Earl Rydell, 82, of Dent, MN, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23rd, 2026, surrounded by his family at the VA Nursing Home in Fergus Falls, MN.

Earl Everett Rydell was born on January 29, 1944, to Edwin and Phoebe (Nordly) Rydell in Breckenridge, Minnesota. He graduated from Fargo North High School and later earned his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in 1975.

Earl proudly served as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force from 1966–1970, working as an Aircraft Instrument and Radar Navigation Systems Repairman. Following his Air Force service, he continued supporting the military as a naval ship weapons systems engineer with the U.S. Navy.

On December 19, 1970, Earl married the love of his life, Penny Peterson, in Fargo, North Dakota. Together they built a life filled with adventure, living in North Dakota, Minnesota, California, and Iowa before settling at their beloved lake home on Star Lake near Dent, MN, where they spent the last twenty years.

Earl worked as an electrical systems engineer for more than 30 years. His career in Avionics and Electrical Systems included roles with the Navy (4 years), FMC (8 years), Rockwell Collins (12 years), and Phoenix International/John Deere until his retirement. Throughout his career, Earl contributed to several electronic patents. After retiring, he continued serving his community as a member of the Board of Directors for Lake Region Electric Cooperative (LREC) for 15 years.

Earl was deeply involved in his community. He was an active member of the Perham Lions Club, serving in various leadership roles, including President for many years. He especially enjoyed working with the Leo Club and mentoring young members. He was also a proud member of the Dent American Legion for the last 17 years, where he served for many years as finance officer. Earl and Penny were longtime members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham, MN.

Earl is survived by his wife of 55 years, Penny; his children Nicole Rydell, Joe Rydell, and Heather Rydell; and his grandchildren Abbi (Sam) Mack and Aiden Rydell. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Harold and Harvey.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1st at Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home in Fargo, ND. A one-hour visitation will precede the service. The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home’s website. Following the service, a graveside military honors ceremony will take place at Fargo National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to any of Earl’s favorite organizations. He was an active member of both the Perham Lions Club and the Dent American Legion. Alternatively, Earl would have appreciated contributions to a military-focused charity of your choice, such as the United Service Organizations (USO), Tunnel to Towers (T2T), or Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Earl was able to remain at his lake home until nearly the end. His final week was spent at the VA Nursing Home in Fergus Falls, MN, a transition he and Penny had thoughtfully arranged in advance. The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff for keeping Earl as comfortable as possible in his final days.