Ronald "Ron" Claudius Giefer, age 86, of rural Nicollet passed away peacefully Friday, May 31, 2024 at the New Ulm Medical Center surrounded by family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM Thursday, June 6, 2024 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nicollet with Father Craig Timmerman celebrating the Mass.

Visitation will be 4 - 7 PM Wednesday and will continue for one hour prior to the time of Mass on Thursday all at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nicollet.

The Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm is handling the arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for his family or to sign the guest book go to www.mvfh.org

Ron was born July 27, 1937, to Claudius and Pearl in New Ulm. He grew up in rural Nicollet and graduated from Nicollet Public School in 1955. He joined the National Guard after high school and was employed by Cargill. In 1958, Ron began working at the Nicollet Creamery. He married Donna on August 22, 1960 at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in Mankato. Ron worked at the creamery where he became plant manager until 1976 when he joined his stepfather in farming and moved the family to the family farm in rural Nicollet. He retired from farming in 2003. Ron was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Nicollet. He served as a volunteer firefighter in Nicollet and served on boards for Granby Township and Nicollet Farmers Exchange and was also a member of the American Legion Post #510.

Ron was a dedicated and hard-working farmer raising many animals and always enjoyed the company of the family dog. He also had the patience to tame the wildest cat that showed up on the farm. Ron enjoyed many years of trapping, hunting, and fishing with friends and teaching his family the art of bringing home a good meal of fish. Ron liked driving around the countryside checking on crops and never missed spotting a deer in the wild. Over the years he shared many laughs and created great memories while dancing to old time music at the Kato Ballroom, having dinner out and traveling with family and friends.

Ron is survived by his wife, Donna (Hilgers); his children Ron P. Giefer of Nicollet, Bob Giefer of Orr, Tim (Lorie) Giefer of rural New Ulm, Sue (Kenny) Johnson of rural St. Peter, Dan (Lisa) Giefer of North Mankato and Jen (Kevin) Steffensmeier of Otsego; grandchildren Niki Giefer, Kellen Giefer, Kourtney Giefer, Clarissa Giefer, Kyle Johnson, Lexi Johnson, Hailey Steffensmeier and Zack Steffensmeier; greatgrandchildren Aubree Giefer and Jacob Sokolofsky; sisters-in-law Sharon Giefer of Northfield and Phyllis Granaas of Mankato and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents Claudius Giefer and Pearl (Horner) (Giefer) Betzing; father-in-law and mother-in-law Paul and Loretta Hilgers, stepfather Carl Betzing, brother Gene Giefer, brothers-in-law Roger Hilgers, Dave Morrow, and Mayo Granaas, sister-in-law Patricia Morrow, daughter-in-law Mary Deneffe, grandson Justin Giefer and granddaughter Heather Giefer.