15 Jul Ronald Brackenbury
Posted at 14:51h
in Uncategorized
by staff
Ronald Simon Brackenbury, 87, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the St. Vincent Nursing Home in Bismarck on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 17th at Dawson Town Hall at 2:00 p.m.
Ron (or Ronnie as some would call him) was born December 30, 1936, to Simon and Elsie (Mahin) Brackenbury in rural Kidder County in his family farm house. He had a twin sister, Rosella, who died at birth. Ron was the youngest of four children to grow up on the farm. Ron’s two brothers – Everett and Floyd, and his sister, Harriet, who probably kept him in line growing up. He attended the Quinby School, riding horseback to school when he wasn’t working on the farm. Ron completed 8th grade and for a short time attended Dawson High School as a freshman, but the death of his dad drew him back to the farm to help. Little did he know at the time, that he would own his dad’s land and farm it up to retirement. When he wasn’t on the family farm working, he hired out to local farmers sometimes for a $1 a day room and board.
Ron married the neighbor’s daughter, Janet Kleve, on September 24, 1960. They have been married for 63 years. They made their home several miles away from the original Brackenbury homestead. Early years of marriage included raising a Holstein milk cow herd and having all the animals a small farm had at that time including pigs, chickens, and a saddle horse. Ron also farmed alongside his father-in-law, Clifford, and they shared several pieces of farm machinery helping each other when they could. When his father-in-law decided to retire, Ron took on his cows and his land. Ron had a passion for livestock, and it was a big decision for him to either build a bigger dairy barn in the early 70’s or get out of the dairy business, as milking for cream at the time wasn’t as profitable and there wasn’t a creamery close by anymore. The decision was to sell the dairy herd to the neighbor and start building a beef herd. He loved his herd and loved to pick out the best replacement heifers for the herd every fall. He had a great eye for bulls, as well as making his herd even better. He wanted big calves in the fall to sell. The farm was his life, and he was a tireless worker going from sun-up to sun-down. He was very particular about his hay and put up some nice haystacks in his day. His cows were always fed well, with an excess on the ground. How the farm survived through the tough times of the 1970’s and 1980’s might well have been through all his work ethic.
He and his wife, Janet, were blessed with three children in their marriage — Teri, Wayne, and Alan (Punk). Ron passed his wisdom about farming and life on to the children any chance he could. He loved to play tickle monster, listen to someone read, and to hold or hug you. He was quick to give you grief and poke a little fun at you. He loved his children, but also had a very special place in his heart for his grandchildren. He always wanted to know when they were coming to visit and what they were up too.
Ron was a lifelong resident of Quinby Township of Kidder County and was a lifelong member of its township board until it dissolved.
Retirement meant Ron had spare time on his hands, so he tried to keep up the old farm machinery so he could hay a ditch or two and keep the yard cut. He also tinkered in his shop more often. He loved his meat raffle nights in Dawson and a cold beer that came with it, but more importantly enjoyed the conversation he had with the people who showed up on the same night.
Ron is survived by his wife, Janet; three children, Teri (Bill) Leier, Fargo, Wayne (Clarissa) Brackenbury, Mohall, and Alan (Sue Koch) Brackenbury, Bismarck; and four grandchildren – Shania (Spencer) Olson, Connor Brackenbury, and Calli Brackenbury, all of Mohall, and Zach Brackenbury of Bismarck.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Elsie Brackenbury; In-laws, Clifford and Lucille Kleve; sisters, Rosella and Harriet; brothers, Everett and Floyd; brother- and sister-in-law, Harvey and Betty Wolf; and numerous aunts and uncles.
