Randy Rendahl, 56, died peacefully in his home in Raleigh, North Carolina, on July 24, 2023. Born to David and Ruth Rendahl on March 9, 1967, Randy graduated from Rugby High School in North Dakota as class salutatorian in 1985. He graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1989 on the president’s honor roll with a bachelor of science in computer science, bachelor of arts in mathematics, and a minor in physics.

He grew up on the Rendahl family farm near Fillmore, North Dakota, where his favorite chore was beekeeping (and his least favorite was repairing fencing for beef cattle). His dad often shared proudly with everyone how Randy had paid for his own college tuition by working on the farm during the summers. Randy was even considering a return to beekeeping in retirement, along with woodworking.

Just weeks after graduating from college, Randy accepted a job with IBM as a software engineer, initially in Rochester, Minnesota, and later in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he has lived with his family since 2004. At work, he was particularly motivated by securing patents for new and evolving software, eventually earning a designation of Master Inventor after participating in dozens of patents. Over the years, Randy secured over 50 patents to his name. His colleagues counted on him as a steady source of support, counsel, and mentorship. In July of 2024 he would have marked his 35th anniversary with the company.

He married Rebecca (Hunt) in 1996 and had two children, Carson and Sydney. Randy was immensely proud of his children and supported their impressive intellectual, academic, professional, and personal accomplishments. During the month before he passed, their family had taken a trip to New York City, Randy’s first time in the city, and he enjoyed letting his children take the lead on what they saw and did.

In 2020, Randy and Rebecca purchased a property in the mountains of North Carolina where they started building the home they designed for retirement, surrounded by trees and alongside the Roaring River, which earned its name honestly. Good with his hands, Randy and his wife began building outdoor furniture that they enjoyed on their weekend excursions to this tranquil place near a town known for the arts, local restaurants and bars, music festivals, and hiking.

In addition to their travels within the United States, Randy and his family traveled across Europe, Mexico, and Central America, often with friends. The family was scheduled to visit Iceland just days after he died and he and his sister had just begun discussing a visit to Antarctica, which was on his retirement travel bucket list.

He enjoyed playing poker with friends and spending relaxed evenings in the shared space of the cul-de-sac where he and the family were part of a tight-knit group of neighbors and friends. He was a devoted Carolina Panther fan and an overall sports fan whose radio was tuned to sports radio over music any day.

Over the past 21 years, Randy donated 312 units (approx. 39 gallons) of whole blood and platelets with the Red Cross. Randy was a triple donor with platelets, potentially saving three adults or 6 newborns with each donation. This was a source of satisfaction for Randy and it was especially poignant when his father required many units of platelets during the final years of his life. Randy and his wife and kids also adopted and fostered several cats and dogs over the years. Most recently they adopted a kitten named Sage and underneath Randy’s stoicism was a true “cat dad” who made sure to say goodbye to the animals when leaving the house like they were any other member of the household.

Randy is survived by his wife, Rebecca Rendahl, and two children, Carson and Sydney Rendahl; sister, Kristi Rendahl; aunts, Laurel Engelmann and Robbin Rendahl; and cousin, Brenda (Rendahl) Dellaneva. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth (Martin) Rendahl, David Rendahl, and Laura (Jacobsen) Rendahl; uncles, Stephen Rendahl (Robbin) and James Engelmann (Laurel), and his grandparents.

A Memorial will be held on August 12 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. at Norse Brewing in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and another will be held on September 10 from 12:00-3:00 at Balta Dam, south of Rugby, North Dakota.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are welcome to SAFE Haven for Cats in Raleigh, North Carolina, where the family has adopted two cats (https://www.safehavenforcats.org/). Donations to the American Red Cross in the Triangle Area of North Carolina are also welcome and an annual Carolina Panther-themed blood drive will be held on his birthday (https://www.redcross.org/local/north-carolina/about-us/locations/triangle-area-chapter.html). The family also deeply encourages everyone to find joy in each day, never delaying happiness for the future.