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Hallelujah, You're Home!
"If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord" (Romans 14:8).
Kathleen Joyce (Connell) Rovang went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 12, 2026.
In her brief 90 years Kathy did the most important thing that anyone can do in their life: she committed her life to the Lord.
She now spends eternity with Christ and had made clear that her only wish for us who remain was to share the message of God's gift to as many people who would listen.
Kathy was born in Fergus Falls, MN on May 24, 1935 to Thomas and Belvia Connell. Tom and Bell made sure that Kathy was in church and knew the Lord. She grew up in a time in Fergus Falls when there were a lot of kids and corner grocery stores and community was important. She graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1953.
Kathy met Charles Rovang of Dalton that summer and after 6 months of dating at the age of 18, she married Chuck on January 9, 1954. They stayed married for life until Chuck went to be with the Lord on November 3, 2019.
Chuck entered military duty for two years and Kathy ran her own beauty shop while he was gone. When he returned from Germany, they began their lives together in earnest. They raised 5 kids who were never in need. During the early years, Kathy showed her love for her family as a homemaker, raising a large garden and supporting Chuck with his farm work and the kids as they grew. When the kids got older, she shared her caring nature in her job at the State Hospital in Fergus, where she worked for 20 years until retirement.
Supporting the local church was important for both Kathy and Chuck. Kathy was a quiet witness whose actions spoke for her. She was a member of Ladies Aid, a Sunday School teacher and Superintendent, a Vacation Bible School Teacher and a participant in many other church activities, notably in the kitchen. She and Chuck supported missions worldwide and many more local ministries. The money that they saved by living a simple life went out to spread God's Word.
Each Fall, Kathy would fill the large chest freezer on the porch with as many as 100-150 pies that she had baked in lard crusts, each containing 10-12 apples from her own trees.
Kathy was preceded in death by her husband Charles, both parents Tom and Bell Connell, granddaughter Jennifer Rovang, and nephews Mike, Brian, Eric, Peter, Ricardo and Mauro.
She is survived by her 5 children: Paul (Candy) Rovang of Edinboro, PA, Diane (Jimmy) Thurman of Minneapolis, Jane (Tom) Doane on Lake Miltona, MN, Danny (Carrie) Rovang of Fergus Falls, MN and Joel (Tuyet) Rovang of Dalton, MN; two brothers, Stanley (Martha) Connell of Minneapolis and Gary (Kris) Connell of Bayfield, Wisconsin; a sister Linda (Gene) Field of Frazee, MN; 10 grandchildren Angelle, Ben, Cara, Justin, Deirdre, Vivian, Ariel, Hope, Tuyet Vy and Ben; nieces Kirsten, Julia, Leslie, Tracy, Ruth and Megan; nephews Carlos, Thomas, Ryan, Kirk and Rolf.
As good of a person as Kathy was, she could not earn her place in Heaven. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8).
Blessed be the memory of Kathy Rovang
Please be like Kathy Rovang and accept the free gift of Salvation.
Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church in Dalton, with visitation one-hour prior to the service.
Clergy: Reverend Mark Johnson and Reverend Dan Hurner
Interment: Sarpsborg Cemetery, Dalton, MN
Arrangements provided by Olson Funeral and Cremation in Fergus Falls.
Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonfuneralhome.com
Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church
Zion-Sarpsborg Free Lutheran Church
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