Ronald E. Knox

Ronald Eugene Knox died on December 22, 2020, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Ron was born in Minneapolis on May 13, 1938 to George and Alma Knox. In 1956, he moved with his family, including two younger brothers and younger sister to Bemidji, where he finished high school. He spent the summer after high school working on Hubert Humphrey’s first presidential campaign.

He continued his education at Bemidji State Teachers College, where he earned a degree in secondary education and a minor in history. Ron played football in high school, and was on the 1957 Northern Intercollegiate Conference Co-Champions football team that was

inducted into the Bemidji State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

After graduation, he was offered a job at Harding High School in Saint Paul, where he taught mathematics until he retired. During his tenure at Harding, he spent several years coaching gymnastics. He was a well-respected and beloved teacher to many at Harding.

Ron was fearless and always up for an outdoor adventure or game. He loved to ski and waterski, and spent many hours on the lake introducing his children and other relatives to the joys of being pulled behind a boat. He enjoyed golf as best he could, and loved fishing and hanging out with his kids. He planned yearly trips to the Boundary Waters with family.

He loved driving and taking trips across country, and was easily distracted by roadside attractions. If you were expecting a visit from him, you waited for the honk of his horn followed by the sight of his personalized license plate, RunAmok.

In his 50’s, Ron took flying lessons and spent many afternoons and weekends with his brother George traveling to small airports in Minnesota and neighboring states. They loved flying to small, far-flung airports and feasting at popular local breakfast and lunch spots, and then hopping back in their plane for the trip home.

Ron was a history buff, and would effortlessly discuss its finer points (particularly The Civil War) for hours on end. Visitors were often treated to a day at Historic Fort Snelling, complete with discussions and quizzes afterward.

Ron loved his family and friends and regaled them with extravagant tales of his adventures that grew more elaborate with each telling. He was also an expert at planning and executing a good joke, and was famous for his teasing. We will miss his loud and easy laugh, quick wit, and his willingness to go out of his way to give you a lift.

He is preceded in death by his father George Knox, his mother Alma Knox (Aarseth) and brother George Woodrow Knox.

He is survived by his son George Knox, daughter Jennifer Lang, son Derek Knox, and Derek’s wife Jen, his sister Karen Spargo and husband Jim, his brother Jim and wife Linda, and his sister-in-law Patty Knox, along with several nieces and their families. Ronnie has four grandchildren: Zachary Kendall, Gabriella Kendall, Kameryn Knox, and Joshua Knox.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring.