Funeral services for George Richard Rugroden, 84, of Albert Lea, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Savior&8217;s Lutheran Church. The Rev. Wayne Halvorson and Vicar Boyd Longshore will officiate. Interment will be at Graceland Cemetery with military honors accorded by the Freeborn County Veterans organizations. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.

George died Sunday, April 13, 2008.

George Richard Rugroden was born on Jan. 15, 1924, to Oscar and Clara (Knudson) Rugroden in New Richland. George graduated from New Richland High School. After graduation he served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific. On April 10, 1949, he married LaVonne Nelson in Mankato. In 1951 the couple moved to Albert Lea where George was employed at Queens as a machinist. He was a member of Our Savior&8217;s Lutheran Church and the Eagle&8217;s Club of Albert Lea.

Survivors include his wife, LaVonne; children, Steven (Sandra) Rugroden of Pine River, Charles ( LaVanna) Rugroden of Coon Rapids, Ross (Kerry) Rugroden of Andover, and Wade (Jodie) Rugroden of Coon Rapids; grandchildren, Scott, Sarah, Shawn, Ashley, Jack, Taylor, Sam, and Seth; great-grandchildren, Ethan and Skylar; sisters, Viola Nolte, Alice Gulbrandson and Lorraine Nelson; many nieces and nephews.

George was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Clara; brother, Milford; sister, Ingeborg; four brothers-in-law; and two sisters-in-law.