6, 2020
Ronald Burdell Froland passed away peacefully at the Granite Falls Care Center on the evening of February 6, 2020.
Ron was born July 12, 1929, at the family farm in Swede Prairie Township, Yellow Medicine County, to Olaf and Blanche (Christensen) Froland. He was baptized and confirmed at Spring Creek Lutheran Church, rural Clarkfield. Ron graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1947. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1954, serving in Okinawa and the Marshall Islands during the Korean War.
Following his military service, Ron returned to the Clarkfield area where he worked in road construction, as well as the local lumber yard, and began his farming career.
On October 6, 1957, Ron married Maryan Knutson at Granite Falls Lutheran Church. Their daughter Cynthia was born in 1959, son Bradley in 1960, and Eric in 1965.
Ron and Maryan began farming in the Clarkfield and Stony Run area, before moving to the present family farm in Hawk Creek Township, Renville County, in 1966. Ron took great pride in raising his crops and hogs. Ron was always very active and involved in local affairs, serving in numerous capacities on the Hawk Creek Lutheran Church council, church brotherhood group, as well as the local elevator board and township board for many years. Ron enjoyed being an active member of the Minnesota Valley Antique Farm Power & Machinery Association group for many years.
Ron was very talented and creative, especially when it came to carpentry projects. In the years before cabs were common on farm equipment, Ron and brothers Archie and Wendell constructed multiple wood and glass cabs for many local farmers’ John Deere combines. Ron helped provide expertise for many home remodel projects in our local area, and could often be found working on carpentry projects at the church.
Music was very important to Ron, as evidence by a musical group comprised of himself and his brothers called “The Blue Boys” which played at various functions in the Clarkfield area shortly after high school. Later, Ron was drummer in a local group called “The Jolly Norsemen” that provided music to many area nursing homes and other venues. Ron enjoyed singing bass in the church choir. Most recently, in December, Ron delighted in singing along with the Christmas carolers from Hawk Creek Lutheran Church at their stop at the Granite Falls Care Center.
Surviving family include his wife Maryan, of Granite Falls; daughter, Cynthia (Robert) Fenger of Cottonwood, Bradley of Granite Falls, and Eric (Kathy) of Sacred Heart; grandchildren Samuel (Cassie) Fenger, Thomas, Tony, and Tyler Froland; sisters Donna Olson and Janice Nelson, and brother Darrel (Myra) Froland; sisters-in law Elmina Lamb, Marlys Froland, Rachel Froland, and brother-in-law Gerald Baker; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents Olaf and Blanche Froland; sister, Nola Edwards; brothers Archie Froland and Wendell Froland; brothers-in-law George Edwards, Robert Nelson, Kermit Olson, Alex Lamb, and sister-in-law Betty Baker.
We all celebrate Ron’s remarkable influence on our lives. A memorial service will be held at Hawk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Sacred Heart, at 11 am on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, with visitation prior to the service, beginning at 9:30 am. The family respectfully requests memorials be directed to Hawk Creek Cemetery Fund or Hawk Creek Lutheran Church Building Fund.
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the kind expressions of your sympathy, your prayers, and your support. Please accept our sincere thanks in lieu of a thank you card. Lunch will be served immediately following the military honors.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 12th at 11:00 am at Hawk Creek Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held on Wednesday morning beginning at 9:30 am until the time of the service at the church.
Ron was born July 12, 1929, at the family farm in Swede Prairie Township, Yellow Medicine County, to Olaf and Blanche (Christensen) Froland. He was baptized and confirmed at Spring Creek Lutheran Church, rural Clarkfield. Ron graduated from Clarkfield High School in 1947. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and was honorably discharged in 1954, serving in Okinawa and the Marshall Islands during the Korean War.
Following his military service, Ron returned to the Clarkfield area where he worked in road construction, as well as the local lumber yard, and began his farming career.
On October 6, 1957, Ron married Maryan Knutson at Granite Falls Lutheran Church. Their daughter Cynthia was born in 1959, son Bradley in 1960, and Eric in 1965.
Ron and Maryan began farming in the Clarkfield and Stony Run area, before moving to the present family farm in Hawk Creek Township, Renville County, in 1966. Ron took great pride in raising his crops and hogs. Ron was always very active and involved in local affairs, serving in numerous capacities on the Hawk Creek Lutheran Church council, church brotherhood group, as well as the local elevator board and township board for many years. Ron enjoyed being an active member of the Minnesota Valley Antique Farm Power & Machinery Association group for many years.
Ron was very talented and creative, especially when it came to carpentry projects. In the years before cabs were common on farm equipment, Ron and brothers Archie and Wendell constructed multiple wood and glass cabs for many local farmers’ John Deere combines. Ron helped provide expertise for many home remodel projects in our local area, and could often be found working on carpentry projects at the church.
Music was very important to Ron, as evidence by a musical group comprised of himself and his brothers called “The Blue Boys” which played at various functions in the Clarkfield area shortly after high school. Later, Ron was drummer in a local group called “The Jolly Norsemen” that provided music to many area nursing homes and other venues. Ron enjoyed singing bass in the church choir. Most recently, in December, Ron delighted in singing along with the Christmas carolers from Hawk Creek Lutheran Church at their stop at the Granite Falls Care Center.
Surviving family include his wife Maryan, of Granite Falls; daughter, Cynthia (Robert) Fenger of Cottonwood, Bradley of Granite Falls, and Eric (Kathy) of Sacred Heart; grandchildren Samuel (Cassie) Fenger, Thomas, Tony, and Tyler Froland; sisters Donna Olson and Janice Nelson, and brother Darrel (Myra) Froland; sisters-in law Elmina Lamb, Marlys Froland, Rachel Froland, and brother-in-law Gerald Baker; as well as many other relatives and friends.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents Olaf and Blanche Froland; sister, Nola Edwards; brothers Archie Froland and Wendell Froland; brothers-in-law George Edwards, Robert Nelson, Kermit Olson, Alex Lamb, and sister-in-law Betty Baker.
We all celebrate Ron’s remarkable influence on our lives. A memorial service will be held at Hawk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Sacred Heart, at 11 am on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, with visitation prior to the service, beginning at 9:30 am. The family respectfully requests memorials be directed to Hawk Creek Cemetery Fund or Hawk Creek Lutheran Church Building Fund.
The family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the kind expressions of your sympathy, your prayers, and your support. Please accept our sincere thanks in lieu of a thank you card. Lunch will be served immediately following the military honors.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 12th at 11:00 am at Hawk Creek Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held on Wednesday morning beginning at 9:30 am until the time of the service at the church.
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