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Solrun "Runa"
T. Long • 1915 - 2003 Solrun "Runa" T. Long, 87, 21 1st Ave. SE, Apt. 51, died Tuesday at her daughter's home in Minot. Runa was born on Saturday, October 2, 1915, in Elm Grove Township, rural Upham, ND, the daughter of Gisli and Gudrun (Johnson) Benidiktson. She was raised in the rural Upham area and attended Elm Grove Elementary and later graduated from Upham High School. She then attended the North Dakota State School of Forestry in Bottineau. Runa was employed at the Pierce County Soil Conservation Office in Rugby. On January 4, 1938, Runa married Raymond C. Long in Towner, ND. They made their home in the Upham area. She worked as Clerk at the Upham Post Office, and while her husband served in the Navy during World War II, she served as Acting Postmaster in Upham. In 1962 she started working at the Upham Public School as secretary and was clerk for the Upham Public School until retiring in the early 1970's. Raymond died in 1973. Runa continued living in Upham, until July 29, 1999, when she moved to Minot after living 60 years in Upham. Runa was a member of New Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church, rural Upham, which was formerly Bloomfield-Melankton. She was a member of the Bloomfield-Melankton WELCA and was also a member of the Ruth Circle of the church. She was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #269, Upham, and served as secretary for the Melankton Church Cemetery Association for 20 years. While living in Minot, Runa attended Bethany Lutheran Church. Runa loved to quilt and was an active member of the quilting groups at Melankton, New Hope and at Bethany Lutheran Churches. She was very proud of her Icelandic heritage. She was also very involved with her children and grandchildren, attending their sporting events, plays and took a keen interest in their everyday work and school. Runa was looking forward to the birth of her first great-grandchild. Survivors: Sons, Jack (Deborah) Long, Bismarck, Steve (Kristine) Long, Minot; daughter, Jane Welstad, Minot; seven grandchildren, Jon (Tera) Long, Stephanie Long and special friend, Mike Kolloen, Evelyn (Trever) Huber, Amy Long, Jess, Joel and Nathan Welstad; sisters, Julia Ostby, Portland, OR, and Olive Haugen, Roanoke, VA; numerous nieces and nephews survive. Runa was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond C. Long; parents, Gisli and Gudrun Benidiktson; an infant sister, Solrun, and sister, Ruby Spady; brothers, Gunnar and Leifur. Funeral: Saturday, January 18, 2003, at 11:00 a.m., at Melankton Evangelical Lutheran Church, Upham. Visitation: Friday, January 17, 2003, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot. Burial: Melankton Icelandic Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, rural Upham. MEMORIALS ARE PREFERRED TO THE MELANKTON CHURCH CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
FUND, TRINITY HOSPICE OR TO THE DONOR'S CHOICE. Congregational Hymns: "What A Friend We Have In
Jesus" "Faith Of Our Fathers" "I Know That
My Redeemer Lives" Active Bearers: Fred Brandt, Chris Arneson , Swain Benson, Douglas Benson, Max Long, Richard Long Honorary Bearers: Runa's family, friends and neighbors |