Ronald L. Fritz

It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Ronald Fritz on May 17, 2025. Ron came into this world on January 16, 1952, at Hallock Minnesota.

He grew up in rural Pembina, North Dakota, and spent most of his life there. He worked for Symington construction until he was drafted into the US Army in 1972 and continued working there after his discharge.

In August 1976, Ron married Gaye Warner. He worked for Hanson construction in Fargo until 1978 when they moved to Pembina where he was Self-Employed in construction until he retired in 2012.

Ron had a passion for motorcycles and began racing motocross in the late 1980s. He was a member of the Manitoba Motocross Association for many years and last raced in 2017. Throughout his motocross career he made lifelong close friends, many who were considered family. At the age of 36, he was the oldest man racing in the association and continued to be the oldest man until his racing days were over. He became known as “The Living Legend “.

Ron was an honorary Canadian but was always proud of his family and the town of Pembina. He spent many hours working around town as a volunteer firefighter, working on the city dike or the local motocross track, which was named The 109 Race Park in his honor. Most days he could be spotted driving around in his blue Toyota pickup with his dog Rusty beside him. And if he wasn’t in his blue pickup, he was on one of his many bikes.

Ron was a member of the Pembina City Council for several years, a lifetime member of the Pembina American Legion, and a member of the Pembina Volunteer Fire Department for many years.

To quote a good friend, “he was brash and rough on the outside yet a heart of gold on the inside”.

In their retired years, Ron and his wife would venture off in their motorhome.

Ron is survived by his loving wife, Gaye, their two daughters, Erica and Kayla, and one granddaughter River. Sisters: Linda Simmons (Gary) and Donna Haroldson (Brad), brothers Steve Fritz, Robert Fritz (Debbie) and Greg Fritz (Sue), sister-in-law, Linda Warner. Also surviving are many nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, as well as his motocross family members.

Preceding him if death were his parents, Donald and Irene Fritz and his grandparents.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Pembina Evangelical Free Church in Pembina, ND. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 12:00 noon until the time of services. Following the burial at the Pembina Cemetery, everyone is invited to the Pembina Community Center for a time of fellowship and lunch.