Ronald "Butch" R. Freborg, 81, formerly of Turtle Lake, ND died October 23, 2018 at Augusta Place in Bismarck, ND. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Turtle Lake Baptist Church, Turtle Lake with Pastor Steve Vetter officiating. Interment will be held in the Turtle Lake Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Butch was born on June 5, 1937, to John and Catherine (Malloy) Freborg and was raised on the family farmstead 7 miles west of Turtle Lake, ND. He graduated from Turtle Lake High School in 1955 and married JoAnn Miller on September 14, 1958. They briefly lived in South Dakota where Butch worked for Yegen Dairy. They returned to Turtle Lake and Butch farmed with his father until John's retirement in 1975. Butch continued to grain and dairy farm until his retirement from farming in 1999. Butch and JoAnn moved into Turtle Lake in 2003, and he worked for the Park Board and the Honey Suites Condominiums. In 2015, Butch became a resident of Augusta Place (The Good Samaritan Society) where his sense of humor remained until his final days.

Butch was a gentle soul with an unlimited compassion for all animals. His passion was farming, and he continued to work with the land, in different ways, throughout his life. He never seemed to stop saving things he could use for another day. His community was important to him and he served in various roles with the Jaycees, Fire Department, and Township Board. Even in his sunset years, he served as resident liaison for Augusta Place. He didn't travel often, but enjoyed his visits to Minnesota, South Dakota, Alaska, Washington, and Arizona. Butch loved movies, movie trivia, and it was rare to beat him at a game of Parcheesi. Mostly, he was devoted to his family and was always ready to try a new adventure. Butch is loved and will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Butch leaves behind his beloved wife, JoAnn of Bismarck, ND and treasured family including; 5 children and 4 in-laws, David & Diane Freborg of Turtle Lake, ND, Debra & Jeffrey Ronning of Bismarck, ND, Kevin Freborg of Eagan, MN, Richard & Jackie Freborg of Bismarck, ND, and Darcel & Glenn Schmidt of Buffalo, MN; 9 grandchildren: Garrett & Austin Freborg, Cody Sondrol, Sara Blotter & Dustin Ronning, Derek & Piper Freborg, and Kylee & Natalee Schmidt; 4 great-grandchildren: Jackson, Jovie & Maxton Blotter, and Adison Ronning; 2 sisters: Jackie Morley of Hillsboro, OR and Bonnie Levi of Kelseyville, CA; dozens of nieces, nephews, extended family, and dear friends.

Butch mourned the loss of his parents, Catherine & John (Turtle Lake, ND; his brothers, John Freborg (Tioga, ND), Jim Freborg (Bismarck, ND) and Glenn Freborg (Minot, ND); and his sisters, Mildred Ritchey (Bismarck, ND), Jean Melhoff (Minot, ND) and Sandra Kleinsasser (Great Falls, MT).