Fosston – Ronald Vedbraaten, 71, Fosston, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014 at Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, N.D.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29 at the Olson/Schwartz Funeral Home, Bemidji. Family will greet friends and family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Ronald Lawrence Vedbraaten was born April 18, 1943, the son of Lawrence and Adelle (Drellack) Vedbraaten. He was raised in the Fosston and Oklee areas, attending school in both places. He served in the Vietnam War, receiving a Purple Heart. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he worked for Eickhof Construction (with his uncle Elmer Drellack). He then worked for the Crookston Police Department until his retirement in 1985, when he went to work part-time for the Polk. Co. Sheriff Department and an as independent truck driver.
He married Lorraine Ayotte in Oklee in 1965. While living in Crookston, they raised two sons, Todd and Lee. In 1989, he married Karen Moen in Bemidji and settled in Fosston with Karen and Michele.
Ron was a very avid deer hunter, liked four-wheeling, and fishing. After having a medical disability in 2008, he has been in the Bemidji nursing home (Neilson Place). He has enjoyed watching wrestling with his brother, Bill, as well as western movies.
He is survived by his wife, Karen Vedbraaten of Fosston; his daughter, Michele (Toby) Vedbraaten-Larson of East Grand Forks; two sons, Todd (Angie) Vedbraaten of Thief River Falls and Lee ( Christine) Vedbraaten of Milwaukee, Wis.; five grandchildren, Reese, Cooper, Andrew, Elizabeth, and Samantha; four brothers, Roger (Edith) of Fosston, Jim (Renae) of Thief River Falls, Bill(Kathy Current) of Gully, and Mark (Terry) of McIntosh. He is also survived by uncles, aunts,and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Adelle Vedbraaten and sister-in-law Lynda Vedbraaten.
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Ronald Vedbraaten, 71
