Ronald O. Munkeby – Apr. 16, 2021

Ronald Orland Munkeby was born July 26, 1929 to Henry and Inga (Jodsaas) Munkeby on his grandparents’ home farm near Ft. Ransom, ND.  He attended rural school for the first eight grades, then graduated from high school at Ft. Ransom in 1948.  He attended college at Valley City State Teachers College to become a teacher.

Ron married Bette R. Bennett on March 4, 1950 in Webster, SD.  His first teaching position was in Corin Consolidated near Courtenay, ND.  After two years of teaching, he and Bette moved to Oakes, ND.  His first job in Oakes was driving bread truck for the local Oakes Bakery, since it was right next to their small apartment above the Coast to Coast Store.  After a year in Oakes, he started working for C. R. Anthony Company.  After working in the department store for 10 years, he and his family moved to Valley City, ND to open a new C. R. Anthony Store there.  In 1963, he became manager of The Fair Store in Valley City and in 1968, was able to buy a partnership in the store with Orville and Eva Barber.  He and Bette purchased The Fair Store from the Barbers in 1980.  They later purchased The Fair Store in Jamestown, ND and also opened a branch store in Carrington, ND.

The Munkeby’s spent many winters in Mesa, AZ and enjoyed the time spent there.  Ron was able to obtain his real estate license while in Arizona and sold homes for Century 21 out of Mesa.  He also worked as a court bailiff in Valley City when they would return home for the summer.

While in Oakes, he was Worshipful Master with the Masonic Lodge #29 and later became a member of the El Zagle Shrine in Fargo, ND and was with the Flag Corp in Valley City.  He was active in many community organizations including the Retail Section of the Chamber of Commerce in Valley City, President of the Lions and Rotary Clubs, President of the V500 Foundation at Valley City State University and was also very active in the United Way.  He was a member of the Elks, the Eagles, and the Masonic Lodge all in Valley City.  He served as an Assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts.  Ron was a member of Grace Free Lutheran Church.

Ron loved to play golf and travel.  Many times he was able to play golf when he traveled!!  Summers at the lake cabin on Ashtabula with family and friends were a highlight for him.  Ron and Bette enjoyed their trip to Norway to see the Munkeby farm and the ruins of the monastery at Munkeby.  He was true to his heritage and loved lutefisk and lefse and coffee with Norwegian pastries.  Ron always said the Norwegian Table Grace at special family functions.  The kids loved to hear him speak Norwegian!

Later in life, Ron learned the art of stained glass and became quite a craftsman.  He made beautiful pieces both large and small, but his favorite things to make were crosses.  All of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren received his crosses.  He even crafted two to send on a mission trip to Slovakia and they are hanging there in the church and mission school.  Ron was a people person and loved to visit over a cup of coffee with anyone of any age about anything!!  He was a very upbeat, positive person who met many challenges in life with a smile.

Ronald is survived by his wife, Bette of 71 years of Valley City; his son, Ronald R. (Karen) of Carrington, ND; daughter, Debra (Skip) Dalpe of Lutz, Florida; son, Randy (Pam) of Carrington; daughter, Jill (Brian) Benson of West Fargo, ND; and daughter Julie (Drew Storbeck) Munkeby of Valley City; 12 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.  His brother, Walter of Lisbon, ND and many nieces and nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Eileen Munkeby.

The family suggests memorials be given to Hospice of the Red River Valley, the Scholarship Fund at Grace Free Lutheran Church, or Shriner’s Childrens Hospital.

The funeral service for Ron will be held at Grace Free Lutheran Church on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at 2:00 PM.  Visitation will be at the church on Tuesday, April 20 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a prayer service beginning at 7:00.  Burial will be in Woodbine Cemetery.  The funeral service will be live streamed and then archived along with his obituary on his tribute page at www.lerudschuldt.com

Lerud Mathias Funeral Home is assisting Ron’s family with arrangements.