Brenda Bowena Ronning 67, of Brookings, died Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at Good Samaritan Society in Clear Lake.
Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the funeral home.
Brenda Bowena Ronning was born on Sept. 16, 1950, in Hendricks, Minnesota, the daughter of Eddie and Bowena (Prevo) Ronning.
Brenda was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Hendricks, Minnesota. She attended country school in district No. 74 until the fourth grade. She continued her education at Hendricks public school, graduating in 1968. She was a 1972 graduate of USD with a bachelor’s degree in psychology / sociology along with achieving an associate degree in law enforcement and correction, plus a minor in math.
In 1973, she entered the United States Army and completed basic training at Ft. McClellan in Alabama. She also served at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, before being stationed at Rhein Mein AFB in Germany. Brenda returned to Ft. McClellan for Criminal Investigation Command Training prior to being stationed in Seoul, Korea.
Returning to Ft. Lewis, Washington, she received her honorable discharge in 1979. Brenda then moved to Sioux Falls, where she was employed for the Department of Labor. In 1981, she began her career with the Department of Social Services in Economic Assistance. She transferred to the Brookings Office in 1983 where she served the community until her retirement in 2014.
Brenda was an active member in the Brookings community and was also a member of NPSAS Northern Plains Sustainable Ag Association), and the WCTU (Women’s Christian Temperance Union) and the American Legion. She enjoyed gardening, organic farming with her brother Neal and attending the farmers market.
Brenda is survived by her brother, Donald Ronning of Nashua, New Hampshire; sister, Joyce (Deven) Oldenburg of Rochester, Minnesotat; nephews, Kris (Suzanna) Oldenburg, Kyle Oldenburg, Nicholas Oldenburg; niece, Rebecca (Harry) Kingston and her uncle, Harris Halstead.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.
