Darrell Lane Ruddy, age 78, of Luverne, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at his home.
He was born May 26, 1945, in Luverne, to Loren and Carol (Larson) Ruddy. Lane attended country school before graduating from Luverne High School. He served his country as a lifetime member of the United States Air Force.
While in the service, Lane married Virginia Ruddy on Nov. 26, 1971. The couple lived in various cities in Texas, Georgia, New York and England. Lane retired from the military and moved to Luverne in 1985. He later became a truck driver.
He was a member of St. Catherine Catholic Church and the Green Earth Players. Lane was a collector. He collected toys, cars, motorcycles and boats. He enjoyed playing pinochle and model trains and built his own village.
Lane is survived by his two children, Don (Roelita) Ruddy, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Lori Horsfall, Ellsworth; four grandchildren, Kyler Ross, Ian Ross, Jessica Ruddy and Johnathon Hidale; five great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Bob (Gloria) Ruddy, Osseo, and Dave (Rose) Ruddy, Luverne.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia on April 13, 2019; son, Brent Ross; seven sisters, Mavis Wahlert, Corrine Nath, Delores Kasemodel, Patricia Miller, Marilyn Palmer, Judy Craig, and Theresa Ruddy; and seven brothers, Bud, Michael, Gene, Donald, John, Jim and Dale Ruddy.
Visitation will be from 4-6:00 p.m., with parish prayers at 4 p.m., Friday, Oct. 6, at the Dingmann Funeral Home in Luverne. Visitation also one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Funeral Mass will be Saturday, Oct. 7, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, officiated by Monsignor Gerald Kosse. Burial with full military honors provided by the Luverne American Legion & VFW will be in the St. Catherine Cemetery.