Rod Broding

The memorial service celebrating the life of Rodney Broding, of Wadena and formerly of Battle Lake, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 9, at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel in Wadena, with Pastor Del Moen presiding. Visitation will be held on Monday, from 5:00 until 7:00 at the Johnson-Schuller Chapel, and will resume on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Rod, age 81, grew up in Lake Benton, MN where he spent much of his youth fishing and hunting which gave him a lifelong appreciation of nature. Although his sister was 13 years older than Rod, they remained close throughout his life.  When Rod was 12-years-old his father, Charles “Swede” Broding, died. At age 15, his mother, Myrtle Andrea (Hugger) Broding, married Jim (James Winnie) Kilts and the family moved to Pipestone, Minnesota, where Rod graduated with the class of 1958.   

Rod was the first in his family to attend college. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from St. Cloud State University, a masters of Public Address from Iowa State and a Master of Divinity from Luther Northwestern Seminary.

Rod married Marilyn Keehr in 1962 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in St. Cloud, Minnesota.  Together they raised three children and several foster kids. 

Besides being an English teacher, speech/debate coach and a minister, Rod owned and operated Rod’s Music and Broding Taxidermy.  He was a fishing guide, lifeguard, referee, election judge, dance instructor, artist, motivational speaker, test developer, editor, and published author. He earned numerous photography, writing and speaking awards. Rod also earned the Red Cross Certificate of Merit for his life saving skills in the summer of 1963 where he saved a child from drowning.

Rod was involved in many organizations throughout his life such as Boy Scouts, college debate, NEA (National Education Association), Polka Lovers Klub of America, square dancing groups, Art of the Lakes, Toastmasters, Bigfork Lions, DFL, Sons of Norway, writers groups, and church councils.  He was a leader in many service and social justice organizations.

Hobbies included oil painting, cutting firewood, collecting phonograph records, fishing, hunting, dancing (ballroom, old time, folk, square), writing, and gardening.  In his 70s, he was diagnosed with dementia. Even so, he remained a teacher at heart throughout his entire life.

Rod was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.  He is survived by his devoted wife of 59 years, Marilyn; his three children, Dana (Jill) Broding of Rush Point, Loni (Don) Niles of Wadena, Blake (Patrice) Broding of Princeton; his six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his loving sister, Audrey Johannsen, of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Renee Ginn; nieces; grand nieces and nephews; and step-relatives.

Arrangements are with the Schuller Family Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, Johnson-Schuller Chapel, Wadena, MN. (www.SchullerFamilyFH.com)