Ramona Kathryn (Hoyme) Gorham

Mona was born to the Reverend Adolph and Julia (Norlun) Hoyme in Brooten, Minnesota.  Raised in Brooten, she was the valedictorian of her high school class. She attended Luther College and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in medical technology. She worked for many years in the lab and blood bank at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd and volunteered extensively in her church and community.

Mona met her beloved husband Stan Gorham in Minneapolis. They made their home in Brainerd and had three children together. Stan died in 1963, and Mona showed her strength in raising their young children by herself.

Mona loved music, art, theater and travel.  She played flute and piccolo in the University of Minnesota Marching Band and was a pianist and opera buff. Her love of theater took her from volunteering in community theater to season tickets to the Guthrie to visits to London stages. A world traveler, she visited over 50 countries, meeting people, taking photos and playing bridge around the globe. Always active and adventurous, she skied in the Rocky Mountains and trekked through Nepal.

Mona was a lifelong learner and avid crossword-puzzler, and was proud that her children and grandchildren all earned college degrees.  She was a 51-year member of AAUW. She was a fabulous hostess and served countless meals to those who gathered at her table. Charming and vivacious to the end, Mona endeared herself to her companions and caregivers at Northern Lakes Senior Living.  Her family is grateful for the care that she received there.

Mona was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Constance Sundkvist, Audrey Veek and David Hoyme, and her husband Stanley James Gorham. She is survived by her children Martha (Carter) Kuehn, Sarah Gorham and Don Gorham, her grandchildren Amelia (Brad Gausman) Cohoes, Samuel Cohoes, Maya (Michael Paz) Kuehn and Maxwell Kuehn, and her great-grandson Harvey Gausman.

A celebration of Mona’s life will be led by First Congregational United Church of Christ Pastor Leslie Moughty on August 1 at 10:00 a.m. at the Memorial Garden in the Northland Arboretum - masking and social distancing protocols will be observed. Sign the online guestbook at Nelson-Doran.com.

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