Rodney Lewis Halling

Rodney “Rod” Lewis Halling, 91, of Eagle, Idaho, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025, at 1:40 AM, surrounded by his beloved family.

Rod was born on July 21, 1934, in Rugby, North Dakota, and grew up on the family farm near Bisbee, North Dakota. He was the eldest of four children born to Lewis and Dora (Dressen) Halling.

One of the defining chapters of Rod’s life was his involvement in sulky horse racing. It began when he was just six years old, traveling to Canada with his Uncle Steve Halling. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion for horses and harness racing.

Rod began his teaching career in McClusky, North Dakota, where he met his wife, Grace (Cadwell). They were married on June 1, 1961. Their shared sense of adventure took them to Alaska, where they both taught in Unalaska, Alaska and later in Cordova, Alaska, experiences they remembered fondly.

After teaching in Whitefish, Montana and West Concord, Minnesota, they settled in Wadena, Minnesota, where Rod worked full-time as a sixth-grade teacher and full-time farmer. On their farm, he raised beef cattle and crops with tireless dedication. His commitment to both education and agriculture reflected his deep work ethic and love for rural life.

After retirement, Rod and Grace built a home on Leech Lake in Minnesota, where they made many memories with their children and grandchildren. Rod taught the grandchildren to downhill ski, water ski, took them tubing, and shared his love of the outdoors. Known for his playful energy, he often said, “Let’s hurry up and go to bed so we can get up in the morning,” reflecting his tremendous enthusiasm for life.

Rod was a man of deep Lutheran faith who lived by example. He generously gave his time to others through post-Hurricane Katrina relief, mission work in Mexico, mentoring youth on a Native American reservation, volunteering for Faith in Action and Meals on Wheels, and assisting at the University of Nations in Hawaii. He sang in the Staples Men’s Chorus as well as in the church choir at Hope Lutheran in Walker, Minnesota. He played the harmonica, skied downhill until he was 80, danced the jitterbug and line danced with Grace into his 90s, traveled the world, loved making lefsa and eating lutefisk, and built the best campfires at the lake.

To be closer to family, in 2021 Rod and Grace downsized and moved to a retirement community in Eagle, Idaho.

Rod will be remembered for his strong work ethic, sharp wit, love of storytelling, love of family and commitment to the things he believed in. He enjoyed sharing jokes and laughter and found purpose in contributing to his community and living out his faith through service.

Rod is survived by his wife, Grace; daughters Carmon Brauch and Camilla Victoria; grandchildren Jacob (Brittani) Umland, Zachary Umland, Anna Brauch, and Andrew (Carlynn) Brauch; great-granddaughters Lili and Harper Umland; his sisters Sandra (the late Howard) Oakland, Dianne (Larry) Hendrickson, and sister-in-law Alice Halling. He was preceded in death by his parents Lewis and Dora Halling, his stepmother Grace Halling (Peterson), and his brother Stanley Halling.

In honor of Rod’s generous spirit, donations may be made to a charity of your choice or to Lutheran World Relief.