Rolland Derby

Rolland Robert Derby was born November 14, 1933. He died at home after 4 days in hospice of a failing heart, November 18, 2025.
Rolland grew up with two working parents. He spent his entire life in Rochester, Minnesota, graduating from 2 years college at RCTC and loved playing football. He helped his uncle on the last family farmstead and was close to his childhood neighbors. He traveled extensively with his teenage sweetheart wife Arletta Mae Chamberlain Derby who passed before him in 2024. They married in 1954 right before he was sent to South Korea by the US Army as a Military Policeman. He came home a father, having three daughters in six years, Susan, Lynne, and Julie. He was a hardworking man buying old houses downtown to rent to Mayo employees.
He valued his independence yet embraced travel and vacationing with his family. Eventually he and Arletta traveled much of the world. The more Rolland saw of Europe, the more he loved history.
He loved runabout boats and probably pulled more than 100 different people on water skis for the first time. He bought an old wood teak Carver cabin cruiser around 1971 and became a true Mississippi river rat upon early retirement at IBM.
As he grew older, he became more and more generous and interested in world politics. He also was very appreciative as his health declined, and he needed more care. He started the habit of telling his daughters and others, "love you" instead of goodbye each day.

Military honors will be performed on January 24th, 2026 at 11:30AM at Soldiers Field in Rochester, MN.
There will be a celebration of life and food at the Derby house on Saturday, January 24th, 1-3 pm with food. 2204 11th Avenue NW, 55901

Donations can be made to Southern Poverty Law Center, (he was a longtime supporter) 400 Washington Ave., Montgomery, AL 36104 OR Paws and Claws in Rochester.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Derby family.