Ronald Owen Lien – Richfield, MN

Ronald Owen Lien, age 89, of Richfield, MN, passed away Sunday, July 28, 2024.
Ron was born to parents Sander and Olive Lien Mar-ch 24, 1935 in Fergus Falls, MN. He graduated from Underwood High School in 1953, where he played football, basketball and baseball. After high school, Ron at-ended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Pharmacy De-gree in 1959.
While working as a Pharmacist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Minneapolis, he met and fell for a nurse, Janice (Kay) Smith. Ron and Kay were married May 20, 1961 in Baudette, MN.
Ron worked as a hospital pharmacist in the same hospital system for 43 years, re-tiring in 2003 from Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. He was passionate about his work. Career highlights in-clude participating in surfactant clinical trials for premature infants and educating pediatric patients diagnosed with diabetes on tracking their blood sugar.
Outside of work, Ron could be found watching sports or with his nose in a newspaper. He followed the University of Minnesota teams (football, men’s and women’s basketball, hockey, baseball and softball) and watched or listened to most of the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings games in the last 20 years since retirement.
He enjoyed spending time with his family including his extended family of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. His family will remember him as kind, generous and gentle.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Sander and Olive; and his wife of 56 years, Kay.
He is survived by his brother, Tom Lien (Judy); his three children, Steve Lien, Susan Harmon (Mike) and Scott Lien (Becky); and his three grandchildren, Andrew Harmon, Katie Harmon and Sander Lien.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to The Parkinson’s Foundation or Children’s Minnesota Foundation.
Funeral service was 11 a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Trefoldighed Church of Battle Lake, MN with Rev. Morgan Strudthoff officiating. Interment was at Trefoldighed Cemetery in rural Battle Lake, MN
Visitation was one hour prior at the church.
Arrangements were by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls. On-line condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com.