Donald Jerome Rost

Donald Jerome 'Skip' Rost was born May 11, 1934 to Oliver and Hilma (Hellem) Rost in Ulen, Minnesota. He was the youngest of four children. Skip, as he was known to his classmates, loved sports. If a ball was involved, he was all in. During high school, he played nine man football, basketball, baseball and legion ball. During the summer, he and his friends spent time at the swimming hole and fishing. Since there were no summer organized sports ,Skip and his friends would hitchhike to the neighboring towns to play ball. Life was laid back and fell into a rhythm. Saturday nights, when the farmers came to town, were spent walking the streets or cruising the town if a classmate had a car. Ulen had a pool hall and Skip was quite the "pool shark". He was willing to take on anyone in a game of 8 ball or Snooker. After graduating in 1952 ,Skip and several of his classmates boarded the train heading west to Yellowstone National Park. He worked in West Bend, but during his free time, he made extra spending money guiding tourists around the park. The fall of 1952 he enrolled at Moorhead State Teachers College (now called Minnesota State University Moorhead). While there, he was a member of the Owl Fraternity and it was here that his love of golf started with the purchase of some old golf clubs from one of his professors. Skip earned his Bachelor of Science degree in education graduating in 1956 and left behind his nickname. The fall of 1956 Don started his first teaching job in Christine, North Dakota, a very small school that gave him many jobs including teaching agriculture, coaching some of the sports teams., directing a class play, and being a class advisor. He was drafted in February 1957 but was allowed to finish out the school year. He entered the Army in July. After boot camp, he was stationed in Germany for 18 months. Don loved to travel and took full advantage of his R&R time traveling around Europe. He had many fond memories of his time at the Hofbrauhaus with his army buddies. He was discharged in July 1959. Upon his return home, he had no car, no money and no job. He opened his college file and a school district in Circle Pines called Centennial District 12 contacted him. He borrowed his brother's car and drove to Circle Pines. He was hired as a ninth grade social studies teacher and driver education instructor. Don was a dedicated teacher and very involved in school activities. He belonged to the teachers' bowling league and it was here that he met a new teacher named Arla Johnson. Don and Arla were married August 7,1971. They continued their teaching careers at Centennial and would travel whenever they could. Hawaii was a favorite spot. Don retired in 1989 after 30 years. After Arla retired, they spent two winters in Hawaii and one winter in Palm Springs before settling in Mesa, Arizona as their winter home. Retirement was very good, the best of both worlds. The winter months were spent golfing at the country club in Fountain of the Sun and Don was able to golf as much as he wanted. He was a very good golfer and has two hole-in-one trophies to prove it. Returning to Minnesota for the summer months, meant more golfing and of course the highlight of his summer was the State Fair. Don loved the Fair and would go at least twice every year and never missed a year from 1959 until Covid closed the Fair in 2020. Don was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and never missed an opportunity to tell an Ole and Lena joke. He was kind and gentle with a great sense of humor, a twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes, and a one liner ready for any occasion. Don passed away October 20, 2020 from prostate cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents Oliver and Hilma ,two brothers Harold and sister-in law Helen, Kenneth and sister-in-law Helen, sister Melva Lokken Myhre, and brothers-in-law David Lokken and Burnell Myhre. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Arla, nieces Denese Norris and Mary Lindvig, nephews Duane (Mary)Rost and Charles Lokken, great nephews Ben (Anne) Norris, David Norris, Clayton Lindvig, Christopher Lindvig and great-great nephew Caleb Norris. Don is greatly missed by his family and many friends. Memorial Service to be held Wednesday, June 16th at 11AM with visitation one hour prior at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church.

Tributes

Donald Jerome Rost

May 11, 1934 - October 20, 2020

Tributes

Donald Jerome Rost

May 11, 1934 - October 20, 2020

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