Ronald Edwin Plate was born on July 25, 1951, in Dawson, MN, to parents Edwin and Doris (Kostad) Plate. He grew up in Hamlin Township and graduated from Dawson High School in 1969. Following graduation, Ronnie enlisted in the US Army and served in Virginia and Germany. Upon his return to Dawson, he was employed by local agri-businesses.
On October 9, 1976, he was united in marriage to Laurie Maiers at St. James Catholic Church in Dawson, MN. Ronnie and Laurie started their married life in Dawson and eventually moved to the Plate family farm. To this union, three children were born.
Because Ronnie enjoyed the freedom of being outdoors, he started his own lawn care service in 1995. He especially liked working with only the best, his CHILDREN and JOHN DEERE.
Ronnie died suddenly on Monday, September 20, 1999, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dawson at the age of 48.
He is survived by his wife, Laurie and children: Christopher, Crystal, and Stephanie; mother, Doris (Kostad) Plate; sisters: Sharon (Orren) Volk of Mesa, AZ, Bonnie (Craig) Beckwith of Bedford, TX, and Carol (Chuck) Bransfield of Englewood, CO; brother, Mark (Cheryl) of Redmond, WA; uncles: George (Muriel) Plate of CA and Stan (Leone) Kostad of Dawson; aunts: Iola Kostad and Phyllis Westby of Dawson; father and mother-in-law, Gene & Donna Maiers of Kansas City, MO; special friend, Grandma Della Ausen, nieces, nephews, and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents; father, Edwin Plate; and uncles: Clifford Plate, Al Westby, and Kenneth Kostad.
Ronnie will always be remembered for the smile on his face, his love for John Deere, and his toys. He especially enjoyed finding just the right John Deere collectible for family and friends.