Randall K. Aamot

1947 - 2020

Randall K. Aamot

Lawton, Iowa

Randall Karl Aamot, 72, of Lawton, passed away Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in his home in the comforting presence of his loving wife after a difficult battle with cancer.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City, 4125 Orleans Avenue.

Randy was born on Dec. 24, 1947, in Minot, N.D., to Karl and Beulah (Klemenhagen) Aamot. He grew up in Makoti, N.D., surrounded by his siblings and cousins. He graduated Makoti High School in 1965. He lettered in basketball and baseball and was part of the basketball team that won the North Dakota State Class C Championship tournament, an event which brought great pride and joy to the small community of Makoti. Randy graduated from North Dakota State University with a bachelor's degree in animal science and a master's degree in microbiology.

While attending NDSU, he also met Joan Dell, the love of his life, who would become his wife on Sept. 5, 1970.

Randy was employed as a lab manager by Iowa Beef Processing, first in Omaha, and later in South Sioux City. In 1984, he changed careers and went to work for Diosynth as a plant manager responsible for extracting the raw material used to make the blood thinning drug Heparin. Diosynth was bought by Akzo Nobel, and Randy continued working for them for 20 years. He then worked for Mobren doing similar work and eventually started his own consulting company. Randy was widely known within the Heparin production industry because of the way he revolutionized the extraction process. He was respected by his employees and associates for his integrity, kindness, scientific knowledge, and creative problem-solving ability.

Randy was a man of spontaneous, delightful laughter. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and gardener, and loved doing projects outside with his grandchildren. He was diligent, hardworking, and ready to help. He was a man of wisdom and strong convictions who was continually learning and always prepared. He was a fierce defender of his family and constantly worked to take care of them. Most important, he always wanted his children and grandchildren to know they were loved. Whenever he had a chance, he would give a hug and the reminder, "I'm so glad you're my girl," or "I'm so glad you're my boy." For the grandkids he would follow with, "I love being your grandpa; you bring joy to my heart."

He also loved to share his deep faith in his personal savior, Jesus Christ. He wanted everyone to know the comfort and security he experienced through that relationship. Even in his illness he had peace, because he knew that "God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 1:4–6 KJV)

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan; a son, Randall George (Sarah); two daughters, Christianna Marie (Adam) Cooper and Elizabeth Joan (Craig) Brockhaus; 12 precious grandchildren, Mackenzie, Elias, Beck, Gwenyth, Madi, Isaac, Finn, Lucy, Craig, Anne, Henry, and Temperance; his brother, Karl (Kristine) Aamot; and his sister, Deborah Vetter.

Randy was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Ken Vetter.