Lowell Ranstrom

Lowell Ranstrom, 84, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2020 at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND surrounded by his family. Lowell Ranstrom was born on December 29, 1935 in Warren, MN to Henning and Ruth (Larson) Ranstrom. Growing up in rural Marshall County, MN, he had three siblings Grant, Ruth Ann and Gaye. He attended school in Alvarado, MN before the family moved to Detroit Lakes, MN where he graduated in 1953 from Detroit Lakes High School. After high school he farmed with his father until 1957. While farming with his father, Lowell joined the Air National Guard in 1954. On November 2, 1957 he was united in marriage to Donna Dahlberg and to this union the couple had three children Dean, Lane, and Lyle. After a couple years of marriage Lowell made the Air National Guard his full time career in 1959 and this is where he worked until his retirement in 1990, having served 31 years. While working in the Guard, he participated in the pistol team competitions in Ohio and Kansas. The family resided in Sabin, MN from 1959-1964, then Moorhead, MN from 1964-1972, and lastly Donna and Lowell settled by Little Cormorant Lake in Audubon, MN ever since 1972. After Lowell’s retirement from the Air National Guard, he opened a little shop working on auto electric rebuilding which he enjoyed greatly. He was very active in the Moorhead Baptist Church, the First Baptist Church and the Audubon Chapel as well as the Gideon’s, and the love of Jesus was very evident in Lowell’s life. Lowell enjoyed anything outdoors including hunting, fishing, and camping. He was known to be unable to sit still and kept himself busy doing many things. He gardened, went to the Steam Threshers in Rollag, MN every year, and helped with any project someone had. He was a handy man and there wasn’t much he couldn’t fix; he even built the very first house that Donna and he lived in, which was on Little Cormorant Lake. Lowell loved his family greatly and enjoyed every minute he had to spend with them. Deeply loved Lowell’s passing will be remembered by his loving wife Donna of 62 years; his children Dean Ranstrom, Lane (Mike) Schlagel, and Lyle (Kellie) Ranstrom; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister Gaye Harris; one former brother-in-law Gary Harris; one sister-in-law Ramona Ranstrom; one brother-in-law Ed Gehrke; and many nieces and nephews. Lowell is preceded in death by his parents Henning and Ruth, his siblings Grant and Ruth Ann, one great-grandchild Dayton, and one brother-in-law Bruce Dahlberg. Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at First Baptist Church in Detroit Lakes. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at St. Peter's Cemetery in Audubon. Facial coverings will be required.