Ronald Lee Robinson passed away with family by his side on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls after an injury and short illness.
Lee Robinson and Irma Larson welcomed him as their first child on Feb. 6, 1936. Though a child of the great depression, Ronnie, as his family and friends often called him, arrived as an optimist and filled the world with abundance—an abundance of stories, poetry, music, magic, art, and service.
Ron grew up in Graettinger, a small town that he remembered with loving nostalgia as an ideal place for boyhood adventures. He graduated from Graettinger High School in 1953, earned an associate’s degree from Estherville Junior College, his bachelor’s degree at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, and eventually his Master’s from the University of Minnesota.
As a young adult, he continued his adventures by managing the Golden Gaslight Theatre in Arnolds Park, IA, next to Lake Okoboji with friends from Augustana. There he met a young actress, a farm girl from Dakota, named Margaret Rose Fjellestad. They married on Dec. 27, 1964, and two years later to the day, he welcomed a daughter, Tania Noel. He took on fatherhood with the same curious, enthusiastic spirit that he took on everything, teaching his daughter to fish and to play chess and to expect any man in her life to be just as trustworthy and intelligent as he was.
He was a professor in the English department at Augustana College for over 30 years, founding the journalism program and making many life-long friends. Even after retirement, he made time to support the Center for Western Studies, the Minnehaha Historical Society, and other local and regional projects while running Ex Machina Publishing Company with Margaret.
He was a true renaissance man who took great pleasure in wearing his many “hats”—artist, actor, director, philosopher, radio announcer, journalist, author, professor, musician, magician, fly fisherman, and more. Some of his favorite and most influential roles, though, were more private husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.
As Ron spent his 88 years filling the world with abundance, he has not now left it empty. He continues sharing his genius and zest for life with the unnumbered individuals who read or see his works or hear his music. His influence also lives on in his close friends and surviving family: his sister Pamela Robinson Berry, daughter Tania Robinson, son-in-law Phillip Lunceford, three grandsons—Noel Robinson Lunceford, Josie Lunceford, and Samuel Lunceford—and two great-grandchildren, De’Sharanai Nicole Lunceford and Jaxton College.
On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, his family will host services at Miller Funeral Home in downtown Sioux Falls to celebrate Ron’s life. There will be a viewing at 1 p.m. and funeral at 2 p.m. followed by a light lunch for family and friends. His earthly remains will be buried next to Margaret’s at Belleview Lutheran Church Cemetery in Howard, SD.
