Lorna Anne (Kragnes) Rockstad, 84, Ada, Minnesota, passed away on August 16, 2023, at the Benedictine Care Community.
Lorna was born on December 30, 1938, to Alvin and Adeline (Rosman) Kragnes in Fargo, North Dakota. She grew up on a farm near Georgetown, Minnesota and attended Crossroads Rural School District # 70. Lorna was baptized and confirmed at Concordia Lutheran Church, rural Glyndon. She graduated from Moorhead High School and Moorhead State College. Lorna married Burton Rockstad on August 14, 1960. Together they made a home and raised three sons on the farm in Hegne Township, near Ada, Minnesota.
Lorna and Burton were active members of Concordia Lutheran Church of rural Hendrum, where Lorna served, for many years, as the Superintendent of the Sunday School. After Concordia closed, she and Burton became active members at Grace Lutheran Church in Ada.
Lorna developed a knack for teaching at an early age. Her sister credits Lorna with teaching her to read at the age of 5. After college, Lorna taught first grade in Ada for four years. When her children were grown, Lorna returned to public education, first as an English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor and later as the Coordinator for the After School Program. She was a Hegne Hustlers 4-H Club leader for more than 25 years.
Lorna felt honored to receive several awards, including County Homemaker of the Year, Norman County Farm Woman of the Year, Friend of 4-H, and FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer.
Lorna liked hosting her grandchildren on the farm. She enjoyed her Homemakers Club, her two-three bible study, neighbors, friends, square dancing, vintage dishes, gardening, and refinishing furniture.
Lorna was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Burton and Eugene Kragnes, sister Sylvia Teigen, brother-in-law Kjell Hoelstad, and sister-in-law Shirley Rockstad. Lorna is survived by her sons Kent (Kate), Moorhead; Erik (Gretchen), Ada; and Neil (Elizabeth), Ada; grandchildren Nolan (Kennedy), Greta (fiancé Justin), Olivia, Ella, Isabelle, Andrina, Gannon, Nora, and Hazel; sister Orpha Hoelstad; sister-in-law Doris Kragnes; and brothers-in-law Howard Rockstad and Wally Teigen.
Funeral Service: 11:00 AM, Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Grace Lutheran Church, Ada, MN.
Visitation: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Friday, August 25, 2023, at Grace Lutheran Church in Ada, with a prayer service to begin at 7:30 PM.
Interment: Ada Municipal Cemetery, Ada, MN.
Please view our guestbook and share condolences online at www.fredriksonfh.com
Arrangements with Fredrikson-Ganje Funeral Homes
Ada & Halstad, Minnesota
