December 7, 1940 – April 12, 2026
Ronald (Ron) went to be with Jesus on Sunday, April 12, 2026, while at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Ron was born in Windom, Minnesota on December 7, 1940, to Art and LaVonne (Bonnie) Kaltved. Ron attended Swea City High School where he was actively involved in football, FFA, class president, and theater, where he played Elvis. His senior year, his family moved to Estherville, so he completed his senior year from Estherville High School in 1958. Following graduation, he attended Iowa Lakes Community College for a short period.
Ron began working for the Rock Island Railroad when he was 19 years old. After dating for four years, Ron married his one true love, Marjean Peterson, on June 15, 1962. To this union, four children were born: Corrine, Connie, Candi, and Chad.
He worked for 42 years on the railroad. He started with the Rock Island Railroad for 20 years, then worked for the Chicago Northwestern for 15 years, and spent the last seven years for the Union Pacific Railroad. He retired in 2002. Throughout Ron’s career, he also worked for many grain elevators, hiring family members and friends to help maintain their railroad tracks.
Ron’s interests included working on his model trains in his train room, coin collecting, family vacations, listening to music, and playing games with his family. His train room displayed his creativity and great artistic ability showcasing detailed replicas of his home, his children’s homes, and various other structures and buildings. His love of coin collecting began during his teenage years, and his vast amount of knowledge was shared with his children, grandchildren, and others. Ron enjoyed and created many lifelong memories during family vacations.
Ron’s children and grandchildren loved spending time with one another, laughing and playing various board and card games while teasing each other and playing for bragging rights.
Ron was a fun and loving husband, dad, grandpa, son, brother, and uncle. He was a man of high character. He was honest and a hard worker who led by example. He was passionate, kind, and had a great sense of humor. Ron was a great role model for anyone who met him and left a lifelong impression. He will be missed and loved forever.
Ron is survived by wife, Marjean, and his children, daughter Corrine (Bruce) Stille, son-in-law Robert Kiffmeyer, daughter Candi (Steve) Staerk, and son Chad Kaltved; his eight grandchildren Kyle, Kirsten, Amanda, Jacob, Ashlee, Hunter, Zach, and Avery; one great-granddaughter Lilly; and two brothers, Jim and Ken Kaltved.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Connie Kiffmeyer, his daughter-in-law Tammy Kaltved, his parents Art and Bonnie Kalved, and his three brothers Bob, David, and Roger Kaltved.
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