Julius “Orville” Ruud

Julius “Orville” Ruud, age 74, of Preston, Minn., passed away Monday, September 16, 2019, at Traditions of Preston.

Julius Orville Ruud was born on January 9, 1945, to Albert and Vivian (Hegg) Ruud in Spring Valley, Minn. He was a graduate of Spring Valley High School. At the age of 20, Orville was drafted into the Army, where he served two years in Vietnam. He married Dianne Drury in 1967, and to this union two children were born, Jon and Jennifer. Orville owned and operated Preston Automotive Service with his business partner, Roger Dyreson starting in 1968. Orville moved to Rochester in 1991 and worked for DHL as a delivery man. He was also a well-loved school bus driver for Fillmore Central Schools. Orville easily made friends and loved to visit with people.  He loved trout fishing, attending his children’s sporting events, going for cruises in the countryside around Preston and Forestville in hopes of spotting some deer, and watching the Minnesota Twins. Orville was a handyman who loved to tinker, especially on cars and lawnmowers, and he could fix anything. After retirement, he relived his mechanic days many times when discussing cars and tools with his beloved great-nephew, Kris Knutson.

Orville is survived by his former wife Dianne Ruud of Preston, Minn., son Jon (Stacie) Ruud of Siren, Wis., daughter Jennifer (Jeff) Strack of St. Paul, Minn., grandchildren: Aaron Ruud of La Crosse, Wis., Adam Ruud and Ethan Ruud, both of Siren Wis., Addison Strack, Isabel Strack, and Eliot Strack, all of St. Paul, Minn.; sisters Ramona Gilbert of Spring Valley, Minn., Priscilla Keck of Harmony, Minn., and Cindy Johnson of Spring Valley, Minn.; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Vivian Ruud, sister Veronica Ruud, sisters and brothers-in-law Pauline and Johnny Queensland, Aileen and Dick Watson, Roger Gilbert, and Roger Dyreson, nephew Scott Watson, and granddaughter Ella Grace Strack.

Memorial services for Orville Ruud will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2019, at Christ Lutheran Church in Preston with Pastor Mark Woodward officiating.  Burial will take place in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Preston at 2 p.m. following the service. Visitation will be held from 11:30-12:30 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church prior to the service. A Celebration of Life will continue at the B&B Bowl in Preston following the burial.

Online condolences may be left at www.Hindthudekfuneralhomes.com.