Ronald R. White

Ronald R. White, formerly of Columbia Heights, Aitkin and Champlin, retired from Honeywell, passed away on July 6, 2020 at the age of 86.  Ron was born February 6, 1934 in Winterset, Iowa.  The son of Lawrence and Estella White, younger brother to Bob White.  He attended the public schools in Winterset and graduated from high school in 1952.  Ron played organized football in junior high school (grades 6-8) as well as in high school (grade 9-12).  He played the positions of Offensive Center and Defensive Linebacker.  In his senior year he missed only one play.  Winterset won their conference with only 1 loss.

Immediately following his graduation from high school, Ron left for Yellowstone Park to work for the summer. He was a fishing guide at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone Park.

In the fall of 1952, Ron headed to Colorado A & M, Forestry School at Fort Collins, Colorado, where he spent 2 years in forestry school.  In the fall of 1953, he met JoAnn Hermanson.

After the end of his school in 1954, Ron enlisted in the Army for 2 years.  After his basic training, in Fort Bliss Texas, he was sent to Fort Belvoir AV for schooling in electrical devices.

Ron expected to get a leave for Christmas in 1954, at which time he planned to give JoAnn an engagement ring, however, the Army had other plans and sent him directly to Korea.  Ron sent JoAnn her engagement ring in the mail and they didn’t see each other until May 17th 1956.

JoAnn, along with Ron’s mother and father, met Ron in Des Moines, Iowa on May 17th.  Ron and JoAnn then drove to Duluth on May 18th and were married the evening of May 19th 1956.  JoAnn had made all the plans and invites earlier in the year.  Everyone worried that Ron wouldn’t make it home in time for the wedding, but all worked out well.  Ron and JoAnn recently celebrated their 64-year anniversary.  After the wedding JoAnn and Ron went back to Ft. Collins, Colorado and Ron enrolled in Electrical Engineering at Colorado State University (the name was changed from Colorado A & M).  Together Ron and Jo have two children, Preditta and Michael.  Ron graduated in 1960 and worked for General Dynamics in Omaha, NB, Topeka, KS, and Lincoln, NB.

In the spring of 1962 Ron accepted a job with Honeywell Inc., Aerospace Division in Minneapolis at which time he and the family transferred to Minneapolis.  In 1964, Ron then transferred to the Honeywell Residential Division, where he worked in the Quality Lab and Quality Control. 

That same year, 1964, Ron and JoAnn bought a home in Columbia Heights, a suburb of Minneapolis, where they lived until Ron’s retirement in December 1990. 

In the spring of 1991 Ron and JoAnn moved to their cabin on Clear Lake, 16 miles north of Mille-Lacs Lake and lived there until September 2017. In September 2017, Ron and Jo moved to Champlin MN.

Ron was a member of the Glen Community Church and the Aitkin County Historical Society.  Ron enjoyed trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Canada with family and friends.  After retirement Ron enjoyed woodworking projects, volunteering at the Aitkin Museum, tending to a garden and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ron will be remembered for his quiet and kind nature and his devotion to his family.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Estella White. 

Ron is survived by his loving wife, JoAnn (Hermanson); daughter, Preditta (Curt); son Michael (Becky); grandchildren; Dustin (Nikki); Stacie (Dan) and Joseph; great grandchildren,  Elley, Aurora, Athena, Stella, Luna and Micah; brother, Robert (Betty); many nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. 

Memorial services will be held Tuesday, July 21, at 11 AM in Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home, 31 Minnesota Ave S, Aitkin.  Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  Immediately following the service, a luncheon will be held at Glory Baptist Church.  Interment will be held at 1:30 PM in Malmo Cemetery.  Military Honors will be provided by Aitkin American Legion Post #86 and Aitkin V.F.W. Post #1727.  Guests are asked to wear a mask and to adhere to social distancing.  Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers to the charity of your choice.  To leave an online condolence, go to:  www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

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