Ronald Lien

Ronald Owen Lien, age 89, of Richfield, MN, passed away on July 28, 2024.

Ron was born to his parents Sander and Olive Lien on March 24, 1935, in Fergus Falls, MN. He graduated from Underwood High School in 1953, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. After high school, Ron attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1959. While working as a Pharmacist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis, he met and fell for a nurse, Janice (Kay) Smith. Ron and Kay were married on May 20, 1961, in Baudette, MN.

Ron worked as a hospital pharmacist in the same hospital system for 43 years, retiring in 2003 from Children's Hospital in St. Paul. He was passionate about his work. Career highlights include participating in surfactant clinical trials for premature infants and educating pediatric patients diagnosed with diabetes on tracking their blood sugar.

Outside of work, Ron could be found watching sports or with his nose in a newspaper. He followed the University of Minnesota teams (football, men's and women's basketball, hockey, baseball, softball) and watched or listened to most of the MN Twins and MN Vikings games in the last 20 years since retirement. He enjoyed spending time with his family, including his extended family of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. His family will remember him as kind, generous, and gentle.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Sander and Olive, and his wife of 56 years, Kay. He is survived by his brother Tom Lien (Judy); his three children Steve Lien, Susan Harmon (Mike), Scott Lien (Becky); and his three grandchildren Andrew Harmon, Katie Harmon, and Sander Lien.

In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to The Parkinson's Foundation or Children's Minnesota Foundation.

Funeral Service: 11:00 am Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Trefoldighed Church, Battle Lake, MN, with a visitation 1 hour prior at the church.

Clergy: Rev. Morgan Strudthoff

Interment: Trefoldighed Cemetery, Rural Battle Lake, MN

Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com