Dewey Rood, 86, died on Monday, June 11, 2012 at the Villa St. Vincent, Crookston MN. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Faith Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN, with Pastor George Davis officiating. Burial will follow at Hegland Lutheran Cemetery, rural Strandquist, MN. Visitation will be held from 6:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. with a 7:00 PM Prayer Service on Friday, June 15, 2012 at Johnson Funeral Service, Thief River Falls, MN. Special music will be provided by the Hodne Family from Middle River. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service at church. Dewey W. Rood was born April 16, 1926 in Strandquist, MN, the son of Hjalmer and Annie (Bjorlokken) Rood. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith at Hegland Lutheran Church, Rural Strandquist, MN. Dewey attended country school and also school in Strandquist. After School Dewey farmed for a while with his father. On May 16, 1945 Dewey entered into service with the United States Army. He worked as a guard while stationed in Panama. He was honorably discharged on June 21, 1946. He was awarded the Victory Medal, American Theater Ribbon, and one Overseas Service Bar. On July 28, 1945 Dewey was united in marriage to Verna Schey in Texas. Together they raised their family of four children: Wayne, Mike, Jean, and Carolyn. Upon his discharge from the service, Dewey and Verna moved to Strandquist where he went to Auto Body School and also worked at Rood's Body Shop in Strandquist. Their family moved to Langdon, ND after an opening as an auto body mechanic opened up. He also worked for Wilcox and Malm in Grand Forks, ND. The family then moved to Thief River Falls. Starting in 1952 Dewey traveled as a representative with Trumpet Sound Gospel Sign Works after turning his life over to God. He also worked for City Dairy. For many years Dewey worked in the Maintenance Department for the Thief River Falls School District before retiring. Dewey enjoyed fishing, hunting, working in his yard, and taking care of his horses. His pride and joy was his family - with whom he loved to visit with. In 1959 Dewey worked on starting Faith Lutheran Brethren Church in Thief River Falls. Dewey will be remembered as a loving, hard-working husband, father, and grandfather who taught his children many valuable life lessons. His family is left with many, many fond memories. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Verna of almost 67 years, of Thief River Falls, MN; children, Wayne (Jody) Rood of Hudson, WI, Mike (Diane) Rood of Crookston, MN, Jean Hanson of Thief River Falls, MN, Carolyn (Dan) Ecklund of Oslo, MN; grandchildren, Brian (Elizabeth) Rood, Chad (Fahari) Rood, Anton (Braden) Rood, Michael Rood, Jordan Rood, Lisa (Shane) Demarais, Brita (Chad) Lubinski, Gretchen (Dan) Gotthard, Marcus (Katie) Hanson, Chris (Karla) Ecklund, Danny (Ester Torres) Ecklund, Melissa (Miguel) Torres, Angela (Brent Chromey) Ecklund, Lindsey (Nick Valgren) Ecklund; 28 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Gordon (Beverly) Borsvold; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Rood, Ethel McWhitter, Lee Schey, Delores Linder, Doris Olson; several nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. Preceding him in death are his parents; sister, Gertrude Anderson; brothers, Howard, Lawrence, and Russell; son-in-law, Tim Hanson, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.