A 'Furtastic' Endeavor: Runnigen Furs Makes Vets Home Donation

Apr. 11—A years-long effort by a local business is benefiting veterans in a big way at the Fergus Falls Veterans Home.

Public Affairs and Development Director Gary R. Harris, Jr. said that a local Veteran who was a resident at the Fergus Falls Vets Home, Ruben L. Runningen from 2017 until his passing in April 2019, who was originally from Ashby, loved the outdoors, hunting and especially trapping and selling furs.

Ruben was an active member at the Ashby American Legion Post #357 where he was Commander from 2002 — 2003. He enjoyed marching in parades with the Color Guard and volunteering on bingo nights at the Ashby Legion. He proudly carried on his duties at the Veterans Home and was a member of the Army Color Guard.

Ruben was also a member of the VFW and the DAV. Ruben served in the Korean War from December 1948 to December 1949. He was recalled and served from September 1950 to November 1951. Veteran Runningen was honorably discharged from the Army and awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, two Purple Heart medals, the Korean Service medal and one Bronze Camp Star.

Among Ruben's many hobbies and passions was hunting and trapping for the family's fur business Runningen Furs.

So, in 2020, Ruben's son Larry Runningen, a fifth-generation owner of the family's fur business and his wife Jane, son Gage, sister Vicki Dorn, niece Sarah Dorn, Sarah's husband Erick and Nola (great-niece) began collecting hides from various locations throughout Minnesota to raise money for Veterans Recreation and Bingo which Ruben enjoyed.

Runningen Furs placed boxes at C-Stores in Grant and Otter Tail County where hunters could donate their deer hides toward this worthy cause in honor of Ruben and current Veterans. Two lockers (Lake Cabin Meat and Deli Co. in Fergus Falls and Johnson's Market in Flom) donated their hides for the 2023 deer season, a much-appreciated gift as the deer harvest was low. In the four years since the idea's inception, Hides for Veterans has raised nearly $4,500 for the Veterans Recreation Fund at the Minnesota Veterans Homes Fergus Falls.

A check for $1,374 was presented on March 27, by Nola Glocke, Ruben's great-granddaughter, and Erick Blaisdell, Ruben's grandson-in-law, for hides collected during the 2023 deer hunting season.

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