Rodney Anderson Davies

Rod, our dad, has passed away at the age of 102 at Lyngblomsten in St. Paul. He gave a great fight at the end as was expected because of the person he was. He is a very proud US Marine, having served in WWII from 1942-1945. As he said many times, "not 'was' but 'always' a Marine". Semper Fi!

He is preceded in death by his beloved spouse, Lorraine; his parents; and all four of his siblings and their spouses/partners.

Survived by sons, Jim (Andrea) and Chuck (Cindy); and daughters, Lauren Mary, Terrie (Kevin) McNulty, and Betsy (Mark) Paterson. He has 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and many nieces, nephews, and great friends.

He lived a wonderful long life filled with so many memories and he was blessed to be doing things he loved even as he turned 100 - especially bowling, golf and woodworking.

He was born in Sauk Centre, MN and grew up in St. Paul. He attended Wilson High School and was a draftsman by trade. He married the love of his life, Lorraine, in 1946 after returning from service during WWII in Guadalcanal and Guam. He was discharged from service early because of dysentery and did a recovery period at a hospital in Honolulu, HI.

Companies he worked for were Villaume Lumber, Larry’s Glass and Shaw Lumber. He also had many positions with the Builders Exchange. As he never really called it retirement, he ran his own company 3D Services; which stood for 3Davies, including his two brothers, Walt and Bill.

He was a hands-on leader in every activity that interested him. In square dancing with Mom, in Toastmasters, as a bowling secretary, as a senior golf organizer, as a lector in church, in building his own house, in remaking the other houses in which he lived; he was always one of the people in charge. His presence even took over at Lyngblomsten the past 7+ years. He was never just one of the crowd. He told us often that he wanted to be useful, and he made sure that he always was useful.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:30 AM Wednesday, September 25 at Maternity of Mary Catholic Church, 1414 N. Dale St., St. Paul, Visitation at the church in Sirba Hall from 9-10:30 AM Wednesday. Luncheon will follow the Mass in Sirba Hall. Interment will be after the luncheon at 1:30 PM at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Many, Many Thanks to Lyngblomsten Apartment staff and residents, Lyngblomsten Care Center and Allina Hospice for your unending involvement with our father for the past 7+ years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Allina Hospice.