Lowell (Orton) Ronning, 91, passed away on May 9th, 2015 at Elms Nursing Home, Ponca, NE. Lowell was born on June 10, 1923 to parents Olai and Frederica (Schwark) Ronning. He grew up on a farm in Sherman and attended Jasper High School.  Lowell married Florence Lovlie on February 15, 1964 at First Lutheran Church in Sherman, SD. After their marriage, they lived on a farm south of Dell Rapids.

Lowell was an accomplished farmer. He was active in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids having served as an usher, church council member and growing acorn squash for the annual fall bazaar. He was a former clerk magistrate and served on the board of the Dell Rapids Lumber Company. He was involved with the Cattleman and Soybean Associations.   Philanthropy was important to Lowell and Florence and they gave generously and quietly to many Dell Rapids entities and Lutheran educational and charitable organizations.

Lowell was a private man with a quick wit and a twinkle in his eye. He and Florence had an exemplary marriage and wonderful lifelong friends and neighbors. Lowell and Florence loved to dance and showed great pride in keeping their home and farm immaculate. Lowell was a man of great luck having hit two holes-in-ones in a single golf season. In his youth, he loved to bowl, hunt and boat and spent many hours on his four-wheeler. During the winter months, Lowell delved into WWII and South Dakota history books.

Lowell was survived by niece, Darnelle (Paul) Nelson, Whitewood, SK; a nephew, Dan Ronning, (fiancé Carol), Loveland, CO , great niece and nephews, Darin (Moree) Ronning, St. Louis, MO; Andrea (Jason) Johansen, Ponca, NE; Chad Ronning, Fort Collins, CO; Travis (Kathryn) Victoria, BC; Trent (Melanie) Field, Burstall, SK; and children of his deceased cousin, Opal Gunderson: Dwayne (Cherry) Ferrie, Le Mars, IA; Terrill (Denise) Ferrie, Robert (Lynn) Ferrie, Kevin Ferrie and Geoffry Gunderson, all of Sioux Falls, SD.   He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence, his parents, Olai and Frederica, his brother Carroll, and a niece, Vera Ronning.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2015 at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids with the family present from 5-7 pm. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Friday, May 15, 2015 at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Burial will be in the East Nidaros Cemetery, rural Baltic.  Condolences may be left at www.minnehahafuneralhome.com