Richard Harold Ross

2023-02-06T12:33:23-06:00
Navy Badge
  • Name: Richard Harold Ross
  • Location of Birth: Keewatin, Minnesota
  • Date of Birth: August 6, 1923
  • Date of Death: February 10, 2008 (84 years old)
  • Parents: Phillip Rostanka and Mable (Holt) Rostanka
  • High School and Class: 1941 - Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College: St. Olaf
    Cabot
    University of California
  • Highest Rank:
  • Branch: Navy
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: February 2, 1943 (Enlistment Date)
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: February 11, 1946 (Discharge Date)
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:

  • Military Highlights:
    Richard enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942 and served aboard the PT boats in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

    Information from World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947:
    Name: Richard Harold Ross
    Gender: Male
    Race: White
    Age: 18
    Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head)
    Birth Date: August 6, 1923
    Birth Place: Keewatin, Minnesota, USA
    Residence Place: Pengilly, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: June 30, 1942
    Registration Place: Pengilly, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Employer: Butler Brothers, Cooley, Itasca, Minnesota
    Height: 5' 8"
    Weight: 140
    Complexion: Light
    Hair Color: Brown
    Eye Color: Blue
    Other Characteristic: Scar on forehead
    Next of Kin: Mable Garland

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Richard attended schools in Nashwauk, Minnesota, Marble, Minnesota, and graduated from Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minnesota in 1941. He later attended college at St. Olaf, Cabot, and the University of California.

    Richard worked for the United States Government Atomic Weapons Laboratories in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He later was employed as a truck shop foreman at M. A. Hanna Mining Company and retired from his position in 1985.

    Richard was a member of the Moose, Eagles, and VFW Clubs in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He also belonged to PT Boats, Inc., and the Hanna Retiree Club. Richard enjoyed operating heavy equipment, fishing and telling jokes and stories.

    Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, Olivia; and a sister, Fern Grussendorf.

    He is survived by his wife, Sally (Marr) Ross; daughter, Tanya (Scott) Jackson; stepchildren, Glen (Karen) Marr, Mallory (Sandy) Marr, Andrea (Elmer) Johnson, and Diane (Curt) Meyers; sister, Evalynne Cheney; brother, Donald; and numerous nieces and nephews.

    Richard died at Grand Village and Lodge in Grand Rapids. He was cremated and is buried in Harris Cemetery at Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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