Randal "Randy" Tronnes

Randal Nolan “Randy” Tronnes, age 69, of Climax, MN, left this earth for his heavenly home on, January 24, 2020.

Randy was born in Ada, Mn. on October 29, 1950, to Irvet and Dorothy Tronnes. He grew up in the Shelly-Nielsville area and graduated from Climax High School in 1968. Thank you to Tom Thoreson for your friendship!

Randy was employed by J.R. Simplot Co. in 1969 and worked there until its fatal fire in 1978. He then began working for American Crystal Sugar Co. in July of 1978, and worked there 32 years, until his HSP (Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia) forced him to retire. He knew how to run EVERY area of that plant!  He was a fast, meticulous learner, with a sharp memory. He was a dependable, and very prompt employee, and provided very well for us, his family.  He drove hwy 75 in some of the worst weather possible to get to work. He always said, "I could drive that road with my eyes closed".  After 40+ years of driving it, he probably could have!

In February of 1972 he met me, Grace Sather, in the middle of a HUGE snowstorm, at the LRC dance center, in Halstad, Mn.  I was 18, he was 21.  He asked me to dance, I told him, "NO, get lost". We were married in September of that same year, even though my Mother forbid me to marry that "long haired hippie"....I did, and she grew to love him.

Climax, Minnesota has been "Home" for the past 44 years. We were blessed with 3 awesome children, Jeremy Nolan, Joshua John, and Heather Marie.

Randy enjoyed playing pool or shooting some hoops, while indulging in a few brews with Jesse, and being late for many dates because of it. We played lots of whist, while watching King Fu, with Jesse, Tony, and John.  Randy’s biggest passion was playing golf, with Garry, Randy, Roger, and many others, and he played it well!  One year he even got a hole in one!! It was a sad day when he had to retire the clubs, because he could no longer even bend down to place the ball on the tee. He was a big TV sports fanatic, and always watched the Twins and the Vikes!!  He played on the American Crystal softball team a few years also.

In 2014, with his health quickly declining, Randy became a resident of the Halstad Living Center, until his family transferred him to Villa St Vincent in Crookston, where he had resided for the last 4 years.

Survivors include, his wife Grace, his children Jeremy (and Angie), Josh, Heather (and Tony), and Grace's daughter Anne and her children Ty, Sonjai, and Raquel, and his precious little grandsons...the apple of his eye, Colton and Dominik, and, his "grandoggy" Pugsley who loved going to visit him!  His sisters, Nancy & Larry Nichols of San Antonio, Texas and Corinne Miller of Tucson, Arizona.  Brothers and sisters through marriage, Louise Tronnes, Crookston, Charlene & Mark Mayry, New Richmond, Wisc. John Sather, Grandin, Peter & Carla Sather, Grandin, David & Karen Sather, Hillsboro, James Sather, Lake Worth, Florida, and Thomas Sather, West Fargo. He was also Godfather to Chanda, Emily, Adam, Pam, Joann, & Justin.  He had 8 nieces, 2 nephews, 15 great nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, and many co-workers, golfing buddies and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Irvet & Dorothy, his parents in-law Roy & Arlene Sather, his niece Pamela Davis, his Godson/great nephew Adam Davis, and most recently, his sister in-law Laurie Sather in March 2019. his brother Steven in July 2019, and his brother Gary in September 2019.

We feel immense gratitude to the Villa St Vincent and the Halstad Living Center too! Thank you for your patience, your understanding and your caring in all that you did for Randy, and most of all, for the friendship, the respect and love we feel he was shown.  We could have NEVER cared for him the way you did!  You were our angels!

Thank you to the Hospice of the Red River Valley "green team", for being there for him in his final days, and making him as comfortable as you could.  Thanks also to Frank and the staff at Stenshoel-Houske funeral home for assisting us in preparation for this difficult day..

We find peace in knowing that Randy is no longer in pain, and, he is basking in the heavenly sunshine, in the light of our Lord....surrounded by so many that he knows and loves!  I hope he and his old golfing buddy Garry get to play lots of golf, on a well groomed turf of gold!

I'm glad I changed my mind about that dance way back then....and married that long haired hippie! If I hadnt....we would not have the beautiful family that we created together!!

The kids and I will miss you so much....My Love!!!

Till we meet again...... X's and O's

Memorial Service for Randy will be celebrated at Climax Lutheran Church in Climax, MN, at 11:00 am, on Thursday, January 30, 2020, with Pastor Joy Grainger officiating.  Visitation will be at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home Wednesday, January 29, 2020, from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, with a 7:00 pm prayer service and time of sharing, and will continue at the church for one hour prior to the funeral.  Inurnment will be at in Climax, MN, in the Summer of 2020.