Verna Ronning, formerly of Dawson, passed away on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, in Northfield, MN, where she has lived for several years at the Three Links Care Center. She just had her 92nd birthday. Funeral service was at 11 AM, Friday, August 20, at Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Kendall Stelter officiating; organist, Chris Lehne accompanied the singing of "Amazing Grace", "Beautiful Savior" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus;" recording of "String of Pearls" by Glenn Miller Band was played; Cyndee Ronning, Derek Ronning, Brian Flynn and Jean Kent were casketbearers; and burial was in the Dawson Cemetery. Verna Alice Ronning was born in Riverside Township, south of Dawson, on July 25, 1918, to Andrew and Hilma (Lee) Westgaard. She was the fifth of nine children and attended country school south of Dawson Verna and Kenneth Ronning were married on September 13, 1940, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dawson. To this union came two children: Ronald and Cynthia. They spent the next 20 years in Dawson, where Verna was a homemaker and Kenneth a carpenter. Verna and Kenneth lived south of the walking bridge in Dawson for several years, and in 1961, the Ronning family moved to Farmington, MN, where Kenneth continued to work in construction. They were members of the ELCA Farmington Lutheran Church. In 1962, they built a home in the Hampton Woods, where they lived until 1996, when they moved into a townhouse in Farmington. Kenneth passed away shortly after, in the fall of 1996. Verna spent her last years at the Three Links Care Center in Northfield, until her passing. In the later years together, Verna and Kenneth enjoyed searching for antiques at estate sales and then refinishing them to their original beauty. Verna also enjoyed her beautiful flower gardens and especially, her giant ferns, which were award winners at the Dakota County Fairs. She is survived by her two children: Ronald (Anita) Ronning of Great Falls, MT, and Cyndee Ronning of Farmington, MN; 2 grandchildren: Derek Ronning of Minneapolis and Amy (Brian) Flynn of Yuma, AZ; one sister, Alyce (Donald) Lukken of Clarkfield, MN; nieces, nephews, other family and friends. Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Kenneth Ronning on October 30, 1996; 3 brothers: Adolph, Ervin and Louis Westgaard; and 4 sisters: Helen Bothun, Inez Craigmile, Edna Ness and Doris Vesta. Memorial can be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson in her memory. Her family appreciates the many cards and calls from friends and relatives as she now returns to God's care.