Kjeld Duffy Ringstad

Chief master Sergeant (Ret) Kjeld “Duffy” Ringstad, a resident of the Air Force Bob Hope Enlisted Village was born in Minneapolis MN on 27 July 1931 and passed away on 1 March 2021 at the age of 89 in Shalimar FL.

He graduated from McGregor High School (MN) in 1949 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.  His service life took him all over the world with assignments to places like Bermuda, where he met and married his wife Jean, Germany and Iran.  Duffy served in the U.S Air Force for almost 28 years before retiring at Newark AFS, OH in 1977.  The night before he retired, he graduated “Magna Cum Laude” with a BA degree from Park College, Kansas City MO.  He then went to work for Hughes Aircraft Company with assignments to Isfahan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and visits to many parts of the world until he retired for good in 1988 in Niceville FL.  Duffy was an active member of the Bob Hope Village chapel, Okaloosa Masonic Lodge #312, a Life Member of AMVETS Post #78, the Air Force Association and the Air Force Sergeants Association.  He was also active with the Eglin Association of Chief Master Sergeants and help run their annual golf tournaments raising thousands of dollars for worthy causes for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Anton Ringstad and Ingeborg (Haugland) Ringstad and his sister Helen Krause.  His wife of 68 years, Elsie Jean (Aldrich) Ringstad, daughter Cindy Chapman and her husband Edward Chapman, son Bruce Ringstad and his wife Maria Ringstad, daughter Barbara Gahimer and her husband Chris Gahimer, as well as five grandsons and fifteen great-grandchildren survive him.

For those interested in paying their respects, a graveside service will be held at the Heritage Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery at 2201 N. Partin Dr, Niceville FL on Friday, 12 March 2021, at 1:00 PM and will be followed by a private family internment. Heritage Gardens also has a website (heritagegardenfuneralhome.com) with a page devoted to Duffy for those wishing to express and share their thoughts.

Duffy has requested for those wishing to send flowers to consider making a donation to the Air Force Bob Hope Enlisted Village (bobhopevillage.us) instead.  He has said many times, “We need to take care of our own!”

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