Obituary: Olaf Ringerud

Olaf J. Ringerud, 91, passed away on July 24, 2021 at CHI St. Alexius Health, in Carrington, N.D.

Visitation will be Friday, August 6 from 12 to 6 p.m., with family present from 5 to 6 p.m., at Evans Funeral Home, Carrington. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at 10 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Carrington. Burial will be at the Carrington Cemetery. Pastor Ray Hagan will officiate the service with special music by Clara Edwardson. Military honors by North Dakota National Guard Funeral Honors Team.

He was born March 13, 1930, on the family farm in Enger Township, Steele County, N.D., to Olaf and Jennie Ringerud.

In his youth, Olaf attended country schools and Portland High School, and was confirmed at Little Forks Lutheran Church.

He graduated from Mayville State Teachers College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education in 1952. He met Muriel Jean Kjorness in college and married her on July 17, 1953 in Mayville, N.D.

Olaf was an Army veteran, having served during the Korean War. He played trumpet in the 8th U.S. Army Band from 1952 to 1954 while stationed in Seoul, Korea.

He earned a Master of Music Education degree from the State University of South Dakota in Vermillion in 1958.

Olaf started his music-teaching experience with three years of part-time instruction, while a student in college. After graduating, he taught vocal and instrumental music in Anamoose, N.D., for two years; Westhope, N.D., for three years; then moved to Carrington in 1959 and taught for 28 years before retiring in 1987.

He had been a member of several professional organizations including the National Education Association, North Dakota Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, and the North Dakota Music Educators Association for which he served as president from 1967 to 1969. He was selected to the Music Educator Hall of Fame by the group in 1987.

He also served as an adjudicator in music contests throughout North Dakota and Minnesota for 25 years, and has been a guest conductor at music festivals in North Dakota.

Olaf became a registered piano technician in 1976. He was a member of the Piano Technicians Guild and tuned pianos for the International Music Camp and throughout central North Dakota. After retiring from teaching, he made piano tuning his full-time job.

He was a member of the Carrington Trinity Lutheran Church. He served as the Senior Choir director for over 40 years.

Olaf is survived by his wife of 68 years, Muriel; five children, Ona Stoertz of Gross Lengden, Germany; Jenny (Todd) Grill of Plymouth, Minn.; Mark (Sarah) Ringerud of Columbia, Md.; Peter (David Hill) Ringerud of Fargo, N.D. and John Ringerud of Carrington, N.D.; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Olaf is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Albert Ringerud, his sisters Pauline Owen and Marion Moen, and son-in-law David Stoertz.

Arrangements by Evans Funeral Home of Carrington, N.D.