Rodney "Ronnie" Klevberg

Rodney “Ronnie” Klevberg, 70, of Northwood, ND passed away Friday, April 25, 2014 at his home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 2:00p.m. at Washington Lutheran Church, rural Northwood. A visitation will be held Tuesday, April 29, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00p.m. with a 7:00p.m. prayer service at the Bilden Funeral Home in Northwood.

Rodney Verne Klevberg, 70, of Northwood ND passed away peacefully in his sleep April 24th, 2014 at his farm where he lived the majority of his life.

Ron or Ronnie, as he was known to most, was born on January 18th, 1944 at the Deaconess Hospital in Northwood to proud parents Ed and Thilda (Grefsheim/Haugen). Ron was said to be his father’s pride and joy and followed him everywhere as soon as he was able to walk.

Ron was raised in rural Northwood and graduated from high school there in 1962. Ron attended NDSU following high school until his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1964. Ron served with the 7th Augmentation Readiness Group. He was stationed in Mannheim Germany for the duration of his service and was honorably discharged in 1967. Upon his return to the states, Ron settled briefly in Wisconsin while working for Western Star as a service shop manager.

In the spring of 1974, Ron returned home to Northwood to farm with his brother Marvin. Both Ron and Marvin lived on original Klevberg farms a half mile from one another and continued to farm together until Marvin’s passing in 1996. Ron continued to farm on his own and helping others until he began work for Northwood Oil in 1998 and retired from there in 2009.

He was an incredible farmer and truly loved the land. He would sit in his chair and have coffee in the morning where the windows faced the east. He often watched the sun rise over the fields he tended, that surrounded his home.

Ron was a lover of the outdoors and a patient and steady sportsman. You could often run into him on the back roads of Washington Township scouting the next season’s whitetails. When the season opened, Ron had a definite plan for him and his cherished “Hunting Crew”. Ron was also passionate about his annual fishing trip to the Lake of the Woods. He spoke of this trip often and looked forward to it every year. He treasured the time he could spend with his dear friends in the solitude of their incredible surroundings.

Ron was an active member of the VFW, Northwood Men’s Club, and the American Legion Victory Post 92. He served 31 years as a Washington township officer, was caretaker of Washington Church for nearly 20 years, among numerous other church boards, committees, and community focused activities. Ron served as commander of the American Legion Victory Post 92 for a total of 8 years, which is the most for that posts history and also several years as vice commander. He was extremely dedicated to his country, Post 92, and the numerous lives that this specific post has touched through their incredible efforts. Ron attended every military funeral that he possibly could, posted flags at graves for years too numerous to count, and was adamant about the continued service to his community and country.

What Ron was known for most was his smile and his kind, compassionate heart. There was nothing else like them in the world. Thank you for sharing them with all of us for the past 70 years.

Ron was preceded in Death by his parents Evan(Ed) & Thilda Klevberg, Stepfather Marius Haugen, Brother Marvin Klevberg, and Sister in law Jeannette Klevberg.

He is survived by sons Scott Klevberg and Granddaughter Brittany of Hatton ND, Kevin & Leanne Klevberg and Grandsons Tayten and Carter of Fergus Falls MN, Sister Joanne & Christie Barke of Fargo ND, Harley & Sandy Grefsheim of Northwood ND, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends who were all cherished by Ron.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Washington Lutheran Church or the Northwood American Legion Veterans Memorial.