Sheriff Rod D. Boyd
Posted By Ballard Sunder Funeral Home On October 5, 2015 @ 3:33 pm In 2015,Obituaries | 16 Comments
Sheriff Rod D. Boyd, of Jordan (formerly of Farmington), passed away on October 5, 2015 at the age of 85. A Celebration of Life Service is Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM with visitation from 12:00 Noon – 2:00 PM at Hope Lutheran Church, 201 Hope Avenue, Jordan. Reverend Steven Thompson will preside and honors will be provided by the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association.
On January 13, 1930, Donald and Olive (Schulz) Boyd welcomed their son, Rodney Duane Boyd, into the world. He was born and raised in Farmington and developed a strong work ethic on his family’s dairy farm. Rod was the oldest of four kids and loved growing up with his siblings, Marlene, Donna and Donald.
After graduating from Farmington High School, Rod got a job working for the railroad as a telegrapher and was assigned to the Rosemount Depot. It was there that he met a beautiful young woman named Beverly Genz. Rod and Bev dated for the summer, but Bev was still in school and decided that Rod was too old for her, so she ended their relationship. Rod still sent her special greeting cards for Christmas and Valentine’s Day every year, and his patience eventually paid off. Rod and Bev reconnected after Bev graduated from high school. Their love quickly blossomed, and they exchanged wedding vows on October 1, 1955. Rod and Bev settled in Farmington to raise their family. They were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Dawn and Yvonne.
By this time, Rod was working for the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office and had earned his Associates Degree in Law Enforcement. He was a dedicated employee and throughout the years he held many different positions. In 1960 he started out in dispatch, then was promoted to patrol, detective and eventually elected sheriff. He was elected to five consecutive terms and proudly served as Dakota County Sheriff from 1975 – 1995. Rod was most proud of his work designing the Dakota County Jail using a new concept, and creating the Mounted Patrol.
Rod always had a strong sense of community and a passion for service. During his long career with the Sheriff’s Office he also served on the Farmington city council and as a volunteer firefighter. Rod drove ambulance and school bus. He was a Mason, a member of Minneapolis Zurah Shrine, as well as a member of Farmington Lutheran Church. He was very dedicated to all of these groups. Even though Rod was busy with his community commitments, he always made time for his family. Rod provided a good life for his daughters and instilled a strong set of value in each of them. His wife, daughters and grandsons were always the most important things in Rod’s life.
In retirement, Rod and Bev began traveling south to get a break from the cold Minnesota winters. They found a wonderful spot in Mesa, Arizona and have spent the past 20 winters there. Family and friends would come to visit, and they met many new friends and neighbors down there.
Throughout his life, Rod had many hobbies. He enjoyed woodworking and was famous for his custom birdhouses. He even built a set of bedroom furniture for his daughter Dawn. Rod loved baking and delivering fresh loaves of bread to his friends and neighbors. He was also enjoyed technology and he and Bev built their own computer.
In 2000 Rod and Bev moved to Jordan to be close to family. Rod developed health issues from old work related injuries and had difficulty walking. He also developed lung cancer and beat it. But Rod was a strong man, and he never let this get him down. After many years of battling health issues, Rod passed away surrounded by his family.
Rod was a kind, patient and wise man. He was a rock for his family and a gentle mountain of a man. He will be deeply missed and remembered always by his loving wife of 60 years, Bev Boyd; daughters, Dawn (Donnie Smith) Williams and Yvonne (Dean) Perkins; grandsons, Cody Huber and Travis Huber; sisters, Marlene (Glen) Kispert and Donna (Roger) Paulsen; sister-in-law, LaDonna Boyd. There to greet Rod in Heaven are his parents, Donald and Olive Boyd; brother, Donald Boyd.
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Earl will miss the e-mails from Rod. I am so glad we could attend your 60th wedding anniversary so we could see and talk to Rod. He will be missed at Hope Lutheran Church and by his beloved family.
Yvonne & Dean
Kerry and I are saddened to hear this. Sounds like he was a wonderful, caring, strong man and I know that he raised a daughter that mimics that. Please know, we will always think of you 2 as friends and that we are thinking of you in this time with deep sympathy.
Hugs to you both.
Such a lovely and beautifully written tribute. My heart aches for your family in this time of grief. May you find times of comfort and peace amidst it all. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Bev and family– Kathy and I were deeply saddened by Rods death. We just visited with him at the retired sheriffs gathering. We are out of state and cannot make it to the funeral. You have our deepest sympathy .
Bev and family— Kathy and I were deeply saddened by Rods death. We just visited with him at the retired sheriffs gathering a short time ago.You have our deepest sympathy and prayers. We are out of state and will be unable to attend the funeral.
Dear Yvonne and Family,
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss! What a beautiful description of your dad’s life!!! I bet it was a huge blessing to him, to have you for his daughter.
Much love and prayers to you and yours, Sue Schorn
Dear Bev, and Family. – Kathi and I value the time we spent with Rod at the 60th Wedding Anniversary.
Life is like Seasons of The Year.The Fall of the year when leaves turn golden brown; The geese and
ducks all flying south; Where warmer suns are found; Thank Him for the time.
Dearest Bev, Vonnie and Dawn, my deepest sympathies to you and the entire family. I am so very sad for your (our) loss. I always looked up to Rod, he was such a joy to work with in our Mounted Patrol unit all those years. There are so many instances I could refer to, but I’m sure you all have the memories of not only his laughter and fun at our meetings/events, but also his steadfast demand for respect and honor to the badge we wore and the commitment we all made to the Sheriff’s Office. Thank you Rod for all you did for Dakota County, and all of us who served under you.
Our sympathy to the family.
Rod was a good man and a great sheriff.
I enjoyed working under him for many years.
We remember the fun parties after campaigns.
Wish we could attend the funeral but we will
be in Kansas visiting our great-grandson.
Our thoughts are with you. Rod & Kay Smith
Rod was a friend of my uncle John Reisinger. I road on his bus when I was in elementary school and he always looked out for me. He was a big man with a truly gentle soul. I was very sorry to hear of his passing and I hope his family will take comfort in the fact that he was fine man who made a difference in many lives.
Dear Bev, Dawn, Yvonne and families,
I was deeply saddened by the news of Rod’s passing. May you be comforted by
your faith, family and many friends.
It is especially meaningful to me, that we were able to visit at the Retired Sheriff’s
Luncheon last September.
Though I am unable to be in Jordon, you will be in my thought and prayers.
Denny Trandem
Dear family, my heartfelt condolences go out to all of you. Fill the void with a life time of great memories.
It didn’t take long after meeting Rod to know that he was one of the ‘good guys’ whether you knew he was the sheriff or not. You knew right away that he was the type of person that you want in your life. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.
Neil Perkins
Sympathy to Bev and family. Rod will be remembered as a caring bus driver for 12 years. Then he continued as a family friend while serving as Dakota County Sheriff. We reconnected in AZ when he spearheaded the Dakota County picnic annually and in the interim he had an email presence in my life. Rest in peace, friend.
BEV AND FAMILY OUR SYMPATHY AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU. I REMEMBER THE MANY GOOD TIMES WE HAD AT ALL OUR SUMMER AND WINTER CONFERENCES.I KNOW ROD WILL BE MISSED BY ALL, HE WAS A GREAT AND FRIENDLY MAN.
PRAYERS BE WITH YOU, DAVE & JAN
My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Rod. He was a gentle and giving man and I enjoyed his friendship very much.
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Dear Bev, Vonne and Dawn – First and foremost, I would like to offer my sincere sympathy on the loss of a wonderful man, who has been a consummate friend and colleague to so many. I could not have had a more kind and caring boss during the years which I worked as his secretary. He was definitely one of the best.
I regret that I will not be able to attend his service, due to prior travel commitments. If I could cancel those reservations and postpone the trip, I would certainly do so.
Again, my sincere sympathy and apologize that I will be unable to attend the worship service.
Sincerely,