Donald Rohde
February 10, 1936 ~ December 21, 2019
Donald J. Rohde, Kindred, ND passed away on Saturday, December 21, 2019. Donald James Rohde was born on February 10, 1936 to William and Meta (Haak) Rohde at their farm in rural Davenport, ND. He graduated from Davenport School and took correspondence courses in electronics. He farmed with his father and his brother. After their deaths, he took over the family farm until his retirement.
On December 4, 1965 he was united in marriage to Ilene Hedland. They were married for 54 years. They had two children; a daughter Renee (Dennis) O’Donnell of Hudson, Wisconsin and a son Steve of Kindred, ND and a granddaughter Kathryn of Fargo.
He was a life-long member of Canaan Moravian Church where he sang in the choir from his teenage years until he could no longer do it. He helped set up the video system and for many years taped all the services, special programs, funerals and weddings. He paid special attention to taping the congregation and the children, so the watcher could see all of their friends.
A few years ago, he found out that that his uncle’s gravestone was dirty and overgrown with moss. He decided to clean it. When that was done, he looked around and saw other stones in the same condition, so he just kept on cleaning. He always wanted to go back and clean more of them.
He was a former member of the Davenport Fire Department, and a volunteer at Bonanzaville. He was active in the Davenport Bird Cage Theater. He built many of the props for the plays. He was convinced by Jean Schroeder that he could act. She talked him into playing Santa Claus and Puce Moose, whose only line was “ugh.”
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Earl, a half-sister Evelyn Abrams, and a half-brother Vernon Rohde.
He is survived by his wife Ilene, children Renee and Steve, granddaughter Kathryn, brothers and sisters-in-law Vern and Marilyn Hedland and Merle and Kathleen Hedland, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be at the Canaan Moravian Church on December 28, 2019 at 11:00 am with visitation at 10:00 am. Burial will be at the Canaan Moravian Church Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Fredrikson - Boulger Funeral Chapel, Kindred, North Dakota. To visit our online guestbook please go to www.boulgerfuneralhome.com.
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Ilene I am so sorry we did not make it to the funeral on Saturday. I have developed a real aversion to driving on
snow covered roads in the country. It started to snow about 5 am in Fargo and we had about 3 inches by 9 am.
I will always have fond memories of Donny and his brother Earl helping with harvest and cutting firewood in the fall for the old wood cook stove. They were both great men. They have left a lasting impression on all those who
knew them. They had hearts of gold. I know that life will be difficult for you and your family.