Ronald Brandt

Britton - The funeral for Ronald Brandt will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at the First Presbyterian Church of Britton, with Rev. Terry Sletto officiating. Burial will be in the Amherst Cemetery with military honors.

Visitation will be 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Price Funeral Chapel, Britton, and one hour preceding the funeral at the church on Thursday.

Ronald died Friday, Sept. 7, 2007, at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in Fargo, N.D., at the age of 71.

Ronald Edward Brandt was born March 25, 1936, at Amherst, S.D., to Benjamin and Violet Pearl (Thomas) Brandt. He lived there the first few years of his life, and then moved as a youngster with his family to a farm south of Britton. He attended school in Britton, and graduated from Britton High School in 1954. He then attended college at SDSU in Brookings for a year before joining the U. S. Air Force. He served his country for four years, a portion of that time in Italy. He worked as an air craft mechanic, specializing in the F-100 Jet. At one time, Ronald attained the speed of sound, and broke the sound barrier. On his return from the military in 1962, Ronald went to work on the farms of Art Beck and Leo Sasse.

Ronald married Mary Lou Krutsinger on Feb. 15, 1964. He continued his work for Leo Sasse until they moved to Yankton, where they lived for a year. On returning to the Britton area, Ronald took employment with Roy and Alma Anderson in their farming operation. He later assisted Roger Bernard on the Clark Lamport farm, and eventually worked for 17 years for Ray Jarrett. In 1989, they moved to Britton, and have lived there since that time. Ronald worked for a few years for Marshall County, and then as a part-time census taker.

Ronald was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Britton, and the Reisenweber-Wolf Post No. 298 of the American Legion of Kidder, S.D. He liked building things, and enjoyed assisting Roger Andrews at his welding shop. He loved to tinker, and was his happiest when he was working on something that didn't work, or just needed his special touch. In addition to his handiwork, Ronald was truly a movie buff.

Ronald is survived by his wife 43 years, Mary Lou Brandt of Britton; his six children: Robee (Donna) Brandt, Milwaukee, Wis., Rowdena (Bill) Norris, Fargo N.D., Benjamen (Kay) Brandt, Groton, S.D., Brian (Heidi) Brandt, Seattle, Wash., Roellen Brandt, Aberdeen, S.D., and Brad (Stephanie) Brandt, Britton; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Rita (Elden) Linderkamp, Cogswell, N.D.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Katherine Kline.