Ronald George Gandrud

St. Louis Park, MN - Ronald George Gandrud (Ron), 93, died February 25, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN. A resident of St. Louis Park, he was born in Benson, MN. His father was a Navy recruiter during World War II, which required the family to move frequently. By the time Ron began eighth grade in Kerkhoven, Minnesota, he had attended eight different schools in four states, including Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Omaha, Nebraska; and Itta Bena, Mississippi.

Ron graduated from Kerkhoven High School in 1950 and from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1954, where he double-majored in speech and business and was active in debate and theater. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1958.

The following year, Ron met the love of his life, Elizabeth Kross of Thunder Bay, Canada. They were married six months later and had five children: Christopher (Kelly), Cynthia (Alan Tuchtenhagen), Jane Pellizzer (Michael), Thomas (who died at age four), and Catherine Hanson (Eric).

Ron loved the practice of law. After several years in private practice, he became a Board-Certified Real Property Specialist and practiced real estate law for four decades. He had a deep appreciation for the history and complexity hidden in land records and took pride in untangling them, treating each title search like a puzzle. Among his many projects, Ron worked on the title for the IDS Center in downtown Minneapolis.

In 1976, Ron was invited to join the Real Property Task Force when it was created by the Minnesota State Legislature. He remained an active member for 36 years. Motivated in part by witnessing a neighboring couple lose property early in a transaction, Ron was committed to improving legal forms to better protect buyers. Over time, the task force revised every real estate legal form used by the state. For his longstanding contributions, Ron received awards and recognition from the Hennepin County Bar Association, the Minnesota State Bar Association, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and the State of Minnesota, presented by Governor Mark Dayton.

In retirement, Ron developed a passion for antique toy collecting. From tin wind-up cars to cast-iron banks, each piece had a story, combining the thrill of the hunt with his lifelong appreciation for history.

Although Ron and Liz later divorced, they remained friends, sharing family events and Sunday lunches. In their later years, they lived across the hall from one another in assisted living and shared meals daily. Ron was a steady presence for Liz, reminding her to take her medications morning and night and caring for her beloved cat, Minnie.

Ron often said the three best decisions of his life were going to law school, marrying Liz, and getting sober. He was proud to be 35 years sober and of his volunteer work supporting AA meetings at a corrections facility.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Guida; his former wife, Elizabeth; and his son, Thomas. He is survived by his children; his sister, Connie (Duane Sheldon); his seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

A small family service was held for Ron at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens in Crystal where he was laid to rest. Memorials preferred to St. James Lutheran Church in Crystal, MN.