Ron LeRoy Thorstad

With very heavy hearts, we share the passing of long-time Denver resident Ron Thorstad, beloved husband, dad, Grandpa-T, brother, and friend. After a 15-year battle with an aggressive cancer, Ron met each day with equal parts courage and humor, often reminding us, “It’s hard to kill a Viking.” He was 77 years young.

Born in Dickinson, North Dakota on July 15, 1948, Ron was raised in a close-knit family as the fifth of seven children. He always had a love for the outdoors and carried a deep loyalty to Dickinson and the Dakotas throughout his life. You could take the boy out of the country, but you could not take the country out of the boy.

He earned a degree in civil engineering from North Dakota State University and went on to help design and lead major transit projects across the United States and Canada; work that made a real difference across communities, and which he spoke about with great satisfaction. Still, if you asked Ron, his proudest legacy was his family. In 2001, fate (and perhaps a bit of Viking-level luck) brought him together with his wife, Cynthia, and over the past 25 years they built a life filled with laughter, adventure, and love. Living just across the street from his daughter’s family, Ron became a constant presence in daily life, equal parts storyteller, problem-solver, and enthusiastic Grandpa-T. His sharp wit, deep curiosity, and care for others live on through them.

Connection was Ron’s quiet superpower. Whether through the transit systems he built that connected cities and commuters, the woodworking projects he designed and constructed around the neighborhood, the video montages he made after vacations and family gatherings, or his deep love of exploring his Norwegian/Viking genealogy; he had a way of bringing people together. He never met a stranger, and he left an imprint on everyone he met. To know Ron was to laugh with him, learn from him, and love him.

He is survived by his devoted wife Cynthia; his daughter Tyra (Brandon) Fainstad; stepdaughters Sara (Joe) Muniza and Michelle Campbell; grandchildren Madeline and Desmond Fainstad, and step-grandchildren Rocco and Erin Muniza; siblings Gordon (Anita) Thorstad, Norma Knapp, and Lyman (Pat) Larson; Uncle George (Kayleen) Nodland; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin Thorstad and Arleen Nodland Thorstad; siblings Evelyn Snyder, Jerry, Allan, and Michael Thorstad; and many extended family members, along with his dear friend of 55 years Bill Wilde.

In the spirit of connection, we invite those who loved and laughed with Ron to join us in celebrating his life on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Olinger Crown Hill, Pavilion of Reflection. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to plant a tree in his memory through the Arbor Day Foundation ([email protected]), a gesture that reflects his love of nature and giving back.