Elmer Ronningen

Elmer N. Ronningen, 95, formerly of Rothsay and Moorhead, died of natural causes on Wednesday, May 4, 2011, on his 95th birthday at the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls. He was born May 4, 1916, on the family farm north of Rothsay, Minnesota, the son of Oluf and Anne (Halbakken) Ronningen. On December 25, 1941 he married Irene Moen, and they farmed near Rothsay. With Irene’s help he continued farming after losing his right arm in a farm accident. After their retirement in 1982 they moved to Moorhead, Minnesota. Irene and Elmer enjoyed traveling and visiting with their children in various parts of the United States. Following his wife Irene’s death in 1996, Elmer lived in several locations, including Fergus Falls, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Carrollton, Georgia, and Pelican Rapids, before returning to Fergus Falls where he lived at the Broen Memorial Home until his death. In spite of only having an eighth grade education, his sense of humor and desire to learn enabled him to converse and enjoy people of all walks of life. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, Oluf and Anne, and his son-in-law, Steve Olson. He was also preceded in death by eight sisters, and three brothers: Oscar Ronningen, Carl Ronningen, Mabel Waldron-Moe, Ella Slaatmyren, Julian Ronningen, Laura Kjono, Olga Berg, Myrtle Nord, Ruth Braun, and Mina and Laura in infancy. He is survived by three sons: Jerome (Helene) of Newnan, GA, David (Georgia) of Villa Rica, GA, and Dr. Leland (Dr. Regina Hovey) of Seal Beach, CA; three daughters: Carol Olson of Cedar Park, TX, Trudy (Rick) Jenson of Buckley, WA, and Michelle (Kendall) Olson of Austin, TX; 15 grandchildren, Tammy (Scott) Starling, Teressa (David) Knoblauch, Paula (Greg) Davis, Patrick (Vanessa) Oakes, Preston Olson, Kelly (Nathan) Christianson, Scott Ronningen, Jessica (Joe) York, Jeremy Jenson, Nikoli, Mariah, Jackson and Luke Ronningen, and Sawyer and Sadie Olson; and twelve great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers and sisters in law: Delia (Lyle) Johnson, Ilene Lien, Evelyn (Robert) Lamm, Avis Zimmerman, Judy (Ken) Toso, Charlotte Moen, Gerry Drechsel, Donald (Marie) Moen, and Ardell Moen, and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation: 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home with a 4:30 p.m. prayer service, and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Service: 2 p.m. Monday, May 9, 2011 at South Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Rothsay Clergy: Reverend Larry Olson Interment: South Immanuel Cemetery, rural Rothsay Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls