Ronald J. Burt

Ronald John Burt passed away on August 8, 2025, following a brief battle with cancer, just shy of his 89th birthday. Throughout his professional and personal life, he demonstrated kindness, compassion, and patience. He was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, son and brother.

Ron was born on August 16, 1936, to Elmer and Margaret (Olson) Burt in Cavalier, North Dakota. Ron played saxophone and football during high school in Cavalier, and he earned a degree in education from the University of North Dakota. He was a member of the Phi Delta Kappa professional educational fraternity and was also a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

He began teaching industrial arts in Grand Forks in 1959, where he met Yvonne Boeddeker, also a teacher. They were married on July 7, 1961, and moved to Fergus Falls in 1965. They were blessed with a daughter, Angela, and son, Ryan.

In his professional life, Ron taught high-school industrial arts, served as a production manager at Productive Alternatives, and worked more than 20 years in sales for M&R Sign Company before retiring in 2000. Ron was dedicated to his community, serving as President of the North Dakota Industrial Arts Association, serving on the Fergus Falls City Council, the Fergus Falls Airport and Public Safety Commissions, and as an Election Judge. Ron sat on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Utility Investors and the YMCA.

He was a long-time member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and volunteered with Cleveland Elementary School’s Kindergarten classes where he was an adopted Grandpa, reading to the children. Ron enjoyed gardening, traveling, entertaining, playing cards, woodcarving, and spending time with family and friends.

Ron is survived by his wife Yvonne of 64 years; Ryan (Jessica) Burt of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Angela (Steven) Worner of Eagan, Minnesota and grandchildren Cassandra (Andrew), Charlie (Kelly), and Christian. Ron is also survived by his sister Beverly Page, brother Curtis (Janice) Burt, brothers-in-law Gerald (Ann) Boeddeker and Dale (Joyce) Boeddeker, and their families.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Margaret; his brother-in-law Ralph; his brother George and sister-in-law Colleen.

Consistent with his life, Ron’s final days were filled with kindness and compassion. Ron’s family wishes to thank the caregivers at Essentia Health and Pastors Loren Mellum and Eliza Johnson of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

The family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation in Ron's memory to the Bethlehem Foundation, the Lake Region Health Care Cancer Center (Fergus Falls), or a charity of their choice.