Ronald Whaley

Ronald M. Whaley, 89, of Fordville, ND went to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at First Care Health Center in Park River with his loving family by his side.
Ronald was a very kind, humble, and selfless man focusing his energy on his family and friends. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s many activities.
Ronald was born July 10, 1930 at home in rural Fordville to Ralph and Rachel (Gillespie) Whaley. He attended country school through grade two and then attended Fordville Public School graduating valedictorian of his class in 1948. Following high school, Ronald graduated from NDSCS and served in the U.S. Army.
After his honorable discharge, Ronald worked at Douglas Aircraft in El Segundo, CA for a brief period, but soon returned to the family farm in ND where he spent his life farming with his father, sons and grandsons until the age of 88.  He especially enjoyed operating John Deere equipment.
Ronald was united in marriage to Mary J. Amundson of Inkster, ND November 16, 1958. The couple made their home on the family farm until moving to town in 1994. Ronald was a member of Fordville Lutheran Church, the Fordville Co-op Elevator Board of Directors and the American Legion.  
He had a lifelong passion for aviation ultimately earning his private pilot’s certificate in 1986. Ron and Mary spent winters in Arizona where they enjoyed the warm weather and golf.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of 61 years, their children Leslie (Raymond) Durkin,  Kent (Debra) Whaley and Lowell (Lesa) Whaley; eight grandchildren: Eric (Kristine) and Brent (Kayla) Durkin, Ryan (Jacy), Shane (Jocelyn) and Jack Whaley, Kirsten, Nicholas, and Karina Whaley; and three great grandchildren: Brecken,  Hayden, and Cora Whaley; his sisters: Maxine (Kenneth) Rusten and Joyce (Ron) Clark; sisters-in-law Shirley Amundson, Dorothy Amundson, and Margaret Woods; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Elda Mae Whaley and Marjorie Hodena, brothers-in-law, James Hodena, George and Tom Amundson, and Robert Woods.  Niece:  Linda Mayfield. 
Visitation will be  Sunday, March 15 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Fordville Lutheran Church in Fordville with a prayer service at 4.    Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the funeral in the church  on Monday.       
Funeral Services: 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 16 at Fordville Lutheran Church.
Interment:   Oak Grove Cemetery, Fordville.
Military Honors will be provided by the Rotnem-Abel Post 274 of the Fordville American Legion and the North Dakota Army National Guard Honor Team.

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