Memorial service was at 2:00 PM, Friday, May 15, at Grace Lutheran Church with Pastors Kendall Stelter and Lori Wold officiating; scripture lessons were Psalm 46, Philippians 4:4-7 and John 4:14; son, Kurt gave a tribute to his Dad; soloist, Maggie Madsen sang "He Touched Me" and "Softly and Tenderly"; and organist, Chris Lehne accompanied the singing of "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" and "Borning Cry". Military honors included the Strand-Saboe VFW Post presenting the US flag and the Oscar Lee American Legion presenting the Bible with bugler, Tom Otto playing "Taps". Harris Mervin Ronning was born March 20, 1924 at Dawson, MN the son of Herman and Hannah (Swenson) Ronning. He graduated from Dawson High School in 1942. Harris served in the Army Air Corp from March of 1944 until February of 1946. He was united in marriage with Eloise Ellefson October 22, 1944 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Dawson. After the war, Harris returned to Dawson and began what would be over 60 years of woodworking and construction business as the owner of Dawson Woodworking and Ronning Construction. In the later years he kept himself busy building furniture and fine crafts for his family and others. Harris was dedicated to his family and community. He was a lifelong member of Riverside and Grace Lutheran Church and served on the church property board. He was a member and Past Commander of the VFW and American Legion Posts in Dawson, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Dawson Development, the Masonic Lodge, Western Minnesota Shriners Organization, Boy Scout Troop 322, the Trail Riders Horseback Club, and the Blizzard Busters Snowmobile Club. Harris enjoyed outdoor activities, travel, and time with family and friends. Harris died on Saturday evening, May 9, 2009, at the Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dawson at the age of 85. He is survived by his wife, Eloise of Dawson; son, Kurt (Rebecca) Ronning of Rapid City, SD; two granddaughters: Kursten and Natalie Ronning of Rapid City, SD; sisters: Irene Westgaard of Dawson and Opal (Harold) Johnson of Alexandria; sisters and brothers-in-law: Verna Ronning and Heloise Ronning of Farmington, Elaine (Ellefson) Himley of Montevideo, Mary Ellen (Leo) Brown of Bloomington, Priscilla (Omar) Ellefson of Fort Collins, CO; son-in-law Ken Goewey of Burnsville; nieces, nephews, other family and many friends. Preceding him in death were his parents; in-laws Ione and Omar Ellefson; daughter, Camille Ronning-Goewey on June 21, 2005; brothers: Glen Ronning and Kenneth Ronning; sister, Deloris Pitt; and brothers-in-law: Harold Pitt, Harold Westgaard, and Jim Himley.