On February 4, 2025, our Lord and Savior took Roy Robert LaDoux home to Heaven in answered prayer, after a battle with Alzheimer's.

Roy was born February 17, 1944 to Ben and Elfreida (Affield) LaDoux, in Grand Rapids, MN and was the third of four boys in his family. Roy went to school in Greenway through the 9th grade, but left to finish his senior years at the University of Minnesota, Agricultural School, hitch hiking every day for three years to class, graduating in 1962.

It was there he learned welding which became his life's work and beyond into retirement. Roy was a first-class maintenance welder and worked 20 years at Butler Taconite which was bought by National Steel and in 1984 he came to Grand Rapids to be employed by Blandin Paper Company until 2003. He truly loved welding, repairing things to work again, and build new things for his wife, Sally, whom he married on April 26, 1997, and his many friends.

Roy was chairman of the Pike for Vets program since 2000 to present as fishing was what he loved doing the most. Even though he didn't serve in the military, his heart was in honoring them and their service. Many trips were made to the Minneapolis Veterans Administration for their walleye dinners provided by the Pike for Vets program as well as the Silver Bay Veteran's nursing home.

Roy was also a member of the Grand Rapids United Methodist Church, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Fraternal Order of the Moose, all in Grand Rapids, MN.

Roy enjoyed fishing, hunting (white tail and elk) and so looked forward to the trips he took to Salmon, ID with his friend Ray and his boys. Of all their trips, Roy was lucky enough to twice get his elk from sitting on top of a huge boulder – hence forth will be called "Roy's Rock."

Roy enjoyed camping, which turned into 'glamping' and NASCAR. Vacations were centered around a dozen NASCAR races with the Vegas race-week full of excitement in meeting drivers, for years. Winter vacations spent in Mazatlan, MZ, became a second home. Loving and learning Mexican living was a draw which generated dozens of Mexican vacations, and of course, fishing.

Roy belonged to the Minnesota Dark House Association, and loved building spear houses with his buddy, Jim, then alternating days sitting in the dark for hours. They'd share watching for their chance to spear a nice one – the spearing season was always too short.

Roy was a proud member of the White Earth Nation and Reservation. One thing he always loved was to get his special reservation fishing license and then quietly brag about it. Whenever he would be fishing, he would just be waiting to be checked by the game warden…Carl knows the rest of the story.

Roy is preceded in death by his daughter, LaDonna UpChurch of Phoenix, AZ; his parents; his brothers, Ben LaDoux, and Richard LaDoux, both of Pengilly, MN; step-grandson, Chase Hron of Thief River Falls, MN; and sister-in-law, Leona LaDoux of Pengilly, MN.

Roy is survived by his loving wife, Sally, of 27 years; daughters, Sheila (Don) McDonald of Leland, NC, and Gerrie Hanke of Phoenix, AZ; brother, Carl (Marlene) LaDoux; sister-in-law, Marilyn LaDoux, all of Pengilly, MN; grandchildren, Michael, Christopher, Shaw, Matthew, Lori, Jeremy; step-children, Mike (Stacey) Hron, Mark (Sarah) Hron, Robyn Casper; and numerous nieces and nephews and many special and treasured friends.

A special thank you to Essentia Health – St. Mary's Hospice – Itasca Team for their wonderful care and tenderness.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, beginning at 10 AM at Grand Rapids United Methodist Church with a celebration of life to follow at 11 AM. Pastors James Crecelius and Marva Jean Hutchens officiating.

Arrangements are with Rowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Grand Rapids, MN. To sign the online guestbook or send condolences visit www.rowefuneralhomeandcrematory.com.