Roland “Ron” S. Heidmann, 90, of Grand Forks, N.D. passed peacefully at home on Friday, May 31, 2024. Ron was born on August 23, 1933 in Neche, ND, to Richard and Anna Heidmann. He was the second born of six children.
When Ron was in 4th grade, his father moved the family to a farmhouse in Walhalla, ND. Ron attended Walhalla High School, where he ran track for 3 years. He attended two years of college at UND before moving to Seattle to work briefly for Boeing. Upon returning to ND, Ron enlisted in the Army for 3 years. After basic training, Ron was stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY, in the 11th Army Airborne Division, where he went to Jump School. He jumped out of airplanes 51 times before he ever got to experience landing in one. Ron spent his remaining enlisted time in Germany.
In November of 1956, Ron returned home and attended Valley City State Teachers College, graduating in 1959, and UND, where he finished degrees in Industrial Technology, Social Studies, and Physical Education, as well as completing his Master’s Degree.
Ron began his teaching career in St. Thomas, ND, where he taught for 5 years. In 1957, he married Beverly Gisvold. Together they had 3 children. Ron got a teaching position in California. and moved the family to Oxnard for 2 years. Upon returning to ND, Ron began his final teaching stint at East Grand Forks Junior High, teaching Industrial Technology for 28 years, retiring in 1995.
Ron married Joyce Kaiser in 1985 at Augustana Lutheran Church in Grand Forks. Joyce has two sons, Greg and Brent. Ron and Joyce were members of Bethel Lutheran Church at the time of Ron’s passing.
Ron is survived by his loving wife, Joyce, siblings Dick (Esther) Heidmann, Betty Pederson, Jim Heidmann, sister-in-law Patricia Heidmann, brother-in-law Mert Johnson; children Debra Smalley and Tamara Espino, step-children Greg (Marti) Kaiser, Brent (Stephanie) Kaiser, daughter-in-law Karen Heidmann; grandchildren Ryan (Emily) Smalley, Maxx Heidmann, Mitch Heidmann, Jaye (Dan) Becerra, Samantha Espino, Alexandra Espino, Jessica Espino, Erika Kaiser, Jordan Kaiser, Jadyn Kaiser, Nick Kaiser, Max Kaiser, Magnus Kaiser; and great grandchildren Ainsley Smalley and Kora Hockert Heidmann.
Ron is preceded in death by his parents, son Kim Heidmann, sister Irene Johnson, brother Fred Heidmann, sister-in-law Jan Heidmann, and brother-in-law Muril Pederson.
Services in celebration of Ron’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 1616 South 17th Street, Grand Forks, ND 58201 with visitation for one hour prior. The service will be livestreamed by going to Roland’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider donating to either the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, or Bethel Lutheran Church, causes close to our Papa’s heart.
