Derek Ronning

On December 17, 2024 Derek Ronning passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

A Celebration Of Life will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at the Vermillion Main Fire Dept., 820 North Dakota Street, Vermillion, SD at 1:00 PM. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo, MN at a later date. Arrangements are with Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Derek Robert Ronning was born to Robert and Judy (Suckow) Ronning of Montevideo June 30, 1968. He was born in Minneapolis and raised in Montevideo, MN. Derek graduated from Montevideo Senior High School in 1986. 

After graduation, Derek enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for 26 years, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. He served as a Ground Radio Operator, Airborne Communications Systems Operator, Airborne Systems Engineer and Airborne Radar Technician. He was assigned to bases in Nebraska, Germany, and Alaska. He was a Career Enlisted Aviator and was qualified on EC-135 Looking glass, E-3A Nato AWACS, E-3C AWACS and RC-135V/W River Joint platforms.

After his retirement from the Air Force, Derek became a 911 Dispatcher for Clay County South Dakota. He thoroughly enjoyed dispatching, helping people during their worst moments and always felt privileged to be able to work with the brave men and women of law enforcement, corrections, emergency medical services and the fire department.

Derek was known to love listening to Beatles music, cracking a good Dad joke and watching historical movies and documentaries.

Derek wished to leave this earth with a few requests for those still here: Be kind to one another and support each other.

He is survived by his parents: Bob and Judy of Montevideo; a sister, Melissa and Chad Eichhorst of Montevideo; two nephews: Matthew Eichhorst (Alexis Olson) and children Alekzander and Paislee and Zachary (Kayla) Eichhorst and children Blakely and McKendry.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials to the Vermillion Police Dept,, Fire Dept., or Dispatch.