Kermit Molde 1923 - 2019

MOLDE, DURBY, STAUFFER

Posted By: Linda H Meyers (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

Kermit Orland Molde was born Oct. 14, 1923, to Jacob “Ted” and Cora Molde, the fourth of six children. Kermit graduated from Milford School in 1941 and was a lifelong member of Salem Lutheran Church in Roland. After working at Nevada Lithograph and Marshall Canning Company, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served as a radio technician in the signal corps at the Army Security Agency installation at Vint Hill Farms, New Jersey.
Following his return from the service, he married JoAnn Durby July 27, 1947, and started his own electric business, Community Electric. After many years in business, he went to work for the newly opened National Animal Disease Laboratory in Ames in 1962, from which he retired in 1985.
Kermit was always active in the Roland and surrounding community, serving as a volunteer fireman and EMT, Boy Scout leader, member of the American Legion, Kiwanis and many charitable organizations including Trees Forever, Story County Conservation, and Habitat for Humanity. Kermit was always helping, working, and tinkering. Following his retirement, Kermit worked with friends to build improvements at Riverside Bible Camp and create an educational courtyard at Roland-Story Middle School.
Aside from his work and civic activities, Kermit was known for his sense of humor and prolific collection of Norwegian jokes, not necessarily good jokes.
Kermit was preceded in death by his parents; and lost his beloved wife, JoAnn, in June 2018. Surviving children are Roger (Chris), Hartland, of Wis.; Dean (Marianne), of Green Valley, Ariz.; Judy Stauffer (Brad), of Lincoln, Neb.; two grandchildren, Jennifer and Justin; sisters, Grace, Dorothy and Shirley; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 5 at Bethany Life in Story City. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. on April 6 at Salem Lutheran Church in Roland. Memorial gifts may be directed to Salem Lutheran Church, Roland.
Soderstrum Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.