Ramona Grace Small Govig, daughter of Avery and Grace Stinton Small, was born Dec 24, 1928 in Akron, Iowa. She went home to be with the Lord Dec 17, 2020, at Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.

Ramona was affectionately called Monie by her family. She was ninth in a family of 13 surviving siblings. She had two older sisters, five older brothers, and five younger brothers. Ramona graduated from Akron High School in 1947. She went on to work at a local bank, this is where she met Robert, when he came in to do some banking. They were married January 21, 1950. In the early years of their marriage, they traveled for Robert's work throughout Nebraska and Iowa. In 1952, they moved to Grant, Iowa to run Robert's family farm. They lived there until his death in May 1971. Four children were born of this union: Rose Marie, Roger, Richard, and Renee.

Following Robert's death, Ramona and her family moved to Griswold, Iowa. She was employed by Ross's Grocery Store and the Griswold Public Library. In the early 80s, Ramona moved to Atlantic, Iowa and was the Head Librarian at the Atlantic Public Library. In 2006, she moved with her daughter Rosie to Sioux City, Iowa to be closer to extended family. In 2012, she and Rosie moved to Arlington Heights, IL. In 2016, Ramona made her final home at Heritage House, where she resided in Assisted Living until her passing.

Ramona had many hobbies, the most well known being handwork and reading. She loved to sew, embroider, and crochet. Ramona most recently worked on the project "Little Dresses for Africa." When her grandchildren were young, she worked tirelessly to make their Christmas gifts, most notably being the year she made each one of them a Cabbage Patch doll. She never tired of seeing the joy on her family members' faces when giving them something she knew they would love. She also loved to read, often reading a book in just a couple day's time. She was always available to read a story to her children or grandchildren, instilling a love for books in many of them. She loved children, and children adored her. She loved each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren dearly, and each one of them will carry beautiful memories of their time spent with her.

Ramona was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; granddaughter, Ann Jacobson; parents, Avery and Grace; sisters, Vernice (Basil) Blum, Wilma (Lyle) Baldwin, and Karen; brothers, Kenneth (Evelyn), William, Ivyl (Phylis), Eldon, Clayton (Marilyn), Roscoe (Evelyn), Clinton, and Fay (Burma), Vernard.

Ramona is survived by her four children: Rose Marie of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Renee of Jupiter, Fla., and sons Roger (Karlee) of Red Oak and Richard (Kathy) of Lewis; eight grandchildren: Rachel (Kedron) Bardwell of Indianola, Iowa, Melanie (Clayton) Muller of Waukee, Iowa, Ryan (Tiffany) Govig of Sioux Center, Iowa, Meagen Govig, Grandson Doug Jacobson both from Bloomington, Minn., Amanda (Andrew) Freeman of Minooka, Ill., Alexander Annan of Arlington Heights, Ill., and Gabrielle Carroll Jupiter, Fla.; three great-granddaughters and nine great-grandsons; two brothers, Jim( Edith) Small of Akron, Iowa, and Gayland (Selma) Small of Akron, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Jo Small of Akron, Iowa, and Kay Small of Dunlap, Ill.. Additionally, she is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be directed to the family. A service will be held at a later date. Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.