Ronald Winkler, age 86, of Oriska, ND, died Monday, August 17 th at Sanford on University in
Fargo, ND. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 2:00 PM on Monday, August 24 th at St. Bernard’s
Catholic Church in Oriska, ND. Visitation will be held on Monday one hour before the service at St.
Bernard’s Catholic Church. Interment with Military Honors will be in St. Bernard’s Catholic Cemetery in
Oriska.
Ronald Frank Winkler was born at home, Section 26, Alta Township, Barnes County,
North Dakota on October 27, 1933 to Thomas & Louise (Puhr) Winkler. He grew up and
attended school in the Oriska area. In January 1953 he was drafted into the Armed Forces, and
was stationed at Fort Bliss, TX until May, 1953. He was transferred to Fort Richardson, AK, in
June of 1953 and was stationed there until December of 1954. He was discharged at Fort Carson,
CO. He then returned to North Dakota and was employed as an equipment operator and he also
farmed. In 1959, he returned to Alaska and was employed as an equipment operator until June of
1977. He also attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton to learn the Diesel
Mechanics and Welding Trade. In 1977, He moved the family back to Oriska to take over the
family farm. The crops he raised over the years were: wheat, barley, sunflowers, flax, millet,
canola, and soybeans. He also raised angus beef cattle. In 1962 Ron and Rose met at a dance in
Fingal, ND, and they began Courting. He married Rose Marie Lawrence on February 8, 1964 at
The Nativity Catholic Church in Fargo. After they were married they went to Alaska where
Ronald was employed and homesteaded near Knik, AK. In 1964, after being there for only three
weeks, they experienced the Alaskan Earthquake, which registered 9.2 on the Richter scale.
Ronald was a member of the VFW, the I.U.O.E. local 302, local 49 and The Farmer’s Union. He
was also a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church.
Ronald is survived by his wife Rose(Fargo), his children Karen Winkler(Clearwater, FL),
Thomas(Linda) Winkler(Anchorage, AK), Charles(fiancé Britney Hert) Winkler(Anchorage,
AK), Rosemary(Steven) Ames(Munich, ND). His Grandchildren: Cressenda, Kyle, Gretta, Alea,
and Naomi. His Great-Grand Children: Daviree, Derionna, and Devon. He is also survived by
sister: Jacqueline Wadeson(Alice, ND), sister-in-Law: Marilyn Darling(Pleasant Hill,CA), and
brother-in-law: Burdell Ranzenberger(West Fargo, ND), and numerous nieces, nephews and
cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, and his brothers: David Winkler
and Raymond Winkler, sister-in-laws: Leonora Week, Susan Ranzenberger and brother-in-laws:
Richard Wadeson, David Week, and Wallace Darling.
Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home of Valley City. An online
guestbook is available at www.lerudschuldt.com