The Loss of My Father, Friend, and Fiercest Fan

Merrill Dean Ronning

On August 18, 2020, Merrill passed away due to a stroke at the age of 75. He is preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Borghild Ronning, and his brother Donald. He is survived by his wife Anita, two daughters Beth & Julie, sister Ruth (Thom), brother Philip (Megan), and 4 grandchildren who admired their "Papa". Merrill was born on March 7, 1945, in Fargo, ND. He graduated from Oak Grove HS, Augsburg University and Luther Seminary, and was an ordained pastor with a call to Oak Grove HS as campus chaplain. He married Anita in 1969 and they celebrated 50 years with family last year. Merrill was a coach and a mentor to many, a lighthouse who guided others through darkness and life's storms, and a spirited court jester with intensity and heart. He impacted countless people with whom he came into contact and who he challenged, transformed, and bettered. In light of current events, a memorial will be held at a later date. Contact mronning@pm.me on how to send condolences.

The Right to be at Bedside

Today was the day you disappeared into your post-stroke world and left me ... to raise our daughter on my own, with you as a silent observer, to forge my own way in the world without your steadfast, ever-vocal support and firm belief that I could do anything. ... It's been 12 years since I heard you speak and boy do I still miss you. I miss your words of support and humor. Thank you for how you helped me to become even more "Julie" than I was when you met me. ❤️😘 I'll always love you, Wayne Bacon 😘❤️

In the current #coronavirus pandemic, I want to acknowledge the families that have lost someone. The despair and loss that I felt standing at the foot of his ICU hospital bed twelve years ago will never leave me. At 31 years old, I knew what it felt like to lose my partner and best friend and husband. But, at least I could be there with him, and grieve, and try to help, and have the freedom to walk away and cry, but then still be able to come back to him ... I think about how people are losing their loved ones right now due to the #COVID19 pandemic without being able to see them #OneLastTime or #WalkAwayToBeAbleToComeBack ...

I have been strict with my self-isolation and plead with others to do the same and #StayHome so that wives and kids and extended families don't need to say #DistantGoodbyes ... or actually, there is #NoNeedToSayGoodbye at all. Please ... Stay At Home. Consider that the impact is days, or weeks, on your life versus a lifetime without a parent for a child. ❤️🥰