Ralph Fynboh Obituary

Gene Fynboh passed away on July 15 at his home at Grand Arbor surrounded by family. Our thanks to Vivie Hospice for their kind assistance in caring for Gene and our family. A celebration of life and military funeral honors will take place 2 PM on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Grace Lutheran Church in Brandon, Minnesota. Visitation will be 30 minutes prior to the service at church.

Ralph E. (Gene) Fynboh was born on August 28, 1941 in Morris, Minnesota to Ralph and Harriet Heuer Fynboh. Gene was baptized and confirmed at the Pepperton Methodist Church. He attended school in Chokio, Minnesota, graduating in 1959, and college at NDSU and UMN Twin Cities. He was drafted into service in the United States Army in February of 1964 and served actively at Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Lewis and Viet Nam until March of 1966. He was honorably discharged on January 31, 1970. Gene and Kathy Spitzer were married at Faith Lutheran Church in Bismarck, North Dakota, on June 12, 1965. They lived in Tacoma, Washington until Gene’s surprise deployment on a troop ship overseas three months later which seemed to satisfy any desire he ever had for an ocean cruise! Gene and Kathy settled on and resumed working on the family farm that was established in 1877.

Gene was a civic leader working and serving on church councils, school board, coop boards, Pioneer Public TV board, and community improvement projects. He was elected to the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council; was a member of the Minnesota Corn Growers, and served on the National Corn Growers board of directors. He was a founding director of the Chippewa Valley Ethanol Company, pioneering in the development of the ethanol industry, and served for 26 years in a most interesting and rewarding endeavor. He was actively involved in conservation farming methods and believed that the land would be improved with those methods.

Gene and Kathy loved living by the lake. The yard was nice, the fishing was good, and the screened in porch was relaxing. Gene always said that all he had to do was make Kathy mad and the next thing he knew, the yard was full of beautiful flowers! Together they traveled to every state except Alaska, most Central America, in Europe and the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The couple were blessed with four children; Marin Howe, Derek (Jami) Fynboh, Greg (Naomi) Fynboh, and Cory (Jessica) Fynboh, who survive him along with 7 grandchildren: Nate, Nic, and Noah Howe; Ferris Fynboh, Isabel, Lydia, and Sawyer Fynboh. With Kathy and her love, they have been the pride and joy of his life. He is also survived by his brother Donald (Beverly) Fynboh, sisters-in-law Sally Anderson and Maxine (Mike) Olson and their families. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Harriet, in-laws Harold and Bertha Spitzer, and brother Dell Fynboh.