Clifford Ole Ronning

Clifford Ole Ronning, of Fergus Falls, passed away five weeks short of his 101st birthday in his sleep, on Saturday, September 3, 2016, at PioneerCare “Heritage” Senior Cottage in Fergus Falls.

Clifford was born on October 12, 1915, the second child to Ole L. and Inga (Anderson) Ronning in Fergus Falls. He survived the Great Tornado when he was four. Clifford attended school in Fergus Falls and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1934.

On October 3, 1938, Clifford was married to Kathleen “Jackie” Bernice McCambridge at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls. They made their home in Fergus Falls, interrupted only by a two-year stint in Alexandria, where Clifford was transferred to the MN Motor shop. He began his career in the automotive business at Bjorklund Manufacturing and worked there from 1934 to 1937 as truck body manufacturer. In 1937, he started at Minnesota Motor Company in Fergus Falls and was a certified GM auto body technician until 1969, when he was promoted to auto body shop manager, and was employed there until his retirement in 1979.

Clifford was an “old timer” member of the Elks Club and a member of the Eagles Club and Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. He was a very talented worker who built his own lake cabin on Blanche Lake from the ground up. He often commuted to work from “the cottage” during the summer months. If he did not know how to do something, he would get a book and study until he could produce the desired result. Clifford was a bass fisherman before it became trendy and often fished the DeLagoon property shore on Pebble Lake before work in the morning. His other love was hunting pheasants with his golden retrievers, Casey and Macy.

Clifford had been a resident of the Heritage Cottage since December 12, 2011. His family is very grateful for the kind care that the Cottage staff gave to Clifford.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ole and Inga Ronning; his wife, Kathleen “Jackie” Ronning, on June 21, 2005; and a sister, Roselle Ronning.

Clifford is survived by his son, Mark (Ginny) Ronning of Fergus Falls; two grandchildren, Kirsten (Mark) Suda of Fargo and Carl Ronning of Fergus Falls; and great-grandchildren, Catherene, Allison, Felicity, Michael and Joshua Suda of Fargo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls.

Visitation: 10:00-11:00 AM on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls.
Service: 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church
Clergy: Father Alan Wielinski
Interment: St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery in Fergus Falls, MN
Arrangements by Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, MN.