Ramona Ruth Cusick

Ramona “Mona” Ruth Cusick 

Mona passed away peacefully on April 17, 2024 surrounded by her children in Meridian, Idaho at the age of 94. Mona was born on August 22, 1929 to Lee and Myrtle (Gorder) Richardson in Canby, Minnesota. She grew up on a farm with her three brothers: Darold, Chester “Chet” and James “Jim”. She loved to tell stories about her childhood shenanigans. She graduated from Canby High School in 1947. A child of the Depression, Mona was tough, resourceful, hardworking, and optimistic throughout her whole life. 

She married Kenneth Anderson in 1948. They managed a country store off of Highway 75 in Canby while raising their children. Mona and her family moved to Dawson in 1964 where their fifth and last child was born. Mona worked for several years at Johnson Memorial Hospital and nursing home as a nurse’s aide. She touched many lives with her humor and caring manner. 

After Mona and Kenneth divorced, she managed a cafe in Dawson. “Mona’s Café” became a popular place for the community- especially the Sunday meals which always had an overflowing crowd. After leaving the restaurant business, Mona worked as a seamstress in the Dawson and Clarkfield areas. 

In 1983 Mona married Laddy Cusick. They lived near Clarkfield, MN for many years before moving up to Rush Lake. In April 2009, at the age of 79, Mona was moving into her new home in Big Lake, MN when it exploded due to a natural gas leak. She was hospitalized for three months and the doctors said her survival was a miracle. She endured years of recovery and therapy with grit, determination, and her sense of humor. 

Mona was a wonderful grandmother to all her grandchildren. They all bonded over their shared love of popcorn, sports, and various television shows. She always maintained her sassiness and wicked sense of humor throughout her life. 

Mona had many hobbies including quilting, crocheting, ceramics, reading, finding treasure at garage sales, traveling, and decorating her homes. She also remodeled over five homes in her lifetime, and she was always willing to give her honest opinion on a design. She enjoyed reconnecting with many friends on Facebook. Mona lived in many parts of the country including Mesa, Arizona; Shoreview, Perham, New Brighton, and Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Mona spent her final years in Eagle, Idaho living with her daughter, Beth and her family. She loved birdwatching out the window and watching the family dog and two cats play. After years as a disappointed Vikings fan, Mona picked a new team to cheer for. She loved cheering on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who she referred to as “my boys.”

Mona is proceeded in death by her parents, Lee and Myrtle Richardson; brothers: Darold and Chet Richardson; husband, Laddy Cusick; former husband, Kenneth Anderson; daughter, Becky Serens; sisters-in-law: Arlene and Terri Richardson, and grandson, Matthew Garrigan. 

She is survived by her children: Barry (Tess) Anderson of Silverdale, WA, Beth (Bret) Garrigan of Eagle, ID, Bruce (Kim) Anderson of Frazee, MN, BobbiJo Moujid  of Minneapolis, MN; brother, Jim Richardson of Tulsa, OK; sister-in-law, Marianne Richardson of Monticello, MN; grandchildren: Tyler (Tabitha) Anderson, Dylan (Alysia) Anderson, Sarah (Luke) Garrigan-Shields, Nabil and Samir Azzouzi, and great grandchildren: Jocelyn, Wesley, Eva, and Walter Anderson. 

Mona will be interred at Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, MN on August 23, 2024 at 3:00 pm. Remembrances may be left for Mona’s page at www.AccentFuneral.com.