Ryan Daniel Afseth

Ryan Daniel Afseth, 41, of Oronoco, Minn., formerly of Harmony, passed away on May 3, 2026. Born on September 13, 1984, in Spring Valley, Minn., to Zachary and Mary Jane (Knowlton) Afseth, Ryan lived a life filled with passion for the outdoors, Minnesota sports teams, an unmatched knowledge of cars, and a deep love for his family.

Ryan was a devoted father to his son Zachary and daughter Alyvia. He cherished every moment spent with them and found immense joy in sharing his love of sports and the outdoors with his children. Whether it was days spent with his kids at sporting events, hunting or fishing, sorting sports cards with Zachary or playing dolls with Alyvia, Ryan’s happiest times were those spent surrounded by the people he loved most.

From an early age, Ryan developed a fascination with cars. While some children memorized sports statistics (which he also did), Ryan could identify makes and models with ease and knew everything there was to know about automobiles. This lifelong passion became a defining part of who he was, as well as his career. Ryan was always happiest surrounded by cars, as evidenced by his long career in automobiles. He started his career at Kuehn Motors in Rochester September 2017 in the sales department. Ryan later moved into the role of service writer where he thoroughly enjoyed helping customers and working with his coworkers. 

Ryan’s warmth and genuine nature left an indelible mark on everyone he met. He truly enjoyed talking with new acquaintances or old friends alike. His caring spirit and willingness to help others made him beloved by many.

He is survived by his children Zachary and Alyvia; their mother Beth Blanchard, his mother Janey (Dwight Scrabeck) Afseth, his sister Heidi Knepper and his brother Brent (Brenda) Afseth, as well as three nieces: Hayley, Hope and Marissa and a nephew, Cole. 

Ryan was preceded in death by his father Zachary Afseth as well as his maternal and paternal grandparents.

Ryan’s legacy is one of love – for his family, the great outdoors, and the countless lives he touched through his kindness and authenticity. May his memory bring comfort to all who knew him.

Visitation will be 4–7 p.m., Friday, May 8 at the Mengis Funeral Home in Mabel.