Rodney Ellis Tibbetts

Rod Tibbetts, 75, Hawley, MN, passed away on June 23, 2021, surrounded by loving family.

Rod was born August 8, 1945 in Bagley, MN to Alvah and Evelyn (Sauer) Tibbetts. He was raised on a farm near Bagley and graduated from Bagley High in 1964.  Upon graduation he left for Great Falls, MT.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1965 for four years on an ammunition ship, the USS Nitro, with an honorable discharge in 1969.

He worked for Anaconda Co. in Black Eagle, MT for several years after his discharge.  In 1971 he married Kathleen Domire and together they had three beautiful children.  In 1971, he was employed by Buttrey Foods as a meat cutter in Boise, ID.  He later worked for Bechtal Mines in Virginia as a Millwright.

In 1978 he and his family moved to Hawley, MN where he and a friend purchased the Hawley Locker Plant and later her had an Ambassador Meat route.  In 1992 he became employed by Mittel Steel USA, at the Minorca Mines Inc.  He retired in 2007.  After retiring, he kept active by plowing snow and delivering parts for Sturdevants.

His love of baseball and football, especially his MN Twins and Vikings, required him to have a T.V. affiliation that carried all the games.  If there was a game on most likely Rod would be watching!  He also played softball for several years for the Old Timers.  He loved hunting and fishing and taught others the “art” of cutting wild game.  His children and grandchildren were his pride and joy.  He would bring out pictures and strike up a conversation with someone he didn’t know and proceed to boast-just a little bit.

Rod is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathleen; children, Annette (Brian) Doucette, Moorhead, TJ (Crystal) Tibbetts, Hawley, Aaron (Trisha) Tibbetts, New York Mills, MN; sisters, Laurel (Joe) Newson, Janice Olson, Lois (Myron) Larson, Becky Schlegel, and 7 wonderful grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Ivan, Dave and John

Visitation will be Monday, June 28, 2021 from 5-7 P.M. with a prayer service at 7 P.M. at Wright Funeral Home in Hawley.  Funeral service will be Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at Hawley Alliance Church. Interment will be at Hawley Cemetery.