Rodney Caufield

Rodney D. Caufield former head basketball coach at Minot State University, 91, died on July 16, 2020 in Sun City Arizona. The youngest of four children, Rod was born Feb 27, 1929 in Kenmare North Dakota. He was the son of George Caufield and Anna (Johnson). Rodney graduated from Kenmare High School in 1947 where he was an all-conference defensive back and starting guard in basketball. He attended Minot State Teachers College (now Minot State University) from 1947 to 1951 with a major in physical education and minors in history and science. He married Marjorie Thuesch on January 6, 1951. They had six children. While in college he joined the Army National Guard. During the Korean conflict, he was called to active duty completing his training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. With the signing of the armistice he was released from active duty in August, 1952. He resumed his education at Minot State and graduated in 1953. He went on to earn his master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Oregon in 1960. Rodney was the head basketball coach at Sherwood, North Dakota, from 1953-1956 and Minot Model High School in 1956-1957. He was an assistant basketball coach at Minot State Teachers College from 1957-1958 and the head basketball coach at Bishop Ryan High School from 1958 to 1959. He returned to his alma mater as the head Basketball coach at Minot State from 1960 to1968. He had a winning percentage of .607 with a record of 116-75, ranking 6th all time. Two coaches ahead of him only coached one year. During that time, he was also a Physical Education instructor and head coach of the golf team. Rod officiated football and basketball games for many years. After a hiatus, he resumed teaching at Fort Wingate, New Mexico, while simultaneously earning a master’s degree in special education from Western New Mexico University in 1989. Rod was a special education teacher at Kivalina, Alaska, Northwest Arctic school District from 1989 until his retirement in 1997. Rodney was an avid sports fan and loved lively discussions about basketball, football, golf, tennis, and baseball. There was simply not enough sports television in a 24-hour day. He loved to fish and spent many years commuting back and forth from the Fish and Camp Resort on Lake Sakakawea near Parshall, North Dakota and their home in Arizona. Rod will be missed by his many friends and his loving family, including his wife of 69 years, Marjorie, daughters, ReNee (Mark) Bofferding, Leander, Texas; Carrie Curfman, Woodbury, Minnesota, and her winter home in Sun City, Arizona, Sons, James (Emma) Caufield, Peoria, Arizona, Jack (Diane) Caufield, Kearney, Nebraska; Jerome (Coreen) Caufield, Bismarck, North Dakota; Bruce Caufield, Aberdeen, South Dakota; as well as 16 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 3 great, great, grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Farlin. Rodney is preceded in death by his parents, brother Forest, sister Margaret, and son-in-law Mark Curfman. A private memorial service will be held at San Joachim and Anne Catholic Church in Sun City. The family would like any donations be made to Saint Joachim & Anne Church in Sun City Arizona, or Bishop Ryan High School in Minot, or any Saint Vincent DePaul.