Armin Elton Ross, 92, of rural McIntosh, MN, and a former longtime Fisher, MN farmer, passed away at his home Friday evening with his loving family at his side.
Armin was born at Higdem Township, Polk County, MN on August 4, 1929, to Walter John and Bertha Emilia Rose (Klema) Ross of Fisher. He was baptized and on April 18th, 1943, confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Fisher by Pastor John Ott. His confirmation bible passage was “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” Armin’s favorite hymn was his confirmational hymn, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less Than Jesus’ Blood and Righteousness.” Armin’s love of the Lord and his faith carried him throughout his life. He attended school in Fisher and went on to high school at the Northwest School of Agriculture in Crookston, graduating in 1947. Armin then attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN where he played Cobber varsity basketball. In 1949 he married Marlene Erickson. Armin was a lifelong farmer, first with his father; then his 2 sons, Jim and Jon Armin, while farming at Fisher and for a time also near Erskine. In 1985 Armin was united in marriage to Kathleen Butenhoff Lyczewski.
Armin did voiceovers for American Crystal Sugar commercials for one summer. After retiring in 1994 he and Kathy moved to their lake home near Erskine. Armin was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fisher, where he was president of the Sunday school and taught Sunday school for many years. He also served the Church as an elder and treasurer. He was president of the following organizations: Parent-Teacher Association of Fisher, Lowell Township Farm Bureau, Polk County Sugarbeet Growers Association, and the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association. Armin was the last living original member of the board of the American Crystal Sugar Company. He was involved with the Northwest Education Improvement Association, the First American Bank in Crookston, and held memberships in the Wilderness Society, the Nature Conservancy, and the National Parks Association. Several years ago Armin was presented the prestigious Torch and Shield Award in recognition of his service and dedication to the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Armin played independent basketball, slow and fastpitch softball, racquetball, golf, and tennis for many years. He enjoyed traveling, water skiing, camping, hunting, and especially fishing. He was also an avid snow skier and snowmobiler and he and Kathy enjoyed spending time in Idaho where they had a winter home.
Armin is lovingly survived by his wife of 37 years, Kathleen; children: Jim (Barbara) Jon Armin (Lisa), Janine Ross (special friend, Casper Olson), and Jaclyn (Scott) Hanson; stepchildren, Shari (Jeff) Colson and Mark (Laura) Lycsewski; grandchildren: Thomas McIntyre, Benjamin Ross, Jessica Ross, and Aimee Ross; step-grandchildren: Matthew Colson, Andrew (Michelle) Ross, and Travis (Jessica) Ross; and sister-in-law, Joanne Ross. He also leaves many nieces and nephews, friends, and his special care nurse, Jennifer Carlson. Armin will be truly missed by all who shared in his life. May he rest in peace.
Armin is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Bertha Ross; grandparents, Ferdinand and Wilmina (Wentzel) Ross and George and Bertha (Wagner) Klema, and brothers and sister-in-law, Lyle (Alice) Ross and Harold Ross.
The funeral service for Armin Elton Ross will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 16, 2022, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Fisher, MN with Pastor Bruce Blocker, officiating. Visitation will be on Friday from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston with a prayer service and sharing of memories at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church for one hour prior to the funeral on Saturday. Both services will be live-streamed by going to Armin’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery, Fisher, later in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given in memory of Armin to the Salvation Army, the Northland Rescue Mission, or charity of choice.
Condolences may be given to the family at www.stenshoelhouske.com
