Robert "Bob" K. Fagerholm

ROCHESTER, MINN:Robert K. Bob Fagerholm, 90, died Monday, March 23, 2015 surrounded by his family. Robert Keith Fagerholm was born on May 6, 1924 to Ingrid Helen Fagerholm. Bob was raised by his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Herman Fagerholm in Rush Point, MN. During high school, he lived with Rudolph and Helen (Fagerholm) Benson and graduated from Rush City High School in 1943. Bob served in the Naval Reserve as a Musician, Third Class. This was part of the V-12 program at Dartmouth College. Bob played in the Navy Band, sang in the Dartmouth Glee Club, and the Dartmouth Quartet. He continued his service as an engineer in the Naval Reserve until his retirement in 1984. Bob returned to Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1948. After graduation, Bob taught agriculture to veterans and high school students in Balaton, MN. On June 13, 1947, he married Elsie Marie Lunde Skaar at Hayward, MN. In 1954, the couple moved to a dairy farm near Wykoff, MN and Bob taught agriculture at Austin Area Vocational School until 1957. The couple moved to Rochester in 1963 and he worked for Woodman Accident and Life Insurance Company. From 1968, Bob taught agriculture in Peterson, MN until he retired from teaching in 1979. He was the upper Midwest Region Service Manager for the Hesston Corporation until his retirement in 1986. During his retirement, he operated a hobby farm near Rock Dell, MN and delivered concrete trucks for McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing of Dodge Center, MN. Bob enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved nature and was a practicing conservationist. Bob was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed singing at church and in the American Legion Choir. Bob was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be deeply missed. His love, laughter and twinkle in his eyes will be forever cherished by his family. He always had a funny story and never missed a chance to play a practical joke. Bob could always outsmart and out run his young sons, while never missing a chance to hug or kiss his daughters. He had an uncanny ability to always know where his children were at and who they were with. At 71, he suffered a stroke and was able to maintain his sense of humor and continue to live a rich life. Bob and his family are thankful for all the care, friendship and tender attention he received from all his caregivers. Bob is survived by his four sons, Michael (Lynn) Allen, Marana, AZ, Peder Fagerholm, Kennesaw, GA, Thomas (Marie) Fagerholm, Edmonds, WA, Robert J. (Sandy) Fagerholm, Elkader, IA; his two daughters,Margaret Fagerholm (Mark Ehrlich) Madison, WI and Katherine Katie (Dennis) Burbank, Kasson, MN; eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; his two brothers, Lowell Benson, Golden Valley, MN and Virgil Benson, Grand Island, NE. He was preceded in death by his wife Elsie and son David. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes' Chapel. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the funeral home. Burial will be at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2015 in Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery, Spring Valley, MN. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place N.W., Rochester, MN 55901, 507-289-3600, www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.