DEREK RONNING Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for DEREK RONNING
Start: 2025-01-04T13:00:00.000Z
Location: Vermillion Main Fire Dept.

DEREK ROBERT RONNING On December 17, 2024, Derek Ronning passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. A Celebration Of Life will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at Vermillion Main Fire Dept., 820 North Dakota Street, Vermillion, S.D., at 1 p.m. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Montevideo at a later date. Arrangements are with Anderson - TeBeest Funeral Home in Montevideo. Derek Robert Ronning was born to Robert and Judy (Suckow) Ronning of Montevideo June 30, 1968. He was born in Minneapolis and raised in Montevideo. Derek graduated from Montevideo Senior High School in 1986. After graduation, Derek enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for 26 years, retiring as a Senior Master Sergeant. He served as a Ground Radio Operator, Airborne Communications Systems Operator, Airborne Systems Engineer and Airborne Radar Technician. He was assigned to bases in Nebraska, Germany, and Alaska. He was a Career Enlisted Aviator and was qualified on EC-135 Looking glass, E-3A Nato AWACS, E-3C AWACS and RC-135V/W River Joint platforms. After his retirement from the Air Force, Derek became a 911 Dispatcher for Clay County, S.D. He thoroughly enjoyed dispatching, helping people during their worst moments and always felt privileged to be able to work with the brave men and women of law enforcement, corrections, emergency medical services and the fire department. Derek was known to love listening to Beatles music, cracking a good Dad joke and watching historical movies and documentaries. Derek wished to leave this earth with a few requests for those still here: Be kind to one another and support each other. He is survived by his parents: Bob and Judy of Montevideo; a sister, Melissa and Chad Eichhorst of Montevideo; two nephews: Matthew Eichhorst (Alexis Olson) and children Alekzander and Paislee and Zachary (Kayla) Eichhorst and children Blakely and McKendry. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Vermillion Police Department, Fire Department, or Dispatch.

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Published by Montevideo American News from Dec. 20 to Dec. 26, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for DEREK RONNING

Sponsored by Anderson–TeBeest Funeral Home of Montevideo.

6 Entries

Dennis Carey

December 24, 2024

Enjoyed working with Derek at Offutt Giant Talk station, Elkhorn, Ne. Outstanding Airman! Sorry to learn of his passing.

Dave Coombs

December 23, 2024

I flew with Derek on the Looking Glass at Offutt AFB, NE. I was sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.

Andy Clevenger

December 23, 2024

Derek was a colleague, senior supervisor and a friend of mine during our time at NATO Airbase Geilenkirchen, Germany. He was always so positive, very supportive to everyone and also within the international community of NATO. He did his very best with everything he was charged to do and accomplished all of it. His professional aviation tasks as a E-3 AWACS Radar Technician, US Air Force responsibilities and all the volunteering, above and beyond what was asked of him. He was my Senior NCO retirement officer and we stayed in touch after HIS retirement and return to Minnesota. He continued to be an inspiration and provided encouragement even through his own battles. He touched the lives of many military members and his impact on them will go on and be forwarded to many more. Rest in Peace Derek.

Patrick Palmer

December 22, 2024

I served along side Derek in Geilenkirchen NATO airbase support operations flying on the E-EA AWACS aircraft. He was always willing to provide a hand on or off duty and to provide humor to life, work and those intense moments while aviation! He´ll be missed!

Rebecca Scott

December 22, 2024

I flew with Derek up in Alaska. We deployed together a few times. He was a great man and always kept up laughing. So sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to the family.

Rob Hopkins

December 22, 2024

I flew with Derek while stationed in Germany. I ran into him at Offutt a few years ago. He was a top-notch operator and a great friend. Prayers for his family. May he rest in peace.

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