Funeral services for Ronna Jean La Due, 40, of Hettinger, ND, formerly of Keldron, SD will be Monday, Dec. 27, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. at the Grace Baptist Church in Bison, SD. Pastors Phil Hahn, Lloyd Dale and Lyod Veal will officiate and burial will follow at the Prairie City Cemetery near Prairie City, SD. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger, ND and one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday afternoon.

Ronna Jean La Due was born on June 20, 1964 to Dean and Jean (Dayton) La Due in Lemmon, SD. She grew up in the Athboy community and attended Athboy School and Calvary Christian School. Ronna was a member of the Grace Baptist Church and looked forward to attending Sunday school. She accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior and was baptized by Pastor Ling at the age of 12. Ronna's passion was horses, joining her family and neighbors on trail rides and roundups. While a member of the Black Horse Wranglers 4-H Club, Ronna showed horses. Her love for animals was lavished on her many cats and the family dog. Reading "Little House on the Prairie" books and working word searches occupied many hours for Ronna.

Due to declining health, Ronna entered the Hillcrest Care Center in November of 2003. She quickly settled in making many new friends among the staff and residents. She looked forward to Friday and playing bingo with her friends. Her positive attitude and friendly nature endeared her to the people at the Center who grew to know and love her. Ronna passed from this life on Dec. 20, 2004 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND.

Mourning her passing are her father and mother, Dean and Jean La Due, her brother and sister-in-law, Kent and Janet La Due and their children, Brittney, Beth and Brian, her maternal grandmother, Vivian Dayton and her many uncles, aunts and cousins. Ronna was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, her paternal grandparents and her Uncles, Jerry Dayton and By Wilcox.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Sunshine Bible Academy, Miller, SD.