Ronald Lovehaug

Ronald "Ron" Lovehaug, 70, of rural Milan, formerly of Maple Grove, MN, died July 3, 2013, at the Clara City Care Center after a short illness. Ronald Dean Lovehaug was born on January 8, 1943, in his maternal grandparent's home in Milan. His mother always said he was born on the coldest day of year, the temperature getting down to 35 degrees below zero. He was the son of Ingvald "Inky" and Martha Lovehaug. He attended school in Milan and graduated from Milan High School in 1961. He attended the University of Minnesota Morris for a short time and was always proud of the fact that he scored the first two touchdowns for their football team while he was a student. After working for a while for Zaiser Dairy, he enlisted in the U S Air Force. During the three years he was stationed in Germany, he was able to visit all but 2 countries in Europe at least once including two trips to Norway. Receiving an honorable discharge in 1968 after four years of service, he enrolled in the Auto Body Program at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis. On September 28, 1968, he was united in marriage to Geraldine "Gerri" Hanson of Montevideo, who he had met at a wedding while home on leave before his tour of duty in Germany. They had no children. After completing his vocational training, he was employed by Gloege Chevrolet of Glenwood where he did auto-body repairs. From there he worked for Clyde Manufacturing, also in Glenwood, helping build airplane de-icing trucks. In 1977 they decided to return to the Minneapolis area. Ron quickly found employment with Anderson Automatics, Inc. as a screw-machine operator. He also made customer specific die yokes during his employment with them. After 30 years of employment with Andersons he retired on January 31, 2008. They had decided to leave the Twin Cities area after retirement. After living for 30 years in a town-house in Maple Grove, they moved to a five-acre place in the country east of Milan. Ron was very proud of his Norwegian heritage. As such, he was a member of the Valdres Samband, and had recently become a member of the Telelag, a group with ancestry in Telemark. With Gerri's Norwegian heritage, he also became a member of the Nordlandslaget and the Gudbrandsdal Lag. He enjoyed attending the annual stevnes (Norwegian conventions). He was a Past Commander of the American Legion Post in Glenwood, MN, a Past Master of the Winslow Lewis Masonic Lodge #125 in Osseo, MN, and a Past President of the Northwest Area Shrine Club in the Maple Grove area. In addition to the Norwegian organizations, he was also a member of the Northeast-Winslow Lewis Masonic Lodge #125 in Osseo, Minneapolis Valley Scottish Rite, Zuhrah Shrine Temple in Minneapolis, American Legion Post 359 in Milan and Sons of Norway Jaabaek 264 in Montevideo. He enjoyed mowing his large lawn and other outside tasks, helping his brother on the home farm, watching old westerns on TV and telling jokes (especially Ole and Lena ones). He loved shopping and he was quickly ready on a moment's notice. With their interest in genealogy, they walked several cemeteries in the area, and were able to locate the graves of his great grandparents, including a Civil War Veteran, as well as the grave of one great-great grandmother. He is survived by his wife of almost 45 years, his brother David (Lois) Lovehaug, a nephew and niece, six first cousins and numerous second and third cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ingvald and Martha Lovehaug, grandparents, aunts and uncles. He will be greatly missed by all.