Passed away on Oct 23, 2009

RAMONA J. ( DUERKOP) BEKKELUND Black River Falls/Humbird, WI Ramona J. (Duerkop) Bekkelund, age 93, of Black River Falls and formerly of Humbird died Friday, October 23, 2009 in Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire. Jeanette Ramona Holman was born on October 4, 1916 at Fairchild, Jackson County to Gunder and Ida B. (Erickson) Holman. She was raised in the Fairchild area and graduated from Humbird High School. She married Elmer A. Duerkop on March 5, 1938 in Osseo. The couple farmed near Humbird for 40 years. Elmer and Ramona also operated a state licensed foster home for 20 years. Many boys and girls were adopted by others after a short stay at the Duerkop home. Over the years, many of the Duerkops’ foster children have maintained a close relationship with them, especially Marie Johnson and Tammy Duerkop. In 1983, Ramona and Elmer moved to Black River Falls. Elmer Duerkop died on January 9, 1984. On August 11, 1990, Ramona married Newell Bekkelund at at the Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church. Newell Bekkelund died on February 12, 2003. She was a member of the Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church and its Sewing Circle, and the Sons of Norway. Ramona was instrumental in the formation of the Jackson County Chapter of the American Alzheimer’s Association. She had served as a 4-H leader and had been an active member of the Happy Hour HCE Club and the Jackson County HCE. She was very involved with the former Jackson County ARC and for several years provided services for developmentally developed adults. Ramona was a dedicated volunteer in the communities that she lived in. For several years, she served as a volunteer at Pine View Care Center. She also was fond of visiting shut-ins and providing food to them. She enjoyed cooking, collecting plates, and quilting. She also made the best lefsa. Survivors include 2 sons, Jim (Linda) Duerkop of Chetek and Alton (Sue) Duerkop of Centuria; 4 grandchildren, Krista (Scott) McCutcheon, Becky Duerkop, Christopher Duerkop, and Peter Duerkop; 2 great grandchildren, Matthew and Lauren McCutcheon; a sister, Ruth Fischer of Osseo; and many foster children, including Marie (Ronald) Johnson of LaCrosse and her children Debi, David, Dale, Deanna, Jean, June, Jamie and Brenda, and Tammy Duerkop of Madison and her children, Grace and Gary; and numerous other relatives and friends. In addition to both husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Gerald Holman; 2 sisters, Wilma Bentham and Mabel Holman; and 2 nephews, William and Tommy Bentham. Funeral services for Ramona J. (Duerkop) Bekkelund will be at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at the Black River Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Mentor Cemetery at Humbird. Rev. Eric Bakken will officiate. Friends and relatives are invited for visitation from 4 to 6 P.M. on Tuesday at the Buswell Funeral Home, Black River Falls, and at the church on Wednesday from 10 A.M. until 11 A.M. Online condolences are available at www.buswellfuneralhome.com.