Marilyn A. Ronken

Marilyn Arlene Helgerson was the daughter of Oscar and Nellie Helgerson and was born in Yankton County South Dakota on December 30, 1925. After high school, she went to Augustana College and the University of Northern Colorado to complete her teaching credentials. She also attended the University of Oslo Norway in 1954.Her teaching experience included several schools in northwest Iowa, Vermillion and Sioux Falls in South Dakota, Decorah IA, and Rochester and Moorhead Probstfield, Edison in Minnesota. Teaching was her passion, and dedication to her profession and to her students was coupled with good sense and good humor.Marilyn married Robert Bob Ronken on June 3, 1956 and they raised two sons: Rolf Maureen, Springfield, VA; Roel Judy, Osseo, MN. The couple lived at various times in Norway and they traveled extensively throughout Scandinavia, Finland, Central Europe, the British Isles, and Turkey.Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Dale and Delmar. She is survived by her husband, Bob, two sons, two daughters-in-law, her sister Mildred Bud Bye and three granddaughters Rochelle, Kelly and Sara who live in Virginia, and many nieces and nephews.During nearly 15 years of Parkinson's Disease, Marilyn retained her marvelous sense of humor and personal dignity. She was a loving wife and mother, a loyal personal friend and family member, and a teacher who genuinely cared for all her students.She has left a fine legacy and she will be sorely missed.Any memorial gifts may be directed to Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018 or Eventide Nursing Home, 1405-7th St. S, Moorhead, MN 56560.