Dale Runningen

HOUSTON, MINN. - Dale Runningen, a retired Houston-area farmer, died at his home surrounded by his family on Monday, October 19, after a short bout with cancer. He was 81. Dale and his wife Violet raised five children, and over several decades built their farm into a more than 600-acre corn, soybean, dairy, beef and hog enterprise. The operation, now operated by son Wayne, is known as Fort Ridgely Farms and on Dec. 2, 2009, will have been in the family for 100 years. His respect for the land and his soil conservation practices earned him the Soil Conservation Farmer of the Year award in 1960, an honor that son Wayne earned in 2003. Dale served as a Sheldon Township officer for 40 years. He was on the church council of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston, held positions as a member of the Houston Sportsmen's Club and as a 4-H leader. He was active in the local snowmobile club, motorcycle club, John Deere two cylinder tractor club, and enjoyed square dancing. He was also a salesman for DeKalb seed corn for 30 years. Dale was born June 16, 1928, in Caledonia, Minn. to Martin and Alma (Jorde) Runningen. He married Violet Christopherson on Aug. 25, 1949; they were married 60 years. He is survived by his wife, Violet; five children: Roger (Marsha) of Springfield, Virginia, Arlan (Sandy) of Goodview, Minn., Wayne (Patti) of rural Houston, Marlene (Eric Forslund) of San Diego, Cal., and Sharon (Bill) Mahoney of Union Grove, Wis.; eight grandchildren: Mark Runningen of Sydney, Australia, Jeff Runningen of Vienna, Virginia, Brent and Lee Runningen of Winona, Minn., Kyle and Laura Runningen of Houston, Minn., and Monica and Brittany Mahoney of Union Grove, Wis.; two great-grandchildren: Natalie and Jaxon Runningen of Winona, Minn.; three step-grandchildren: Josh Swenson of Houston, Minn., Aaron Swenson of Oregon, Wis., and Emily Lorenzen of Sandstone, Minn.; and two brothers: Wallace of Springfield, Missouri, and Donald of Caledonia, Minn. Dale's parents, Alma and Martin Runningen, a sister Cleone, a brother Maynard, and a granddaughter, Angela, preceded him in death. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Houston with the Rev. Lane Zaffke officiating. Burial will be in the Stone Church Cemetery. Friends may call from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Hoff Funeral Homes - Houston Chapel and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. The family prefers memorials to be directed to the American Cancer Society. Leave a memory of Dale, sign his online guestbook, and view his tribute video when it becomes available online at www.hofffuneral.com
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/96034