Ronatha C. Holaway

Ronatha was born January 26, 1919 at Venango, Nebraska, the daughter of Edwin W. and Martha (Johnson) Berges. She graduated from Venango High School in 1936. For several years she was a Telephone Operator during the night shift in Grant and waited tables at the Grant Theatre Café for the evening dinner shift and it was there that she met the "love of her life" and husband, Bob Holaway. They were married May 30, 1941 in Reno, Nevada while Bob served in the US Navy during WWII. After Bob's discharge, the couple moved from Oakland, California to Canoga Park, where Ronatha worked at F.W. Woolworth Department Store. After their retirement in 1975, Ronatha and Bob moved to acreage in Utah to raise sheep. She helped care for and hand fed many lambs. In 1984 they made their final move to Grand Junction, Colorado, where Bob passed away in 1999. He was laid to rest at the Grant Fairview Cemetery.

In Nov 2005 Ronatha chose to move to Parkridge Assisted Living in Grant. Two years later, she moved to Golden Ours Nursing Home where she has resided for almost 9 years. She spent her last week at the Grant Hospital Care Unit. She received excellent care at all of these facilities from their vigilant healthcare staffing teams and Dr. Cliff Colglazier.

Even though Ronatha and Bob had no children, they lived close to Bob's older brother, Boyd and his wife, Ethel's three children who were very special to them. They also remained connected to their other nieces and nephews.

Ronatha loved working outside in her flower and vegetable gardens. She was a very neat, precise person with a cute sense of humor. Being a good seamstress, she made many of her own clothes. While living in Utah she was an active member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Relief Society. She and Bob enjoyed camping and fishing in the Colorado Mountains.

Ronatha is survived by her brother, DeWayne Berges, Meridian, Idaho; sister, Roma Rae (Berges) Sills, Ames, Iowa; many nieces and nephews and their families; cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Bob Holaway; her parents; sisters, Lavina, Lillian, Evelyn, Leona, Denelda; brother, Edwin; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are suggested to the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant, NE. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com.

Graveside service will be on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at 11a.m. at the Grant Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation will be in the morning prior to the burial on Tuesday from 9a.m. to 10a.m. at Bullock-Long Funeral Home.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant, NE is in charge of arrangements.