Ronald Erick Harmel, the son of Erick and Lena (Hilton) Harmel was born on December 21, 1933 in Rugby, North Dakota.  He died peacefully at the age of 82 years on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, North Dakota.

Ron was raised on the family farm in Meyer Township in rural Rugby.  After completing his education, he worked on the family farm until he was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1955.  He served his country in the Korean Conflict, and upon his discharge, he returned to Rugby to work on the family farm.  On October 31, 1966, he was united in marriage to Marie Kitzman in Tioga, North Dakota.  The couple made their home in Rugby until moving to rural Barton in 1974.  Together, the couple raised their two children, Kaye and Jay.  Ron’s father died in 1990, after which Ron and his family moved to the family farm east of Rugby where he continued to farm until his retirement.  He greatly enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, visiting neighbors and playing pinochle.  There are many great hunting and fishing stories that will bring laughs for years to come.

Ron is survived by his wife of 49 years, Marie; his daughter, Kaye (and Patrick) of Denver, CO; his son, Jay (and Angela) of Bailey, CO; grandchildren, Tanner, Sierra, Torin & Sawyer; brother, Jerry (and Sharon) of rural Rugby; sister, Lois Larson of Palmdale, CA; many in-laws, nieces, nephews; other relatives; many neighbors and friends.  He was preceded in death by his brother, Donald; brother-in-law, Gene Larson; his step-mother, Eleanor Harmel and his parents.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 17 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Rugby.  Pastor Joshua Reimche, officiating.