Rodney "Rod" Behlen, 77, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Thursday, March 28, 2024 at Brookestone Acres in Columbus.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 3, at Federated Church with Rev. Dr. Edward Yang officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home and will continue Wednesday, from 10:00 AM until service time at the church. Interment will be in Columbus Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Hartman Post 84. Memorials may be directed to Federated Church or the Platte County Food Pantry.

Rodney Behlen was born July 21, 1946, in Columbus, Nebraska, the third child of Gilbert and Irene (Bunny) Behlen.  He was educated in Columbus, graduating from Columbus High School in 1964.  While in high school, he got his private pilot's license.  He attended Sioux Falls College but decided to continue his true love of flying, so he switched colleges and went to flight school in Opa-Locka, Florida.  Within three years he had earned his multi-engine, commercial, flight instructor, glider, and Airline Transport Ratings and licenses.  Rod also was in the National Guard for seven years, beginning around this time.

Rod was a co-pilot for Behlen Manufacturing, as well as a flight instructor for Platte College, along with graduating from Platte College. Shortly after, he purchased a twin-engine Cessna and began a charter business.  He flew for many local companies and for private parties both nationally and internationally.

On August 7, 1971, Rodney was united in marriage to Georgia Grosz at the Federated Church.  To this union three boys were born: Jacob, Benjamin, and Andrew.  Rod realized that he wanted to be home to watch his boys grow up, so he sold the plane and began working on an invention.  It was a time & temperature machine with memory and alarms.  It was the first of its kind, winning one of the top 10 new inventions at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago.  This invention was used by the State of California on their firefighting helicopter pads, by the Green Bay Packers, and fruit growers all over the country.  His company, Rodco Products, also did sub-assembly work for companies in Nebraska and California.  After selling the company, he worked for the new owners until he retired.  He was also part owner of Paraclipse. Rod later earned a bachelor's degree from Concordia College, joking that he had to be one of the oldest graduates.

Rod was an active member of Federated Church where he ushered every November for many years and participated in Bible Studies.  He drove for Meals-on-Wheels, volunteered at the Platte County Food Pantry, and was a member of the Quiet Birdman in Omaha.

He will be greatly missed for his humor, kindness, and intelligence.

Rod is survived by:
Wife – Georgia Behlen
Son – Andrew (Adriana) Behlen
Brother – Kurt Behlen
Nieces – Marilea (Jamie) Trebac, Maria (David) Shonka, Monica (Mike) McKune, Stephani (David) Asche, Angela (Brian) King
Many cousins
Special Friends – Nick and Nikki Behle

Rod was preceded in death by:
Sons – Jacob and Benjamin Behlen
Parents – Gilbert and Irene Behlen
Sister – Sharon Caley
In-laws – Hugh and Dorthy Grosz