Ronald Gades

Ronald Herman Gades, son of Herman and Anna Marie (Carstens) Gades, was born May 25, 1926 in Fairfield Township in Swift County, Minnesota. He was baptized by Rev. F.C. Jaus on June 13, 1926 and later confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfield Township. He grew up in the rural Holloway area in Swift County, where he attended District #48 School through the 8th grade. After his schooling, he worked on the family farm until December 1944, when he entered the United States Army, serving during WWII. He completed his basic training at Camp Roberts, CA, after which he was transferred to Fort Riley, KS, where he served in the Cavalry. Following his discharge in January 1947, Ronald returned to the Holloway area. On April 12, 1953, he was united in marriage to Shirley Van Horn at the Swan Lake Lutheran Church near Morris. The couple farmed south of Benson from 1953 to 1960, and then in the Milan area for two years before buying their farm 10 miles north of Appleton in 1962. Along with farming, Ronald also worked as a meat cutter at the Hancock Locker and at Earl's Meat Center in Appleton. In 1990, the couple retired and moved to Starbuck, MN, where they have continued to live since that time.





Ronald was a member of the American Legion, the Farmers Union in Benson, and their entire family had been active with the Cashel Township 4-H. Ronald also enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, bowling and playing baseball and golf.





Ronald died on Monday, June 4, 2007 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck, having lived to reach the age of 81 years.





He is survived by his wife: Shirley Gades of Starbuck; two sons: Blair (Lynn) Gades of Mitchell, SD and Keith (LuAnn) Gades of Cyrus; two daughters: Gail (Charlie) Boe of Glenwood and Becky Gades of Glenwood; 10 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; three brothers: Wilbert (Mary) Gades of Starbuck, Gerald (Kris) Gades of Villard and Roger (Marlene) Gades of Montevideo; two sisters: Lyndell (Jurn) Lindahl of Morris and Marjorie Ruess of Appleton; two sisters-in-law: Phyllis (Loren) Harste of Holloway and Sharon Gades of Morris as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Norlen and Rodney Gades; brother-in-law: LeRoy Reuss and sister-in-law: Margaret Gades.





Pallbearers for the service are: Dwight Gades, Curtis Lindahl, Scott Reuss, James Gades, John Gades, Allan Gades and Randy Gades. Honorary Pallbearers will be All Ronald's Relatives and All That Called Him "Friend". Monica Gosseling will serve as organist for the service. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.