Muriel Elaine Lundsetter-Runningen, 81, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, at Chandler Regional Medical Hospital in Chandler, Arizona.
Muriel was born at home on November 16, 1932 in Ashby, Minnesota to parents Sigfred and Lillie (Thompson) Swenson. She attended Fergus Falls High School and later trained to become a Licensed Practical Nurse.
In 1950 she married Doyle Earl Tomhave, and together they had five children. Muriel was re-married to Frank Lundsetter in 1990. Following Frank's death in 2000, Muriel married Ruben Runningen in 2006.
Muriel's career included farm hand, 4H Leader in French Township, housewife, secretary, cab and ambulance dispatch, and co-owner/bus driver for Fergus Bus Company where she was noted for her bus driving skills. But her true calling was as a nurse where she put into practice the caring and compassion that she showed for family and friends throughout her life. She loved her family, her friends, her church, and music.
In addition to her husband Frank, she was preceded in death by her sister, Grace Siems; daughter-in-law, Sue (Strader) Tomhave and stepdaughter Mary (Runningen) Truesdell.
Muriel is survived by her husband Ruben; sisters, Lorraine Melby, Elenore Friedrich, Margie Melby, and Carol Downs; her children Dennis (Jolane) Tomhave, Roger (Carole) Tomhave, Curt (Laurie) Tomhave, Douglas (Wendy) Tomhave, and Julie (Rob) Roettger; step-children Keith Lundsetter, Kim Saenger, Larry Runningen, Jerry Runningen, and Vicki Dorn; grandchildren Dustin, Stacy, Stephanie, Shayna, Derek, Lauren, and Megan; and many loved step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Muriel's name to the First Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, the First Lutheran Church Good Samaritan Fund, or the Peace/Grue Lutheran Church (Ashby) Cemetery Fund.
Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Friday, January 31, 2014, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls. Visitation resumes one hour prior to services at the church.
Funeral Service: 2 PM Saturday, February 1, 2014, at First Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy: Reverend Jennifer Rose and Reverend Carol Olson
Interment: First Lutheran Church North Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Arrangements are with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.
Condolences: GlendeNilson.com