Sharon K Croninger

Sharon K. Croninger, age 80, Clark, widow of Frank Croninger, died in the Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown on Saturday afternoon, October 24, 2009 after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11AM in the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark with the Reverend Robin Schaunaman officiating. Music will be provided by Dorothy Fuller as organist with Roger Nordhus singing "The Old Rugges Cross" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand". There will congregational singing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "How Great Thou Art". Honorary casketbearers will be her great-grandchildren and the active casketbearers her grandchildren, Travis & Todd Ronke, Brent and Cherish'A Sanders and Danica & Dane Cross. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel in Clark and 1 hour preceding services at the Church on Wednesday. She was born Sharon Kathleen Ness, the daughter of Elmer and Jenny Maude (Cherington) Ness on June 25, 1929 south of Clark in the Vienna/Willow Lake area. She attended various country schools and then graduated from Clark High School in 1947. On October 26, 1947 she was united in marriage to George Franklin Croninger, know as Frank. The couple lived and farmed southwest of Clark and in 1966 they moved into Clark. Sharon was one that really couldnt sit around much so she worked for various businesses in Clark for several years. Among those places of work were Knutson Drug, Kyle Hardware, McCain Foods, the Clark Liquor Store and also as a cook and waitress at the Clark Lanes. Frank died June 30, 1993. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church at Clark were she participated in the WELCA and circles at one time. Sharon had served as the President of the American Legion Auxiliary and also was a former member of the Clark Lioness Club. Some of her favorite pastimes were spent reading, being out in the garden, canning, playing cards, even being a member of a card club, and watching birds, especially enjoying cardinals. Second to none though was her love of being with her family, especially attending craft shows with her daughters. She will long be remembered for someone that always was willing to help others, putting herself in the shadow rather than the light. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, son, Franklin Butch in 1981 and brothers, Dale, Garry and Darwin Ness. Grateful for having shared her life are her daughters, Sherylyn J. (Dan) Cross of Meridian, ID, Carolyn (Ron) Ronke of Watertown and Darla R. (Jim) Sasse of Atwater, MN; 6 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and a sister Mavis (Melvin) Nesheim of Clark. Email condolences or sign an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family.