Roald Ladale Revne

Roald LaDale Revne was born to Ole and Gladys (Anderson) Revne on November 26th, 1928 in rural St. James, Minnesota.  He was a 1946 graduate of St. James High School. In 1950, he graduated from the University of MN School of Agriculture and spent a year in Sweden as an agricultural exchange student. Roald served in the US Army from 1952 to1954 and then attended Mankato State, where he met the love of his life.  Roald and Ramona (Baumgart) were married in 1957.

He lived nearly all of his 95 years on the Revne Family farm between St. James and Butterfield. He felt there was no better place on earth than Minnesota.

Roald was a grateful man of principle, service, community, family and faith.  He tended the land his whole life and served as Watonwan County Auditor for 16 years. He generously gave his time in service to his community by volunteering for many organizations, including First Lutheran Church, the American Legion, MN Boys State, Blandin Foundation, the Cemetery Board, Watonwan County Historical Society, Butterfield Threshing Bee, Habitat for Humanity, the Gideons, Watonwan County DFL and many, many more. His compassion for others led him to serve as a court appointed guardian, to assist others in times of need and to engage in meaningful conversations. He was generous with his time and talents, and deeply committed to his extended family, devotedly caring for his parents, aunts and uncles as they aged. Roald led by action and not bravado by seeing what needed to be done and doing it.  He had a knack for making connections with strangers and he always returned from adventures with many new acquaintances and a keener understanding of humanity. He was accepting and supportive of all regardless of race, creed, orientation or economics.

Roald had an adventuresome spirit. He was a licensed pilot of small airplanes. He loved to explore northern Minnesota snowmobile trails with family and friends and he taught countless friends of all ages to waterski at the Revne lake cabin on Long Lake. Roald was a lifelong learner and an avid reader of historical biographies, the Civil War and World War II.  A champion for girls’ athletics at all levels, he regularly attended St. James HS girls athletic events, served as a timer for Saints track meets, and cheered on the Gopher Women’s Basketball teams over many years as a season ticket holder. In later years, he enjoyed the camaraderie of morning coffee, conversation and pool with friends at the Band Box.

Roald loved his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren unfailingly and was extremely proud of each of his five grandsons - the closest he ever came to bragging.  He is survived by Ramona, his wife of 66 years, daughters Melanie (Tom) Simpkins of Ripon, WI and Melissa (Mike) Berthelsen of Northfield, MN; grandsons Jonathan (Seana) Simpkins, Peter (Kristen Larson) Simpkins, Erik (Joy) Berthelsen, Nathan Berthelsen and Jonah (Emily Geiger) Berthelsen, great-grandchildren, Martha, Francis and Gertrude Simpkins; and sister, Joyce Revne Stofft. Roald was preceded in death by his parents and many beloved friends and relatives who enriched his life and shaped his sense of community.

Roald died surrounded by family on Thursday, January 18th, at Cannon Valley Suites - Memory Care in Northfield.  The family expresses gratitude to Minnesota Hospice and to the CVS-MC staff for their loving care.

Memorials preferred to Green Lake Bible Camp in Spicer, MN or to First Lutheran Church in St. James.

Funeral service will be held at 2pm on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at First Lutheran Church in St. James with visitation beginning at 12:30 in the church gathering space. The service will be streamed through the First Lutheran Church (First Lutheran Church, St. James) Facebook page.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in St James.  Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.