Ronald Rochford

Ronald Lee Rochford, age 66 of New Hampton, died Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Linn Haven Rehab and Healthcare in New Hampton. Private interment will take place Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Calvary Cemetery in New Hampton with Rev. Jim Goerend presiding. Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton have been entrusted with Ronald's arrangements. Ron was born on Dec. 18, 1956, to Thomas John and Elizabeth Marie (Meighan) in Corpus Christi, where his father was stationed as a Naval pilot. He was welcomed home by his big brother, Tom, and his two older sisters, Betsy and Diana, but tragedy struck the Rochford family shortly after Ron was born as Thomas was killed in a training accident. The family moved to California and lived on the West Coast for about four years before Elizabeth decided to return with her four kids to her hometown of New Hampton. Ron attended St. Joseph Community School through the eighth grade and then transferred to New Hampton High School, where he wrestled, played baseball and was a member of the Class of 1975. He then attended community college, but throughout his life, he battled a number of health problems and was disabled. He lived with his mother for a number of years, and when she passed away in 2010, he moved into his own residence and did well until he was involved in a serious car accident. He was hospitalized for a number of months, but he pulled through and then moved to Linn Haven. For all the challenges life threw at Ron, he always remained devoted to his mother, his siblings, his nieces and nephews and his great-nieces and nephews. He loved spending time with them, and even before his nieces and nephews began having children, he was a great uncle. Ron loved sports and was a passionate fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs, and he loved watching the Packers win the Super Bowl in 2011 and the Cubs breaking a 108-year drought by winning the 2016 World Series. He also enjoyed keeping up with the news on television, and he was a big fan of music — especially classic rock. All those who knew and loved him are going to dearly miss him, but they also know today he is healthy and in a far better place spending time with his parents and his big brother. Ron is survived by two sisters, Elizabeth "Betsy" Staub, Diana Erickson; two aunts, Marilyn Rochford, Bonnie Meighan; nieces and nephews, David (Laura) Erickson, Dana Lindsey, Aaron (Megan) Rochford, Dustin (Kelli) Rochford; ten great-nieces and nephews, Davide Lee Erickson, Zavier McGee, Isiah McGee, Brooklyn Lindsey, Malachi Erickson, Elisabeth Lindsey, James Lindsey, Adrian Rochford, Serenity Rochford, Brair Rochford. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Thomas Rochford.