Ervin Runck

Ervin William Runck, of Lamberton, passed away Thursday, January 15, 2026, in St. Cloud, Minnesota at the age of 90. 

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 24, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Lamberton United Methodist Church, 612 S Fir St, Lamberton. Visitation will be held at the church preceding the service from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Lamberton. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Ervin was born January 4, 1936, in Springfield, Minnesota to Ervin George and Agnetta (Wog) Runck. Ervin attended country school north of Lamberton until 8th grade. After graduating from Lamberton High School, he attended South Dakota State University at Brookings and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics. Ervin joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps while a student at SDSU Brookings and served 6 years in the United States Army Reserve based at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Snelling.

Ervin and Lorna (Russell) Runck were united in marriage on September 20, 1959, at the United Methodist Church in Lafayette, MN. Together they raised their three children: Russell Ervin, Rochelle Lorna and Troy William Runck.

Ervin and Lorna farmed north of Lamberton from 1959 until 1997 when they retired from full-time farming. However, Ervin continued to monitor and help as needed on the farm throughout the fall 2025 harvest. In addition to farming full-time, Erv and Lorna dedicated their lives to caring for their daughter Rochelle who became ill in 1980 until her passing in 2015.

Those who knew Erv knew he loved to socialize. Erv was always up for a card game of Five Hundred at family gatherings.

Ervin served on the Lamberton Public school system school board, was a long-term member of the University of Minnesota Southwest Farm Management Association, served on the Redwood County Soil and Water Conservation District board, and was a board member of the Minnesota Farm Managers and Appraisers, Inc.

Ervin is survived by his two sons Russell (Anne) Runck, Watertown, MN and Troy Runck, Lamberton, MN; grandsons Austin (Michelle) Rayne, Savage, MN and Alexander Runck (fiancée Molly Newland) Seattle, WA; great-grandson, August Rayne; his brother Leonard (Anita) Runck, Lamberton, MN; sister-in-law Elizabeth Russell, Waconia, MN; sister-in-law Jo Runck, Lamberton, MN and 10 nieces and nephews.

Ervin was preceded in death by his wife Lorna Lillian Russell Runck (2022), his daughter Rochelle Lorna Runck (2015), parents Ervin G. and Agnetta Runck, brother Donald Runck, parents-in-law William and Ida Russell, sister-in-law Ilene Bussler, brother-in-law Delfert Bussler, and nephew Darren Bussler.