Obituary: Rodney Ehni

Rodney (Rocky) J. Ehni, 68, passed away on April 8 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester Minn.

He was born on June 25, 1952 in Fargo N.D. to Daniel and Marie Ehni and was the oldest of five boys.

After graduating high school from Fessenden N.D., he obtained a bachelor's and a master's degree in Agricultural Economics. Later, he obtained an Executive Master of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. While at NDSU, he developed a love of the school and a passion for the Bison football team (pronounced Bizon please!).

NDSU was the place Rocky met his beloved wife, Vanessa Belyea. They married in 1979. That fall he joined IBM, which moved them from Fargo to Bismarck, then Maple Grove, Minn., and finally to Rochester, Minn. where they resided for 30 years. Rocky retired in 2009.

Rocky was involved with the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs in Rochester, earning the Scouter of the Year Award in 1998. He also coached youth baseball and football. He loved coaching and mentoring. Recently, he was involved with the Citizen's Advisory on Transit Board for the City of Rochester.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, daughter Alyssa, son Bryan (Chelse'), and grandchildren Selah and Soren. Also surviving are his brothers Jim (Julie) Ehni, New Rockford, N.D.; Kip (Shelly) Ehni, New Rockford, N.D.; Randy (Mary) Ehni, Wahpeton, N.D.; Steve (Gina) Ehni, St. Cloud, Minn.; and nieces, nephews and in-laws.

He is preceded in death by his parents. A celebration of life will be held in Rochester on May 15.

Arrangements by Macken Funeral Home of Rochester, Minn.