- Date Of Birth: October 13, 1929
- Date Of Death: October 26, 2014
- State: Colorado
Romona Bjorndal was 85 when she died Sunday, October 26, 2014, at Sunrise at Orchard in Littleton, CO, with her family and loving caregivers by her side. Romona suffered from Alzheimer’s and multiple strokes which required her care at Sunrise, an assisted living facility. The family wants to thank the Synergy (24/7 care team), Gentiva (hospice) and Sunrise staff for all they did to support their mother in the last few weeks and over the course of her nearly three years at Sunrise. Previously, Romona had lived in Mesa, AZ, Pueblo, CO, Lubbock, TX, and Sacred Heart, MN.
Romona Bjorndal was the oldest child of Elmer and Florence Trongard and was born at home in Sacred Heart, MN, a small farming community. She attended a one room country schoolhouse and then attended high school in town where she graduated at age 16 as the Salutatorian. She attended St. Olaf College, with plans to study medicine, and then dropped out after one semester to marry her high school sweetheart, Gordon Bjorndal.
Romona raised five children in the 1950-s and 60-s when being a homemaker was truly a full time job. She sewed most of her and her children’s clothes, cooked meals from scratch, canned fruits and vegetables from the garden, and washed clothes in a ringer washer.
Although raising strong, loving, healthy children was always her first priority, Romona often thought of returning to college to pursue a medical profession. While her youngest son Greg was finishing high school, Romona earned her LPN license and enjoyed nursing so much she registered at Texas Tech University and received her RN degree in 1978 at age 49. She practiced nursing for more than 15 years, mostly working in CCU and ER.
Although Romona grew up in a small town, she wanted to travel. So, with their homemade camping trailer in tow – yes, Romona sewed the canvass sides and mosquito netting windows – she and her husband took their children on many cross-country camping vacations. They traveled most of the mid-west and western US, with memorable trips to Gunflint Trail, Yellowstone, the St. Louis Arch, Carlsbad Caverns, Disneyland, and the Space Needle.
Romona and her husband enjoyed antiquing and filled their home with beautiful pieces of furniture and unique objects. Romona collected quilts, sterling and jeweled Victorian hat pins, blown glass Christmas ornaments, and antique Santas.
Romona was an intelligent, strong and loving woman who influenced many lives. She is loved dearly by her children and grandchildren. She was a role model to many. She was a smiling face and an outstretched hand to all at Sunrise. It has been said that we make the world a better place not by the things we touch, but by the people we touch, and by that measure, Romona made the world around her better every day.
Romona is survived by her five children, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Romona Bjorndal was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gordon, her brother Rodney Trongard, and her daughter-in-law Regina Bjorndal.
Our Savior
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