John Ringstad, of Madison, MN, died Saturday, January 24, 2015 at the Madison Lutheran Home at the age of 96.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at 2:00 at the Madison Lutheran Home Chapel in Madison, MN. Pastor David Hall and Pastor Kendall Stelter will officiate and burial will be at Grace Lutheran Cemetery in Dawson, MN..
Visitation will be held for one hour before the service on Wednesday.
John Ringstad was born November 4, 1918 to parents Thor and Marie (Simonson) Ringstad. He was born at the hospital in Madison because his mother was alone. His father, who immigrated from Norway, was serving with the U.S. Army in WWI at the time of his birth. John's baptismal name was Johan Ringstad, but he was known to many as "Johnny". He was baptized and confirmed at Lac qui Parle Lutheran Church of rural Dawson. John attended rural school in districts # 9 and # 13. As a child he was stricken with Scarlet Fever and as a result he seemed to lose much of his ability to hear, at an early age. He graduated from Dawson High School in 1938. After graduating he helped his father and mother on the home farm in Cerro Gordo township. After their deaths he continued to farm and simultaneously began working at Don Pederson's Truck Service Center in Dawson around 1962. He began as a bookkeeper there and, also, worked in the parts department, always willing to help where he was needed. In the late 1960's he began working at Lund Implement in Madison, while continuing to live and work on his farm. He worked at Lund Implement doing various jobs for around 40 years. Even after he retired he would make daily visits to the shop, arriving early and sometimes staying late. He would pick up mail, make bank deposits, bring back bakery items for the employees at the shop and, again, always tried to help where he could. The people who worked at Lund's were like family to him. John was a very devoted member of Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson. He joined Riverside Lutheran Church (which later became Grace Lutheran) around 1951. He served as the church Treasurer for many years. He was always interested in bookkeeping and financial matters. He made sure that he gave his church a financial contribution every year, even after residing in the nursing home. John moved to Madison, MN in the late 1980's. He moved from his apartment in downtown Madison to the Hilltop Residence in 2007 and then to the Madison Nursing Home in 2008. John was very fond of many of the people who took care of him there. He resided at MLH until his death on January 24, 2015. He reached the age of 96 years, 2 months and 20 days. John was a shy, quiet man with an amazing memory, who always wanted to do what was right. He will be missed.
He is survived by his sister, Alice Morken of Madison, MN; his niece, Betty (Kevin) Tollefson of Madison, MN; a niece -in-law, Diane Morken of Louisburg, MN; seven great nieces and nephews: Matt (Megha) Tollefson of Rochester, MN Dan (Amy) Tollefson of St. Louis Park, MN, Erica (Mike) Vlasak of Minneapolis, MN, Madolynn Morken of Alexandria, VA, Colleen Morken of Omaha, NE, Ben Morken of Willmar, MN, and Luke Morken of Louisburg, MN; three great-great-grandnieces and nephews and friends.
Immediate family preceding him in death were his parents; nephew, Robert Morken; and brother-in-law, Osborne Morken. Blessed be Johnny's memory.