DeFloren Rude passed away peacefully on May 28, 2021, at Serenity Assisted Living at Dilworth, MN, at age 100. 
DeFloren Rude was born on September 28, 1920, in Beresford, SD to Edward and Cora Rude, the second oldest of four boys that survived birth. He was raised on his grandfather, Antone Rude’s homestead near Gary, MN. He graduated from Gary Highschool at age 16. In 1941, he graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. He taught school in Rider, ND, for one year. DeFloren’s attempts to join the armed services during WWII were turned down since he was required to work on the family farm with his father.
On January 1,1943, DeFloren married Edna Olson, also from Gary. To this marriage were born three sons, Ron, Steve, and Mike. After the war, he sold Surge milking machines to dairy farmers anywhere from Moorhead to Crookston, Gonvick, Bagley, Detroit Lakes, and Ada. In 1955, Defloren began teaching English at Red Lake, MN, eventually becoming high school principal and director of the Red Lake Vocational School, and high school principal for two years at Kennedy, MN. In the summers from 1956 – 1962, he sold Massey combines in much of the same area as his work with Surge. After retirement in 1978, DeFloren and Edna made their home on Edna’s family’s (Olson) original homestead near Gary until they were in their 90’s. They kept busy with travel, gardening, church work, the Hallinglag, the township board, and the Lion’s Club. DeFloren worked on the log building projects of the Norman County Museum in Ada, as well as a chapel in Redby, MN. In addition to other workshop projects, he built dozens of small round-topped chests to be decorated with Norwegian rosemaling.
DeFloren always enjoyed outdoor adventures, whether it was duck-hunting or fishing in one of the lakes near their home north of Bemidji, harness-breaking horses for hauling stove wood or maple sap, hiking, and camping in the Bob Marshall Wilderness of Montana, or a-horseback hunting for overgrown trails in Montana on his 80th birthday. Throughout his life, DeFloren was a devout Christian who loved the Lord and believed that witnessing was best demonstrated by setting a quiet example of Christian life. Both he and Edna lived in thankfulness for the faithfulness of the Lord throughout their 73+ years together.
DeFloren was a loving and much-loved father and grandfather and is survived by his three sons: Ron (Karen) of Plains, MT; Steve (Becky) of Moorhead, MN; and Mike (Jane) of Somerset, WI; as well as 8 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren. DeFloren is preceded in death by his wife, Edna in 2015; and his brothers, Arnold, Curtis, and Orvis.
Following all Covid-19 safety protocols, CDC guidelines will be practiced.
