Ronald (Ron) Wade Vetter

Ronald Wade Vetter passed away suddenly on May 2, 2019, at the age of 76 at Sanford Health in Bismarck, ND.

Services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, May 9, at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 1470 S. Washington St., Bismarck, with Rev. David Swonger officiating.

Burial is at 2:00 pm Thursday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Wednesday, May 8, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm.

Ron was the first-born child on June 22, 1942 to Ethel (Adelia) Elser and Wilbert Vetter in Garrison, ND. He was raised on a farm outside of Garrison and graduated from Garrison High School in 1960. Ron got drafted into the Vietnam war in 1968 and served for our country. Upon returning home from Vietnam, Ron attended trade school for sheet metal. After finishing schooling he became a member of Sheet Metal Union Local 10 and was exceptional at his work. Ron worked hard and eventually became a sheet metal union instructor for many years.

Ron married Donna Mae Pfenning on July 23, 1982 creating a blended family of his children, Blake and Rona, and Donna’s daughters, Rhonda, Tina and Cindy. Ron and Donna raised their children in Bismarck, ND, and then moved to Sioux Falls, SD. Ron and Donna lived in Sioux Falls for 18 years before moving back to Bismarck in 2007 to be closer to family.

Ron was a family-oriented man who loved spending time with his wife and grandchildren. Ron loved fishing and enjoyed reading books about history. His happy place was at home with his wife and that is where you would find him. Ron was known as a very kind and loving person by everyone who was a part of his life. He was an easy-going and humble man who got along with everyone. Ron was always joking around with the people around him and his smile could light up a room. He loved to tease everyone and always knew what to say to make you laugh. Ron truly touched the lives of so many people with his kindness and his fun-loving personality will be forever missed by his friends and family.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Donna Vetter; his dog Abigail; his son, Blake Vetter and daughter Rona (Marq) Wells; his step-daughters, Rhonda Pfenning, Tina (Todd) Bender, and Cindy (Rick) Ripplinger; his grandchildren, Dustin Eastgate, Zachary (Rachel) Eastgate, Jesse (Samora) Froelich, Lexi and Logan Braun, and Kacee Wells; his great-grandchildren, Bryanna Gabel, Isabell Eastgate, Eli Eastgate, Isaac Eastgate, Gavin Eastgate, Everett Eastgate, and Gemma Braun; his sister, Janet (Paul) Wilson; his brothers, Rick Vetter and Jeff (Cindy) Vetter; his brothers-in-law, Larry Stockert, Gary (RaeDean) Stockert, Mike (Theresa) Stockert, Paul (Crystal) Stockert, Jeff Stockert, Brian (Stacy) Stockert, and Keven Stockert and his sisters-in-law, Dianne Vetter, Linda (Wayne) Adams, Pat (Bruce) Deviney, Sandy (Rodger) Erickson, Brenda (Donnie) Wald, and Jeanine (Tim) Verasca; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbert and Adelia; his brother, Gerald Vetter; his brother, Lynn Vetter and sister-in-law Gwen Vetter; his mother and father-in-law, Catherine and Leo Stockert; his brother-in-law, Maurice Stockert; his nephews, Erik and Ryan Stockert; and his dog Olivia.