Anna Lurlene Gronberg, 94, formerly of Climax, MN, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at the Kansas City Hospice House, Kansas City, MO, with her family by her side.

Lurlene Gronberg was born to Annie and George Hughes on May 6, 1923, in Tuttle, OK, where she graduated from high school. After one semester at Oklahoma College for Women, she moved to California to help build bombers in the war effort. In the defense plant she met a blond, blue-eyed Minnesotan who, in her words, was like nothing she had ever seen before. He had a great smile with dimples, was lots of fun, and could really dance. She and Carl married in Climax, MN, on June 18, 1944, after he completed his Army Air Corps training and before he shipped out to Germany. Following Carl's deployment they lived in Seminole, OK, until late 1949, when they moved to Climax, MN, where Carl took over the family farm. Her soft southern accent made her a popular curiosity at first in the mostly Norwegian-American town, but over the years, she was involved in the community--the garden club, the Neby Local Farmers Union, band mothers, hospice volunteers, and other groups. She also was a cook in the school lunch program, and for many years she assisted Carl at his insurance agency.

One of Lurlene's proudest accomplishments was helping her brother Woodrow establish a congregation of the Church of Christ in Grand Forks, where she and her family worshiped for many years. She enjoyed traveling with Carl, baking her Swedish tea-rings and cinnamon rolls, bowling, and playing golf. After her move to Grand Forks, she began participating in activities at the Grand Forks Senior Center, volunteering at the East Grand Forks Public Library, and attending an occasional Fighting Sioux hockey game. in Kansas City, where she resided for the last four years after moving to be closer to her children, she delighted in visiting with her family and playing with her great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carl; her daughter, Candice; her brothers, Floyd and Woodrow, and her sisters Effie Mae and Beryl. She is survived and celebrated by her children, Douglas (Susan), Danny (Rebecca), and Mark (Marcia); her brother, Nash (Laveta) Hughes; eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; and a large extended family.

In place of flowers, the family requests donations to Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64145, or to the hospice of the donor's choice.

Visitation :  Sunday from 5-7 PM at the Dahl Funeral Home, East Grand Forks, MN.

Celebration of Life : 10:00 AM, Monday, March 5, 2018, Church of Christ, 1027 13th Ave. South, Grand Forks, ND.

Interment :  Skatvold Cemetery, Climax, MN ~ Spring of 2018.