Robert "Butch" Rohlf

Robert "Butch" Rohlf - 01/23/46 - 05/27/2026

Robert “Butch” Rohlf, 80, of Virginia, formerly of Melrude, MN, passed away May 27, 2026, at Northern Pines in Aurora after a short one-month stay. Butch was born on January 23, 1946, in Rush City, MN, to Robert and Audrey (Palmquist) Rohlf. He grew up in Melrude and attended school in Cotton, MN, graduating in 1964. On April 20, 1966, in Int’l Falls, MN, he was united in marriage to Linda Kay L’Heureux, daughter of Joseph and Belinda (Breckey) L’Heureux. Butch entered service for the United States Army in December of 1965 and received an Honorable Discharge in December of 1971. Butch worked for the DWP Railroad as a crane operator and in the Bridge & Building Department. After retiring, he worked for Arrowhead Transit driving bus.

Butch was a former member of the Ellsburg Volunteer Fire Department and the Melrude Community Club. Butch was a lifetime member of the VFW, Kral-Matha Peterson Post #3044, and spent many Memorial Days at the local cemeteries helping with the services. In high school, Butch was active in many sports and excelled on the Cotton Baseball Team, later coaching for the Optimist Youth Baseball team in the Cotton area. Butch enjoyed hunting, fishing, cooking, making potato sausage with his family, dressing up as Santa Claus, fireworks on the Fourth of July, and NASCAR Dale Earnhardt racing. Butch entered into sober living on January 12, 1999, celebrating 27 years of sobriety this year. It was then that Butch moved to Virginia and spent a couple of years at the Twelve Step House, eventually moving to Meadowbrook Apartments. Butch had a very active role in the AA and NA community on the Iron Range. He was very active in various positions with the AA program and enjoyed spending time at local facilities to guide others, including the Northeast Regional Corrections Center, Minnesota Corrections Facility at Moose Lake and Togo, and the Federal Prison at Sandstone. He leaves behind many friends from those programs.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws. Additionally, he was preceded in death by his wife, Linda; his beloved son Dean Rohlf; his niece Terri Sallness-Graham; his nephew Scott Sallness; and, his brothers and sisters-in law Clyde and Inez Caple, Harold Caviness, and, Richard Chrislock.

Butch is survived by his daughter Lynn Rohlf of Duluth; his daughter-in-law Leslie (Troy Sampson) Rohlf of Toivola; and, his cherished grandson Alec (fiancée Ashley Burger) of Meadowlands. He is also survived by his sister Arlene (Alan) Caple and his brother Bill (Arlene) Rohlf, all of Duluth. He is survived by his brothers and sisters-in law Donald and Gladys Chrislock of Chula Vista, CA; and, JoAnn Caviness of Burnsville, MN. He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews; grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and, other extended family and friends. He is survived by his dear friends Jerry (Mary Jane) Buria and Diedre Powell (and her children).

The family wishes to thank all Staff at Northern Pines and Staff at East Range Hospice for their excellent care of Butch.

A Celebration of Life and luncheon will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the Virginia Elks Lodge, 220 N 5th Ave W, Virginia, Minnesota. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Melrude, MN, at a later date.