Ronald Paul Flynn

Ronald Paul Flynn passed away on January 31, 2025, at the Carl T. Hayden VA Hospital in Phoenix, AZ. He was born in Le Mars, Iowa on June 3, 1942, to Cecil and Marjorie Flynn. During his younger years, his family lived in St. Cloud, MN and Doon, IA. Following high school, he joined the US Navy and was stationed on the USS Thor traveling the Atlantic and Pacific. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, he began his career with the Railroad, working as a signal maintainer for the Great Northern and BNSF. He was also a union representative for the Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen for many years.

In 1965 he married Carol Tiedeman in Hull, IA. They lived in several places including WA, MN and ND. They eventually settled in Larimore, ND with their two children. Ron was a ham radio operator; he served on the School Board for a few years and was a lifelong member of the American Legion. He was also an avid golfer and was fortunate enough a get a hole-in-one two separate times in his life.

Taking early retirement from the railroad, in 1999, they sold Carol’s Beauty Salon and purchased a home in Mesa, Arizona. They continued to spend their summers in ND at the Larimore Dam and the rest of the year at their home in Apache Wells where he could golf year-round. Ron took every chance he could to tell people how he enjoyed living there with his wonderful view of Red Mountain. He also enjoyed listening to music, watching old westerns, and couldn’t pass up a pull tab or scratch-off. He cheered for the MN Vikings & Twins, Phoenix Suns, and any team or individual from Iowa or North Dakota. Most of all, he was very proud of his family.

Ron is survived by his wife Carol; Children, Juanita (Keith) Kennedy, Moorhead, MN; Kelly (Melanie) Flynn, Wichita, KS; Grand Children: Amanda (Courtnie) Mann; Austin Kennedy, Talon Flynn and Peyton Flynn and great grandson Sutter; Siblings: Patricia Anderson, Daniel Flynn, Colin Flynn, Coleen Prokop. He is proceeded in death by his parents and brothers Bill and Terry Flynn.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Apache Wells Country Club on Saturday, March 1st from 2:00-4:00 PM. Prior to that, a family interment will be held at the Apache Wells Community Church Columbarium Gardens.