Rona' Anderson, 82

Rona’ Marie Cook Anderson passed away on February 22, 2025 at her home in Alexandria, Minnesota. 

Rona’ Marie Cook (Ronny) was born on January 31, 1943 in Flint, Michigan to Kenneth B. & Fern H. (Jeffries) Cook. Family lore says her dad named her after a character in a book he read; and now a daughter, granddaughter, and two of her nieces proudly share her unique name. The Cook family moved from Flint to rural Viking, Minnesota when Ronny was about a year old. She grew up on the farm helping with household and farm chores, learning many practical skills and making lifelong friends along the way. Ronny was her class’s homecoming queen, graduated from Warren High School in May 1960 at age 17, and married Lowell J. (L.J.) Anderson the following year. They made their home in Warren, where Ronny worked at Kroll Drug before becoming a stay-at-home mom to Mitchell, Susan and Emily. 

Ronny was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Warren, a Mawami service club member, and played softball and golf. She strongly supported her kids in all their activities, whether it was scouts, sports, music or church. Ronny was an avid sewer and baker, and loved to make doughnuts and cookies for family, friends and neighbors. She also enjoyed researching her family tree, doing jigsaw puzzles, and entertaining both in Warren and at the log home she and L.J. built together near Baudette. Ronny and L.J. moved to Baudette in 1990, where she worked at Randle’s Ben Franklin for many years. She moved to Alexandria a few years after L.J. passed away.  

Rona’ is survived by her children Mitchell & Becky Anderson of Alexandria MN, Susan Anderson & Tim Hochsprung of Alexandria MN, and Emily & Doug Marrese of Vandalia MI; grandchildren Alek (Natasha) Anderson, Grant Anderson, Brock Anderson, Cameron Hochsprung, Josephine Hochsprung, Logan Paul, Levi Paul and Peyton Paul; great grandchild Margaret Jo Anderson; brothers Gale Cook, Bradley (Elsa) Cook, Michael (Joanne) Cook; sister Patsy (Kenneth) Heggen; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

Rona’ was preceded in death by her husband L.J., her parents, brother Alan Cook, and sisters-in-law Mary Lou Cook and Dellene Lattimer.

A memorial service for Rona’ will be held at First Lutheran Church in Warren, MN, on Saturday, June 7, 2025 at 1:00 p.m., with fellowship to follow. Rona’ asked that those in attendance wear bright colors to her funeral to celebrate her life. Burial of ashes will be at the Viking Cemetery in rural Marshall County after the service and fellowship.