MINOT – Roland E. Hemond, 86, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, at his beloved farm and home in Minot with his loving family by his side.

He was born Jan. 31, 1921, in Lewiston, the son of Alphonse and RoseAnne Plante Hemond.

When he was two-years-old his father bought a dairy called Sanitary Dairy on College Street, Lewiston. His early years were spent watching and when he was older he helped his father with processing, delivering and picking up milk from area farmers.

In 1932 his father moved the family to Minot, purchasing a dairy farm on the Verrill Road. While living in Lewiston, he attended Saints Peter and Paul school and later the Verrill School, in Minot. Even as a young man he was more interested in cows and processing milk, then going to school. On Sept. 2, 1940, he married the love of his life, Noella Rose Ferland of Poland. In Aug. 2005, they celebrated their 65th Anniversary, at the farm with family and many friends.

In 1941, he went to work for H.P. Hood in the processing plant in Auburn. He was at the same time working for Ambrose Damon milking cows and delivering milk. In the spring of 1945, he and Noella had the opportunity to purchase a 90-acre farm and its milk delivery business located on Pottle Hill Road in Minot. He was a producer dealer for more than 43 years. His reputation meant a lot to him. He was proud of the excellent products he sold and the extra customer service he provided. By the time the retail business was sold in 1988 to Oakhurst it had grown from a few hundred quarts of milk sold per day to several thousand. He became a member of the Oakhurst Farm Advisory Board.

Over the span of 62 years, he transformed a small dairy farm into one of the best managed and most successful operations in the state. He was the recipient of numerous awards to recognize his farm management practices, in 1956, he was selected as the Outstanding Young Farmer from Androscoggin-Sagadahoc counties.

He was chosen to represent Maine in the 1957 Green Pasture contest and finished 2nd in New England. In 1957, he was also named the Outstanding Cooperator for Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District. In 1959, he was chosen the state of Maine winner for Green Pastures in Winter Forage contest. This is a prestigious award that can only be applied for every 25 years. In 2000, he became the only dairy farmer in Maine to have won the state of Maine Green Pasture award a second time.

In 1962, he received the Dairyman’s Award, presented to him by the Maine Breeding Cooperative, for his excellent ability in applying the best principals of breeding, feeding and management in order to fulfill the potential production bred into the individual animals. In 1966, he was tops in the State Forage Program and received the Ford Efficiency Award, and finished in the top 15 nationwide. R.E. Hemond Farm has been a top 10 quality milk producer for Oakhurst Dairy for more than 20 years.

In 1951, he was elected to the Minot School Board and was instrumental in getting the new Minot Consolidated School built, which opened in Sept. 1953. He also served on the committee for celebrating the countries 200th birthday in 1976, and is a member of the Minot Historical Society.

In 1997, he joined the Maple Grove Cemetery Association and has worked diligently to improved the cemetery, he is currently serving as its president. In 1998, Maple Grove Cemetery Association presented, him with a plaque for his many voluntary hours and materials he provided for the benefit of the cemetery. He took great pride in transforming the cemetery into a special place for love ones to be buried.

In 2003, The Maine State Grange Agriculture Committee presented him with the Grange Farm Family Award. This year he was presented with a Continuous Membership Certificate for 65 years of service to the Minot Center Grange No. 266.

He has been a life long member of Our Lady of Ransom Church in Mechanic Falls. He will be remembered by his family and friends as kind, considerate, giving, hard working and loving. He enjoyed 67 years with his beloved wife, Noella. She was a devoted helpmate and supporter and contributed greatly to his successful life.

He is survived by his wife, Noella; his five daughters, Lucille and her husband, Paul Hodsdon, of Norway, Jeanne and her husband, Germain Letourneau, of Minot, Rolande and her husband, Douglas Poland, of Boswell, Ind., Rose Aikman of Hebron and Ann French and her partner, Leon Hinkley, of Sabattus; one son, Richard Hemond and his wife, Deborah, of Minot; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; a young man, who has become part of the family, Tom Cote and his wife, Jeannie, of Hebron; two brothers, John Hemond and his wife, Priscilla, of Minot and Andre Hemond and his wife, Ann, of Falmouth; three sisters, Rita and her husband, Joseph Bertram, of Key Largo, Fla., Irene Patry of Auburn and Theresa Patry of Minot; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two sons, Roland Jr. and Robert; a daughter, Rita; grandsons, Peter, Philip, Patrick and Paul Hodsdon; a son-in-law, James Aikman; and a brother, George Hemond.

The family extends a special thank you to Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice and their nurses for care given and guidance given to the family in caring for Roland at home, which was his wish. Also special thanks to Theresa Patry, Rolands sister, for spending time with him during his final days.