Gordon Rudolph

Gordon Rudolph, 89, Moorhead, MN, and formerly Wahpeton, ND, died from cancer on Sunday, November 8, 2009, at MeritCare's Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, ND.

Gordon was a role model as husband, father, grandfather, friend, and leader. He earned nationwide respect for his work in the beet sugar industry.  Gordon was a cordial, caring man who was one of the “Greatest Generation.” Family and friends knew him for many distinguishing characteristics and hobbies, including a warm welcome, a hearty laugh, being thrifty yet generous, and making homemade ice cream for family and special events. He was good at observing and attempting to meet people's needs. He often personally delivered homemade bread to someone who needed encouragement. Thank you to everyone who attended Gordon's celebration of life party in October, and to those who called or sent cards.

R. Gordon Rudolph was born on March 13, 1920, in Ft. Collins, CO to C. Gordon and Fannie E. (Reeder) Rudolph.  He graduated with an Agronomy degree from Colorado State University in 1942.  He worked on the family farm while attending school and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Reserve Officers Corp.  He was called to active duty in World War II on May 19, 1942, and served in training camps at Camp Roberts, CA, Fort Lawton, OK, Liaison Pilot’s School, Pittsburg, KS and was assigned to the 103 ^rd Infantry Division Artillery at Camp Claiborne, LA and Camp Howze, TX.

He began his 64 year marriage to Sally Ruth Hochstatter on May 2, 1943, in the First Presbyterian Church, Boulder, CO.  The bride’s father performed the ceremony.  Sally returned to Granada, Colorado High School and completed her teaching year and joined her husband in Alexandria, LA and in Gainesville, TX where the division was relocated after training maneuvers in Louisiana.  In September 1944 she returned to Boulder to live with her parents and teach elementary music while the division deployed to the European Theater.  The division was committed to action on November 11, 1944, in Epinal, France.  Gordon served in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland for two years and four months and earned the rank of Captain.

In June 1946 he began employment as an agriculturist with The Great Western Sugar Company at Wheatland, WY and two years later at Mitchell, NE.  In 1956 he was promoted to manage the agricultural operations of The Northern Ohio Sugar Company in Fremont, OH.  He returned to Mitchell, Nebraska as Agricultural Manager in 1968.

In June 1973 Gordon came to Wahpeton to manage the Agriculture Department of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative.  Production of sugar beets was expanded from 40 growers and 4500 acres to 300 growers and 52,000 acres with the construction of a new processing plant.  Beet volume increased from 575,000 tons to 1,100,000 tons by 1985.  Thirteen agriculturists were hired and trained by Rudolph in his thirteen years of service at Minn-Dak.  He retired as Vice President of Agriculture in 1986.

Following retirement from Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, he sold sugar beet seed as Regional Marketing Director for Seedex, Inc. He also mediated 152 cases as a District Volunteer Mediator for the State of Minnesota Farmer Lender Program.

He was an active member of the United Church of Christ where he served as Moderator and Trustee, and was chairman of a pastoral search committee.  He served as ticket chairman for years for the annual pancake and sausage feed.

Gordon was a charter member of the Minnesota and North Dakota Research and Education Committee, and a member of the Wahpeton Area Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee, the International Sugar Beet Institute, the American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists, the Mayflower Society, Kiwanis, Golden K, Elks, American Legion, Masons, and the El Zagal and Arabian Knights Shrine Clubs.  While living in Mitchell, NE he served on the local school board.

He is survived by two daughters and one son, Judith (Augustine) Scully, Rapid City, SD, Nancy (Mark) Johnson, Moorhead, MN and Grant (Victoria) Rudolph, Mill Valley, CA; 5 grandsons: David, Mark and Daniel Scully, Blake Rudolph and Luke Johnson; 3 granddaughters; Kayla and Katrina Johnson and Selena Rudolph; 2 brothers, Robert (Dorothy) and Lawrence (Marietta) Rudolph, Ft. Collins, CO; and 2 sisters, Lucile Knaus, Brighton, CO and Mary Ragland, Austin, TX.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sally on February 5, 2007; his sister, Ruth; and his brother, William.

Funeral service : Saturday, November 14, 3:00 p.m., United Church of Christ-Congregational, Wahpeton. Visitation : one hour prior to funeral. Interment : Fairview Memorial Gardens, Wahpeton, with military honors. Memorials preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley. Online Guestbook : www.vertinmunson.com