Morris Roningen

Morris W. Roningen, 86, Bismarck, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at St. Alexius Medical Center with family at his side.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 502 N.  4^th St, Bismarck with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Bismarck.

For those unable to attend, the funeral service will be available to watch at: https://trinitybismarck.com/funeral-livestream/

Morris William Roningen was born on July 16, 1935 in Crookston, Minnesota to Alfred and Esther (Carlson) Roningen. Morris was raised on the family farm east of Nielsville, MN. Following graduation, he attended North Dakota Agricultural College, now NDSU, in Fargo where he received his degree in soil science. Morris spent his career working as a soil scientist for the United States Bureau of Reclamation, primarily in North Dakota.

Morris met Loretta Will in Fargo and they were united in marriage on October 25^th, 1958 in Elgin, ND. Together they raised their four children in homes in Rugby, Minot, Grand Forks, and Bismarck.

He greatly enjoyed farming and purchased land in the same section of his boyhood home. Morris loved the smell of the freshly turned soil in the spring and a ripened crop in the fall. His agricultural roots ran deep and when he no longer farmed, he enjoyed working in his garden. Although his permanent home was in town, his heart was at his boyhood home in Minnesota and he continued to help his daughter and son-in-law on the farm into his eighties.

Morris was extremely proud of his Norwegian heritage and was active in the Sons of Norway, where he proudly served many years as the chairman of the Butter Committee for the Annual Lutefisk Supper. He kept up to date on local happenings, politics, and trivia as part of several local coffee groups, whose friendship the family appreciates.

Morris loved his family and was always there to celebrate happy occasions and to help them through the tough times. He tirelessly cared for his eldest son Barry, demonstrating the beauty of empathy and compassion.

Morris is survived by his wife Loretta of 63 years, their four children Barry, Brent, Terryl (Lance Gaebe) and Mark (Yelena); grandchildren, Brynn and Annika Gaebe and John Roningen, all of Bismarck; step-grandchildren, Yasminka, Elma, and Svetlana Petersen and like-a-brother cousin Vernon Roningen of Arlington, VA.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Stanley and Glenn, sister, Adelaide, and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages planting trees or wildflowers or donating to a charity of your choice in his memory.