Ramona Grosland

Funeral Service for Ramona Grosland, 96, of Sartell, Minnesota, formerly of Wheaton, Minnesota will be held Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Rev. J.C. Duncan and Chaplain Gary Skramstad officiating. Pallbearers will be Scott Collignon, Neil Lee, Pat Schad, Kelly Smidt, Orv Smidt and Warren Williams. Organist will be Nancy Krenz. Interment will be in the spring in Wildwood Cemetery, Wheaton. Visitation will be held Friday, March 6, 2009 from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service at the Ranney Funeral Home in Wheaton. Visitation will continue Saturday morning from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the church. Ramona Virginia Grosland (Mona) was born in Walcott, North Dakota, October 6, 1912, to Richard and Virginia (Van Arnum) Lee. Her father was a printer; a newspaper man whose career carried him and his young family to Wyndmere, North Dakota; Golden, Colorado; Wahpeton, North Dakota; finally settling in Wheaton, Minnesota. Along with family, music was central in Monas life through her singing and playing the piano and organ. Her musical tastes and skills were eclectic. As a young girl, she provided the piano accompaniment to silent movies as well as beginning what was to be a lifelong passion and commitment as a church musician. For over 50 years she was the organist and choir director for the First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, while in contrast, she also played and sang with swing bands for many years. Mona graduated from Wheaton High School in 1931 during which time she continued to develop as a pianist and singer, and played tuba in the high school band. Following high school, she attended one year of Normal School in training to be a teacher. For six years, Mona taught in one room schools in Stevens and Traverse counties until she met and married S. Hubert (Hub) Grosland of Morris. On June 19, 1938, Hubert and Mona were married in the First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton. They lived in Morris during which time two sons were born; Thomas Lee in 1941, and David Hubert in 1943. David died within months of his birth. Following the death of their son, and while Hubert served in the Army Air Corps, the family moved and settled in Wheaton. Another son, Bruce Allyn, was born there in 1945. Together, Mona and Hub established Groslands Jewelry & Music in 1946, a business that continued for 50 years until the failure of Hubs health. As she worked full time with Hub building the Jewelry and Music business, she also managed the Home Cafe, a popular restaurant they owned and operated from 1953 to 1958. In addition to her business obligations, Mona distinguished herself and enriched the lives of hundreds of boys and girls as their music teacher and mentor. She gave piano and voice lessons in her home and worked with high school students as they prepared for music contests. She directed the church choir, served as church organist, played for numerous weddings, funerals and civic events, and was a vocal soloist as well as singing with small groups. During her years in Wheaton, she was also active in community organizations such as the American Legion Auxiliary, the Womens Study Group, Library Club, P.E.O. and R.G.N. Within the church, she was active in Circle, Presbyterian Women, a Bible Study Leader, and in 1992 was awarded an Outstanding Senior Presbyterian award from the Presbytery of Minnesota Valleys. Following Huberts death in 1997, and to be closer to her sons and their families, Mona moved to the Country Manor Senior Apartments in Sartell, MN, in 2001. During the final years of her life, Mona continued to play piano and organ for the pleasure and entertainment of residents, and sang with the Country Manor Chapel Choir. Mona is survived by her sons: Tom (Eileen) of La Prairie, MN and Bruce (Sandy) of St. Cloud, MN; Grandchildren: Karen Grosland of Woodbury, MN, Kristin (Scott) Collignon of Savage, MN, Teresa (Pat) Schad of Melrose, MN, David (Carissa) Grosland of Grand Rapids, MN, Sarah Grosland of St. Cloud, MN, and Kate Grosland of Minneapolis, MN; Great Grandchildren: Georgia Collignon, Gracie and Logan Schad, and Max and Oliver Grosland; and 7 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Hubert, infant son David, parents Richard and Virginia Lee, sister Grace Thennes, and brother Royce Lee.

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