Lucy G. Tonga, 76, of Kenyon, MN died Thursday, April 8, 2010 while wintering in Mission TX. Louise (Lucy) Gunhilde Brockman Tonga was born, December 11, 1933, at Deaconess Hospital in Minneapolis Minn, the daughter of Reidar and Mathilda (Sovig) Brockman. She was baptized and confirmed at Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church, attended Hale Elementary school, Ramsey Junior High and graduated from Roosevelt High School, Minneapolis in 1951. Living near Lake Nokomis, she learned to swim and completed lifeguard training. On July 8th, 1951, she was united in marriage to Merlyn Tonga at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa and the couple made their home on the family farm near Northwood, Iowa. Lucy settled into the role of being farm wife and mother by learning how to cook, bake, can produce, drive tractor and help Merlyn on the farm. She became active at Bristol Lutheran Church and volunteered for many years as Sunday School Superintendent, the Ladies Aide Offices, annual church bazaar, and annual Syttende Mai celebration. She continued her volunteer work with the Sunday School and vacation Bible school at Elk Creek Lutheran in Kensett, Iowa. In 1967, Lucy and the family moved to farm near Kenyon Minnesota and continued to raise beef cows and milk cows. She became an active member at Hauge Lutheran Church and was a member of the Rachel Circle. Lucy obtained her Real Estate license and sold real estate for a period. In 1981, Lucy and Merlyn took a step to follow their dream of owning a resort and purchased Tonga's Launch Service in Federal Dam, Minnesota on Leech Lake. Recently, Merlyn and Lucy have returned to Kenyon and purchased a house. Lucy had a zest for life and was interested in all kinds of fun activities. There was always room for one more at her table, her home, and her heart. She loved to travel. When she was 13, she accompanied her parent to Norway via ship to meet relatives. She and Merlyn took numerous trips in their campers, vans and fifth wheel trailers to visit family in Montana, Alaska, Colorado, California, and Nevada. Lucy and Merlyn wintered in Arizona, Florida and later settled in the valley in Texas, where they enjoyed the 'busy' life of retirement, warm weather, good friends, fresh fruit and visiting Mexico. Lucy was a member of the Sons of Norway, the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Association where she helped with meals and sold ice cream each year. She and Merlyn enjoyed many hours on rides, at swap meets and picnics with other enthusiasts as members of the T-Totaler - Model "T" car club. Lucy loved music and taught all of her children the joys of singing and performing as a family when young. This has been passed on to several of her grandchildren. She enjoyed attending her grandchildren and great-granchildren''s concerts and sporting events. Lucy is survived by her husband of 58 years, Merlyn of Kenyon; children Michael (Heather) of Homer AK; Rebecca (Fred) Peterson of Kenyon; Cynthia (Bob) Rooley of Pahrump NV; Julie (William)Tackett of Fallon NV; Tim of Great Falls, MT; Sandra (Glenn) Toyne of Sedgewick CO; Dan (Darcy) of Federal Dam MN; and Mary (Gary) Barrett of Wadena MN. Lucy is also survived by 22 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Lucy was preceded in death by her parents, granddaughter Nicole Rooley, mother-in-law Bernice Behrends, brother-in-law Clifford Tonga and sister-in-laws Shallie Buntrock and Geraldine Cushman. Visitation is at the Michaelson Funeral Home, Kenyon MN on Thursday, April 15th from 4 to 8 PM and one hour prior to service in the church. Funeral service will be held on Friday, April 16th, 10:30 AM at Hauge Lutheran Church in Kenyon MN with Reverend Martin Horn officiating.. Internment will be at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis MN. Visitation: 04/15/2010 16:00 04/15/2010 20:00 Service: ato nd one hour prior the service at the church. 04/16/2010 10:30