Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 Saturday, December 17, 2016 at St. Mark Catholic Church in Lake Andes, with burial in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery, rural Geddes. Visitation will be held at the church Friday from 5 to 7, with family present and followed by a rosary/wake service. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home of Wagner is in charge of the arrangements.

Norman Lee Ronfeldt, son of Carl and Leola Eileen (Stevicks) Ronfeldt, was born December 27, 1948 at Gregory, SD. He died unexpectedly Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at his home in Lake Andes.

Norm was raised on the family farm where he helped milk the dairy cattle. He attended school at Rhoades Country School and graduated from Gregory High School in 1967. ?Norman married Deborah Bridges on July 1, 1968 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Geddes. Six children were blessed to their union.

After graduation, Norm went to work as a High Voltage Lineman Electrician, building steel structures and wood H-structures across South Dakota, Nebraska and Illinois. In 1973, the family moved to Lake Andes, where he worked for the United States Corp of Engineers. Norm started as a trainee, working to achieve his hydro-power journeyman electrician position and then senior electrician position. That same year, he also started his electrical business and received his contracting license. Norm served the surrounding areas using his electrical and HVAC knowledge to help many people, gaining many friends along the way. In 2003 at the age of 55, Norm retired as the operations foreman supervisor at the Corp.

Norm was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus. He was a volunteer fireman for 26 years where he served as firefighter, assistant chief and chief. Norm also served as an EMT and a member on the Lake Andes/Ravinia Fire District Board.

Norm's hobbies were softball, baseball, bowling, golfing, playing cards, fishing, hunting and drinking a few beers with family and friends. He loved to talk about projects as much as he loved watching the Oklahoma Sooners. Norm's favorite gun was a 264 Winchester Mag. He loved spending time with family, especially if it involved work!

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Deborah; children: Stephanie (Ronald) Koupal of Wagner; Diane (Darryl) Deurmier, David (Patricia); Katherine (Brian) Johnson; Andrew (Brandi), all of Lake Andes; and Michael (Lindsey) of Dell Rapids; 20 grandchildren (and one tie breaker on the way); three great granddaughters; his mother, Eileen of Lake Andes; mother-in-law, Noreen Bridges of Geddes; sister, Carla (Jeff) Neuberger of Spearfish; brother Derald of Rapid City; half brother, Bill (Karen) of Blanchard, IA; two sisters-in-law: YaVonne (Steve) Slowey of Yankton and Jeanine Perez of Sioux Falls; special nephew Robert Pastian and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Norm was preceded in death by his father; father-in-law, Neal Bridges; two sisters: Florence Felton and Janice Metzger; half sister, Dorothy Pastian; and two infant siblings.