RUDD — Ronald Harvey Norby, 66, of 607 Taylor St. in Rudd, died Wednesday, Dec.17, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.
 Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Monday, Dec. 22, at the Rudd United Methodist Church, 611 6th St., with Rev. Wendy Johannesen officiating.  Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Rudd.
 Visitation will be held from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 North Hawkeye, Nora Springs.
 Memorials may be directed to the Ronald Norby memorial fund, so that his family may distribute them between North Iowa Hospice and Research for Cancer.
 Ronald H. Norby was born on the family farm on Jan. 18, 1942, in Rudd, the son Robert and Doris (Kuhlemeier) Norby.  Ron was raised on the farm and lived in the Rudd area all his life.  He graduated from Rockford High School in 1960 and from Iowa State University in 1965, with an animal science degree.  Ron enlisted into the National Guard on November of 1965 and was honorably discharged on Oct. 31, 1971.
 Ron was united in marriage to Mary Escobedo, on August 24, 1970; to this union three children were born.  He was self employed owning his own trucking business.  Ron also worked at Kum & Go and the 218 Floyd Express as a cashier.
 Ron enjoyed sports, fishing, tractors, gardening, woodworking, and loved animals especially his pets!  He also liked to spend time with his honorary grandchildren, Ben and Sarah Parcher.  He was a member of the Rudd Methodist Church, American Legion, and Lions Club.
 Ron is survived by his wife Mary Norby, Rudd, children, Johnnie Norby, Los Angeles, Calif., Michael Norby, San Diego, Calif., and Kimberley Norby, of San Diego, Calif.; honorary grandchildren Ben and Sarah Parcher; siblings, Barbara (Toby) Enema, Des Moines, Carolyn (Tom) Smith, Woden, William (Vickie) Norby, Rudd; along with several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
 Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Doris Norby.
Sheckler Colonial Chapel, (641) 749-2210, www.colonialchapels.com is in charge of the arrangements.