Ramona Mary (Furr) Tonga

Ramona Mary (Furr) Tonga, 77, of Shieldsville, passed peacefully in her home on October 13, surrounded by family. 

Mona was born in Waseca, MN, on January 13, 1947, to Charles Everett Furr and Loretta Marie (Carrigan) Furr. Mona was the baby of 11 children in a devoted Catholic farm family. After the passing of her mother, she was blessed with a blended family including 6 more siblings. 

Mona graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Waseca and Mankato Cosmetology Vocational School, which took her to downtown St. Paul to work for Dayton's Department Store as a Stylist. In 1967, Mona met and married Tony Tonga, who was her husband of 55 years. 

Mona and Tony built a resort on Mille Lacs Lake in Onamia, MN, where they rented out cabins, campsites, boats, launch service, and fish houses. In 1977, they took their outdoor hospitality skills to the DNR, where Mona and Tony worked at the State Park. This opportunity took the family around the state over the years to manage different state parks. In 1982, when assigned to Nerstrand Big Woods State Park, Mona named it “home” and they lived there in the Faribault area for the rest of their lives.

Mona returned to school to become a nurse and continued to work for the State of MN — first in home health care and then in various regional homes until she retired from the state. Post-retirement, Mona volunteered daily at Divine Mercy Catholic School and St. Vincent de Paul until 2020. 

Mona cared for her family with everything she had. She always had a child in her arms, on her hip, or at her side. The entrance to her home had a sign that proclaimed “Children are loved and fed here,” which is probably why they flocked there. She taught the family to treasure each moment with a child, as they are all blessings.

Ramona is preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Tonga; parents, Charles Everett Furr, Loretta Marie Carrigan Furr, Emily Boucher Furr; brothers, William Furr, Leo Furr, Robert Furr, Tom Furr, Thomas Boucher, Charles Furr, sisters; Zita Mittelstaedt, Gertrude Grubish, Loretta Olson, Rita Eggert, and Eileen Kott; grandchild, Sierra Eltonga. 

Ramona is survived by her sisters, Margaret Doyone, Ann Pote, Laura Draeger, Mary Brixus; brother Leo Boucher; children, Randy (Shannon) Longseth, Teresa (Steve) Thompson, Kelly (Steve) Bullock, Andrew (Rita) Tonga, and Erin (Charles) Eltonga; grandchildren, Jessica (Tyson) Taghon, Blake (Jamie) Halvorson, Jenna (Cody) Fuchs, Kayla (Landen) Kuhlman, Parker Huizenga; Sam Longseth, Tara (Andrew) Haider, Richard and Ryan Vallis, Rose, Rachel, Benjamin, Luke, and Joshua Bullock; Alexandra, Tyler, Isaac, Ariana, Scarlett, Eva, Dominic, Elijah, Lucy, and Josie Tonga; Simon, Victoria, and Crosby Eltonga; and ten great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2024, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Parker Kohl Funeral Home, 1725 Lyndale Ave N, Faribault, and on Monday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the church. The rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Dr, Faribault, followed by luncheon at the parish hall. Interment will be at the Calvary Cemetery in Waseca, MN at 3:00 p.m.