Eunice Lorraine (Grussing) Onnen

Eunice Onnen, age 86, of Willmar, formerly of Raymond, died Saturday, November 27, at her home in Willmar.

Her funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 1, at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City and will be live-streamed to the church's FaceBook page.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.  Visitation will be 4:00-6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 30, at the church and will continue one hour prior to the service. 

Eunice Lorraine (Grussing) Onnen was born February 9, 1935, in Stoneham Township, rural Maynard, Minnesota, to Eilert and Antina (Hellmers) Grussing.  She was baptized and later confirmed at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City.  Eunice attended District 17 country school before graduating from Maynard High School in 1953.

On November 16, 1953, Eunice married Vernon James Onnen at the United Methodist Church parsonage in Raymond.  They lived and farmed near Raymond.  In the early 1980s, they began renting their land and Eunice started working at Bethesda Heritage Center as a nurses aide for the following 15 years.

Eunice and Vernon loved visiting with neighbors, friends and family, playing many card games and dominos.  A visitor was never able to leave Eunice’s home without her serving them a cup of tea with kluntjes, a variety of her baked goodies, a dessert, sandwich, and cheese and crackers.

In the summer, Vernon and Eunice were found in the garden, driving around the countryside checking on fields, or spending time on the lake fishing with family and friends.  Eunice could out-fish anyone, with the anticipation of the annual fish fry on Father’s Day.  Fall brought a harvest from their garden for the entire family.  They enjoyed traveling with family and friends around the United States by car, cruise ship, and later bus tours, covering nearly every state.

Eunice was a member of Bethany Reformed Church and spent many years quilting with the Bethany Mission Quilters.  She also served on the Bereavement Circle until they moved to Willmar in 2011.

She is survived by her three children: Debra (and Ken) Nieuwbeerta of Willmar, Steven (and Sharon) Onnen of Kandiyohi, and Jeffrey (and Rhonda) Onnen of Raymond; ten grandchildren: Brenda (and Matthew) Palmer, Cheryl (and Cory) Ammerman, Amanda (and Andrew) Hokom, Joel (and Lindsey) Nieuwbeerta, Jennifer (and Josh) Johnson, Matthew (and Hope) Onnen, Jonathan Onnen, Jordan (and Krystal) Onnen, Kelsey (and Joe) Leenstra, and Jared (and Taylor) Onnen; and seventeen great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by siblings: Edna Kleene, Henrietta Hagemeyer, and Gordon Grussing; many nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Vernon in September 2020; brother: Dan Grussing; and sisters: Gertrude Boike and Tena Tomes.

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