Rome Villiard

Rome Villiard, 86, Detroit Lakes, formerly of Frazee, died Jan. 13, 2013, in Essentia Health St. Marychr(39)s. Rome was born May 14, 1926, in Flom, Minn., to John and Sarah Villiard. He grew up and went to school near Hitterdal. Rome married Mabel (Erb) Shipman on Nov. 20, 1949, at Ray Rassmussenchr(39)s farm near Frazee. He farmed near Frazee for about 12 years and retired from Anderson Ready Mix after about 25 years. He moved to Lamplighter in Emmanuel Community 14 years ago, where he enjoyed maintaining the lawn for several years. He was honored with Becker County Outstanding Senior in 2003, and got to travel to the Twin Cities to accept the award. Rome enjoyed hunting, woodworking, playing cards (especially Skip Bo with his fellow Lamplighter residents), taking drives through the countryside and visiting with the many friends he made during his years in Emmanuel Community. He is preceded in death by his wife; his parents; brothers, James, Ivan, Joe, Ervin and Bill; sisters, Nellie Baker and Pearl Yoder; grandchildren, Stacey and Ricky Shipman, and great grandson, Tyler Shipman. He is survived by his children, Ruth Pojar, Dean (Luella) Shipman, Richard (Sylvia) Shipman, Merlyn (Dee) Villiard, Shirley (Ron) Mayfield, Mary (Robert) Geiger; 13 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; eight great great grandchildren; sisters, Lorraine (Jerry) Breivold, Edna Barsness, Lois (Rudy) Stutzman and Donna Helgeson, and many nieces and nephews.