Roland "Ron" Greenup

Roland “Ron” Greenup, 91, died on November 22, 2023, surrounded by his loving family, at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck, from complications following a stroke.

Ron was born April 27, 1932, in Williston, ND, to Clifford and Laura (Thompson) Greenup, and moved with his family to Columbus, ND, as a young child. He lived there until 1943 when the family moved to Kenmare. He graduated from Kenmare High School in 1950. He was employed as a young man with Burlington Northern Railroad, Rosebud Construction, Bell Telephone, Walsh Electric, and Montana Dakota Utilities where he began in 1952. That same year, he married Rhoda Petrusson in Kenmare. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and received his basic training at Ft. Riley, Kansas. In April 1953, he shipped out to Korea and served with the 45th Division until the 45th came home. He then was assigned to 443rd Quartermaster at Seoul, attaining the rank of S/Sgt.

After his honorable discharge, he returned to work for MDU, serving in Kenmare, Mohall, and Bowbells for a total of 40 years. Ron and Rhoda are the parents of six children, Wayne, Teri, Scott, Lori, Vicki, and Kristi, whom they raised in Bowbells. Ron and Rhoda had recently moved into a condo in Bismarck.

Ron was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Bowbells, having served as treasurer for a number of years, and also was an associate member of Metigoshe Lutheran Church, Bottineau. He also served on the Bowbells City Council for 12 years and was a member of the Bowbells Fire Department, Bowbells Ambulance as an EMT, American Legion, and was on the board which was instrumental in building the first swimming pool. He was active in the E Z Riders Snowmobile Club and the Magic City Driftbusters. He was very active in Snowmobile North Dakota serving as a director for many years and traveling across the U.S. and Canada attending International Snowmobile Congress over a 25-year span.

After his retirement from MDU in 1992, he and Rhoda enjoyed spending 16 winters at Lake Metigoshe, snowmobiling and volunteering at the Christian Center, Special Olympics, and Marketplace for Kids. He was a member of the Hills Angels who did other volunteer work around the community. Ron and Rhoda traveled extensively over the years. The past few winters they have spent at their home in Mesa, AZ.

Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Rhoda; sons, Wayne (Marsha) of Bismarck, Scott (Allison) of Shawnee, KS; daughters Teri (Donald) Brewster of Washburn, Lori Rudland (Marvin Hochhalter) of Bismarck, Vicki (Michael) Burnham of Minot, Kristi (Jeffrey) Bohl of Bowbells and Bismarck; sixteen grandchildren, Shannon (James) Hoiland, Stephanie Greenup, Nicholas, Matthew, Samuel and Ella Greenup, Jessica (Adolfo) Bagnarello, Christopher (Hanna) Baumann, Tanner (Chelsea) Baumann, Sherry (Eric) Schmitz, Bruce Rudland, Kaleb and Ian Burnham, Darin (Gayle) Bohl, Jena (Ross) Schroeder and Brady (Stacy) Bohl; 22 great grandchildren, Benjamin and Tyler Hoiland, Lucas and Jacob Harr, Hailey and Gunnar Bagnarello, Tucker and Sophie Baumann, Kannan and Ozzy Baumann, Gemma Greenup, Erica (Jade) Backman, Logan and Ashlyn Schmitz, Racelyn, Avery and Aubry Sperling, Breckin, Kellen and Kya Bohl, Henry Schroeder, and Henley Bohl; five great, great grandchildren, Paizley, Racin, Bellamy, Nash and Huxlee Backman; and several nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws Pastor Edwin and Ruth Petrusson; two brothers, Bradford and Donald; a sister Ila; a grandson Seth; and a great, great granddaughter Raceleigh.

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, December 2 at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. The family will greet guests before the funeral, starting at 10 a.m. and during a fellowship luncheon following the service. A livestream will be available on the funeral home’s website.

Ron will be laid to rest on Monday, December 4 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.