Dr. Robert N. Ronken

Robert Noel Ronken, 80, of Moorhead, MN, died Tuesday, May 4, 2010, in Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, MN. Bob, son of Noel and Louise Ronken, was born January 5, 1930, in Canby, Minnesota. He lived his early years in Minneapolis and later in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he graduated from Washington High School and Augustana College with studies in History, Political Science and English. His graduate Education included a master's degree and PhD in Education, School Administration and Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, with additional Study at the University of Oslo, Norway. He married Marilyn Arlene Helgerson in Mission Hill, South Dakota, June 3, 1956. They were parents of two sons; Rolf Olin, Springfield, VA and Roel Eric, Osseo, MN. After service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, Bob began his teaching career in the public schools-Sioux Falls, SD and Rochester, MN. In 1962 he accepted a Fullbright Teaching Award to Olso, Norway, where he taught in two Norwegian high schools. He joined the faculty at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa in 1964 and taught there while working on his graduate studies. While teaching at Luther College, he served as Director of Secondary Education, taught in the Institute of American Studies for Scandinavian Educators, co-authored and administered Project Upward Bound, a program for disadvantaged youth. He also taught at the University of Minnesota while serving as Secondary Education Coordinator and completing residency in his graduate program. He joined the faculty of Concordia College in 1972 and taught in Education and Scandinavian Studies. At various times, he led students and adult groups in Norway under the auspices of the college and through the Norwegian-American Cultural Institute NACI. Bob liked to say that he left part of his heart in Norway, and the family knew that he loved not only his immediate family but also that larger world family. He maintained those contacts throughout his life and throughout the world. During his college years Bob was a member of Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities and the Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. Early in his professional years, Bob became a lifetime member of the Norwegian-American Historical Association NAHA. Dr. Ronken was preceded in death by his beloved wife Marilyn, but the couple is survived by two sons, Rolf Maureen, Springfield, VA, and Roel Judy Osseo, MN; two brothers, Richard Marilyn, Sioux Falls, SD, and Ronald, Henning, MN; and one sister, Virginia David, Ontario, NY; three granddaughters, Rochelle Jason, Baghdad, Iraq, Kelly Hannes, Mannheim, Germany and Sara Matt, Springfield, VA. Additionally, there are numerous nieces and nephews who survive. The family requests that any memorials be directed to Mayo Clinic, Hospice of the Red River Valley or Christ the King Lutheran Church, Moorhead.