Ronald “Ronnie” Fitzgerald

Ronald Fitzgerald, 85, passed away Friday, December 7^th at home while under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Ronnie was born in Fargo, ND on July 5th, 1933 to Edward and Hulda (Brandt) Fitzgerald. He grew up in Sabin, MN, where he attended grade school, graduating from Moorhead High School in 1951. He attended Moorhead State University.

On February 11^th, 1956, Ronnie married Lucy Gagner, after meeting her on a blind date. Ronnie and Lucy started Fitzgerald Construction Company in 1957 and, in 1959, purchased a bar in Sabin, MN, renaming it Ronnie’s Bar. Ronnie owned several other companies including G & M Carriers and Sabin Hardware Store. Fitzgerald Construction is now owned by their son Brad. In his later years, Ronnie turned his attention from his businesses to time with friends and family watching sports, playing black jack and pinochle and shaking 6-5-4.

He was active in many organizations including the Knights of Columbus, Elks, Eagles, Sabin Lions, Sabin Rod and Gun, Barnesville Rod and Gun, Moorhead Country Club, Sabin-Elmwood Fire Department, Ducks Unlimited and the American Legion.

Ronnie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lucy; daughter Karen (Dan) Jacobsen and sons Mike (Heidi) Fitzgerald, Frank (John) Fitzgerald and Brad (Tammy) Fitzgerald; seven grandchildren Chad, Krysta, Matt, Ryan, Adam, Meghan and Kate; sisters Janet (Doug) Marquart and Patricia (Lloyd) Wilke; and in-laws Glenda Fitzgerald, Fred Kennedy, Vance Kittilstved and John Rogne. He was preceded in death by sisters Kathryn Kennedy, Janice Kittilstved, Diane Rogne; brother Eugene Fitzgerald; and nephew Paul Wilke.

Ronnie’s family would like to sincerely thank Hospice of the Red River Valley for their thoughtful care. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Red River Valley, Sabin-Elmwood Fire Department or Sabin Lions.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 11^th from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. with a prayer service starting at 7:00 P.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead.

Visitation will continue on Wednesday, December 12^th from 10:00 -11:00 A.M., followed by the Mass of Christian Butial at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery, Moorhead, following the service.