Roland James Jordahl

Roland's Celebration of Life livestream: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1K1ovJ1AHp/

Roland James Jordahl passed away on September 23 at the Broen Home in Fergus Falls, Minnesota at the age of 91 1/2.

Roland was born March 16, 1935 to Elmer and Vivian (Pederson) Jordahl of Lake Benton, MN. He was an outdoor enthusiast from a young age enjoying hunting, fishing, and helping on his grandparents’ farm. He had a love for music, and a beautiful voice that he shared in song throughout his years. At age 13, he professed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and was baptized at the Methodist Church in Lake Benton. Roland graduated from Lake Benton High School in 1953.

Roland attended Mankato State Teachers College from 1953-1957 earning a degree in Music Education with minors in vocal performance and physical education. He served in the US Army from 1958-1960, teaching English to recruits in Puerto Rico. After his years of service, he married his college sweetheart, Leona Stier, of Belle Plaine, Minnesota in November 1960. He began his music education career in Thompson, IA, then taught vocal music in Preston and Arlington, Minnesota.

In Arlington, two children were born to the couple, Annette in 1964 and Jim in 1965. Roland then changed career paths after obtaining a Master’s degree in Media and Technology.

In 1968 the Jordahl family moved to Glencoe, Minnesota, where Roland served as the Audio/Visual Director for the school district for 24 years. Roland also had a lifelong passion for photography and studied through New York Institute of Professional Photography via correspondence. He and Leona opened “Jordahl’s Studio in the Country” at their Glencoe home doing portraiture and wedding photography.

After retirement Roland and Leona, better known now as ‘Jordy and Patty’, moved north to a log home on Lake Lida and eventually built a new home closer to Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. Jordy loved spending early mornings in nearby Maplewood State Park photographing birds and wildlife. Jordy and Patty also continued to travel making trips to Florida and Texas during the winter months for sunshine and fellowship with other photographer friends. Jordy had the unique experience of photographing brown bears in Katmai National Park on one of several trips to Alaska. He enjoyed meeting people through sharing power-point presentations of the photos captured on his adventures, and was honored to have many of his images displayed at art shows and published in magazines.

Jordy lost his sweetheart, Patty, in 2021 after she suffered a stroke in 2013. Jordy faithfully visited her in the nursing home for the eight years she lived there. Thanks to the help of many great friends and family, he was able to live in his own home until this past June. Jordy spent his final months in the excellent care of LB Broen Home in Fergus Falls.

Roland was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Vivian, wife Leona, brother Douglas, son-in-law Gary Wheeler, and brother and sister-in-law Loren and Shirley Stier.

He is survived by his children Annette Wheeler of Fergus Falls, Jim (Michelle) Jordahl of Darwin, MN, grandchildren Joshua Wheeler, Kari (Jonathan) Eckhardt, Perrin (Lindsay) Jordahl, Paxton, Gannon, Brockton, and Rowan Jordahl; great grandchildren Noah, Drew and Lily Eckhardt, and Kaynin and Kolsin Jordahl; step grandchildren Mark, John and Todd Wheeler and Erin Hopper-Jones; step great-grandchildren Emmaliese and Esher Jones, sister-in-law Betty Jordahl; sister Joleen Huiras, and many other treasured family and friends. Blessed be the memory of Roland Jordahl.

Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00 p.m. with Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church on Franklin Lake, Pelican Rapids, MN. Inurnment at Zion Columbarium, Pelican Rapids, MN.

Please keep Roland's family in your thoughts and prayers.