Elva Roney, 94, of Rochester, MN, died on Friday, May 10, 2019 at the Samaritan Bethany Care Center.

Elva was born April 8, 1925 to Herman "Hank" and Hannah (Jorgenson) Wangsness on the family farm in Springfield Township near Calmar, IA.

She graduated from Calmar High School in 1942. She then went to Luther College for two years and completed the teaching program. She taught for six years at four different one room country schools in the Decorah Iowa area. On May 13, 1945, she married Wallace Roney in Calmar, Iowa and they farmed in the Decorah and Cresco, IA areas until moving to Rochester in 1957. Elva was a retired 30+ year Montgomery Wards employee. She enjoyed being in her own home up until a month ago. Elva loved sitting on her deck on warm days and spent many hours on her computer Skyping with, and on her phone talking to, her sons and grandchildren that lived in Arizona and Nevada. She also was a loyal late-night Facebook friend to many family and friends. Another activity that she really enjoyed was crocheting baby blankets for newborns as part of the "Bundles of Love" project.

Survivors include four sons, Jerry (Linda) of Kasson, Allan (Karen) of Florence, AZ, Dale of Bullhead City, AZ and Kevin (Judy) of Rochester; six grandchildren, Brian Roney, Julie (Jay) Hoff, Sarah Roney, Dane (Mariah) Roney, Spencer Wentworth and Zabrina Roney; two great-grandchildren, AJ Hoff and Hannah Hoff; and one sister-in-law, Lorraine Wangsness of Decorah, IA.

Elva was preceded in death by her husband, Wallace; daughter-in-law, Kim Roney; her parents; three brothers, Clifford (Mabel) Wangsness, Theodore (Olga) Wangsness and Ervin Wangsness; and two sisters, Beatrice (Joseph) Estrem and Viola (Arthur) Blegen.

A memorial service for Elva will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service in the chapel. Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019 in Phelps Cemetery in Decorah, IA. All are welcome.