"Ron" Ronald Joseph French

Ronald Joseph French, 77, of Grand Forks, ND, passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at home surrounded by family.

Ronald was born September 27, 1941, the oldest of five children of Raymond and Jeanette French. He was raised on a farmstead near Oakwood, ND where he went to school before the family moved to Grafton, ND in 1949. He graduated with the class of 1959 from Grafton Central High School.

After working as a farm hand for his uncle during the summer of 1959, Ronald joined the US Army on October 16, 1959 and was sent to Fort Ord, CA for two months of basic training. After basic, he was posted at A Nike Missile Site outside of Cromwell, CT for the remainder of his three-year enlistment. He was honorably discharged on October 15, 1962.

Ronald began working as an engineering technician with KBM, Inc. Engineering in Grand Forks, ND in January 1965. He married Sharon Anderson in June 1965 and moved to Grand Forks. From this marriage Ronald was blessed with two daughters; Leanne and Lisa.

Ronald began attending the University Of North Dakota in 1966, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1970. Ronald worked on various engineering projects in ND, SD and MN for 44 years. He was especially proud of his work with numerous rural water distribution systems in the Red River Valley.

In December, 1980 Ronald married Patricia Ann (MacLeod) Gray. Ron enjoyed traveling with Pat, reading, and was very proud of his wood working (especially wooden toys) over the years.

Ron is survived by his wife, Pat, his daughters: Leanne (Richard) French-Amara, Lisa (Brent) Ihringer, Step-Daughters, Melissa (Deron) Pederson, and Jennifer (Richard) Sandwick, and nine grandchildren: Levi and Drea French-Amara, William and Kate Ihringer, Avery, Evan, and Madilyn Pederson, Jadyn Kaiser, and Kendall Sandwick.

Ron is also survived by his siblings, Donald French, Ladysmith, WI; Gary French, Mounds View, MN; Roger (Sheila) French, Marion, IA, step-sisters Delores (Meryln) Grabanski, rural Grafton; Shirley (Jon) Lamont, Fargo, ND, step-brothers Arnold (Barbara) Lizakowski, Bloomington, IL; Roger (LeAnn) Lizakowski, Bloomington, IL, brother and sister- in-laws, Robert (Janice) MacLeod, Grand Forks, ND, Dennis (Mary) Crews, East Grand Forks, MN, Denis (Mary) MacLeod, Fargo, ND, Fred (Sue) MacLeod, Gresham, OR, John Schumacher, Drayton, ND, and former spouse Sharon French, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Judith, step-father Earl Lizakowski, step-sisters, Joan Schumacher and Darlene Lizakowski, sister-in-law Napa French, and brother-in-law Donald MacLeod.

A Celebration of Life Service for Ronald “Ron”  J. French will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Hope Evangelical Church 1601 17^th Ave S. in Grand Forks, with visitation one hour prior. 

The inurnment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in East Grand Forks with military honors being accorded by the East Grand Forks American Legion #157 and EGF Veterans of Foreign Wars #3817.

**In lieu of flowers or donations to the family, donations can be made to a charity of your choice in Ron's name.