Ruth
Onkka, 76
 Thief
River Falls - Ruth Onkka, 76, died on February
21, 2004 at CNC unit of the Northwest Medical
Center in Thief River Falls.
Funeral
services will be held on Thursday, February 26 at
11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River
Falls, with Rev. John Wollenzien officiating.
Casket bearers included Aaron Onkka, Chris Onkka,
Scott Pula, Glen Peters, Jim Sims, Bryan Onkka.
Interment will be at Fort Snelling National
Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Visitation
will be on Wednesday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM at the
Johnson-Green Funeral Home in Thief River Falls and
on Thursday one hour prior to the service in the
church.
Ruth
Virginia McKay was born on June 17, 1927 in
Winnebago, the daughter of George and Alta (Witmer)
McKay. She was baptized and confirmed at the
Presbyterian Church in Winnebago. She graduated
from Winnebago High School in 1945 and attended St.
Cloud State University, graduating in 1949 with a
double major in math and physical education.
She
taught school in Fergus Falls from 1949 to 1951. On
June 23, 1951 she was united in marriage to Carl O.
Onkka at the Presbyterian Church in Litchfield. The
couple made their home in Cokato, where she worked
for Johnson Produce as an office clerk from 1951 to
1953 and taught junior high math for several years.
The couple then moved to Thief River Falls where
she taught physical education at Lincoln High
School from 1966 to 1986 when she retired.
Throughout her teaching career she served as the
girl's golf and volleyball coach and cheerleading
advisor.
Following
her retirement she spent the summer months at
Springsteel Resort on Lake of the Woods. Ruth was a
member of Trinity Lutheran Church, VFW and American
Legion Auxiliaries, taught Sunday school at Trinity
Lutheran Church for several years and enjoyed
bowling, golfing, fishing and watching all sports.
Survivors
include her husband Carl O. Onkka of Thief River
Falls; children: Michael (Debra) Onkka of Pleasant
Hill, Mo., Steven Onkka of Aberdeen, S.D., Cheri
(Ron) Pula of Bemidji, Jon (Susana) Onkka of
Woodbridge, Va., David (Cyndi) Onkka of Thief River
Falls; 18 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren;
sister-in-law Fern McKay of Cokato; one niece and
two nephews.
She
was preceded in death by her parents, sister Eileen
Oothoudt and brother Wayne McKay.
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