Staff

At Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, we know that when a family experiences a loss, there are many decisions to be made. It is very important that when you visit with anyone about any aspect of funeral service, that the person be licensed and equipped to present all important information needed. At our funeral home, we have a full staff of experienced funeral service professionals who are fully equipped to present all the information needed for a family to make informed, comfortable decisions. From the time the first phone call is received, throughout the service and beyond, each of our staff contributes in an important way. We are very proud of our staff, and hope that you will take the time to learn more about them.
 

 Craig and Sue Caspers

Licensed Funeral Director/Owner/Manager

Assistant Manager/Funeral Assistant

Craig grew up in Wahpeton where he graduated from Wahpeton High School and North Dakota State College of Science. He attended and graduated from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD in 1975. Craig worked for First Bank Systems in Aberdeen until 1978. Due to his father's illness, Craig returned to Wahpeton where he and his two brothers managed the family business, Caspers Seven Levels of Home Furnishings. It was during his time as a buyer for the furniture store that he met several individuals in the furniture industry that were also licensed funeral directors. It was these gentlemen, in particular Eddie Larson of Redwood Falls, MN that encouraged Craig to consider the rewarding and meaningful life of a funeral director. In 1985 Craig entered the University of Minnesota in Mortuary Science and completed his degree in the summer of 1987. Craig's father, Robert Caspers Sr. passed away in October of 1987. Craig has had the privilege of being mentored in the profession by Bernard "Bun" Munson who had managed the business for 27 years.

Craig enjoyed his brief career in banking and his 10 years in the family furniture business but has found the work of being a funeral director is the most rewarding and fulfilling. The fact he grew up in the Wahpeton area and is familiar with many families, has allowed Craig to develop a close personal feeling when serving families in the Wilkin-Richland area. Craig has discovered through his funeral director experience that life does not always follow our plans, but it is through caring for others and having compassion for those grieving that help all of us get through difficult times. In 1992, the Caspers owned furniture store/funeral home split and at that time, Sue became associated with the funeral industry. As any wife of a funeral director, she held a variety of responsibilities; from the office management/accounting to visitations/funeral assisting. Sue has found the business to be very rewarding in the funeral field of serving families at a great time of need. Never has she worked where the dedication of the staff is as strong as in this business. Sue and Craig are blessed with two wonderful children; Christopher and his wife Jamie of St. Louis, MO., who is employed with the Edward Jones Corporate Office; and Cassandra, who recently graduated from college. Sue and Craig also have three beautiful grandchildren; Foster, Bauer and Halle.

 Jason Barton

Licensed Funeral Director

Jason was born and raised in Breckenridge, MN. He graduated from Breckenridge High School, North Dakota State College of Science, and went on to graduate from Moorhead State University with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He then worked in the accounting profession until 2003. At that point he decided to go back to school and become a funeral director. He began working for Joseph Vertin and Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge and received his mortuary science degree from Arapahoe Community College in Littleton, CO. On January 1, 2010, Jason began working at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton.

Jason lives near Wyndmere, ND with his wife Colette and their five children, Cindy, Colson, Connor, Jason Paul (JP), and Serenity. Jason and Colette are also foster parents and may have some additional children in their home at any time.

Jason is an active member of the United Methodist Church in Wyndmere where he serves on various committees. He is also a member and past secretary of the Headwaters Lions Club, and a member of the Twin Towns Ambassadors of Wahpeton-Breckenridge.

Jason enjoys spending as much spare time with his family that he can, especially fishing and camping.

 Doug Peterson

Licensed Funeral Director

Doug was born in Valley City, North Dakota to Obert (Hub) and Olive (Anderson) Peterson. He graduated from Valley City High School and then from Valley City State University. He taught at Eckelson and Finley, ND for a total of 5 years. Doug was a member of the ND National Guard for a total of 12 years, being CO of HHQ Co 141 Eng BN at Valley City. He graduated from the Indiana School of Mortuary Science in September 1973. He worked at the Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, training under Bun Munson for 4 years. He married Judith Ann Rudolph in 1974 at Bethel Lutheran Church, Wahpeton. The family moved to Morris, MN for 9 years where both of their sons were born. In 1986, they moved back to Wahpeton where Doug has been employed at the Vertin-Munson Funeral Home since. His wife Judy is employed at NDSCS in the Dental Hygiene Department.

Doug and Judy have two sons, Mike and his wife Melissa of Omaha, NE; and Tim and his wife Jessica of Moorhead, MN. Time joined the ND National Guard.

Doug and Judy are members of Bethel Lutheran Church. Doug is a past member of the Board of Lay, and presently a member of the Global Mission Society both of Bethel. Doug is a member of the American Legion Post No. 20, Wahpeton Masonic Lodge No. 15 A. F. & A. M., Treasurer of the Arabian Knight's Shrine Club, Fargo El Zagal Shrine Center, Wahpeton-Breckenridge Kiwanis Club, the Rough Rider Motorcycle Club, AmVets Club, American Legion Riders, Red River Sportsman Club, and the Wahpeton Eagles Club, Aerie No. 2749. He is a past member of the Wahpeton Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

 Bernard "Bun" Munson

Licensed Funeral Director

Bun Munson started working in the funeral business in 1940 when he was in high school. He worked for his brother and sister-in-law, Russell and Bella Munson in Detroit Lakes, MN at the Englund Funeral Home.

When he graduated from high school, he went to the University of Minnesota for Mortuary Science. He then went on to be a medical hospital core man and mortician for the Navy during World War II. He was stationed on a ship in the Pacific Ocean.

After the service, he went to work for Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge, MN. In 1951, he went to work for his brother, Russell and Bob Caspers, Sr., in Wahpeton, ND. His brother and wife died in a plane crash in 1961, so Bun took over management of Vertin-Munson Funeral Home after his brother's death.

He semi-retired in 1988, but he continues to work part-time at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home. He has three children: Scott, Kim, Carrie & step-son Brian Twohig; plus ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

 Elaine Schneider

Support/Grief Care

Elaine has been working with families at Vertin-Munson Funeral Home since 1999. A graduate of Hillsboro, ND, High School, Minnesota State University¬Moorhead, and North Dakota State University, Elaine retired in May, 2007, after 34 years of teaching. Elaine has been interested in counseling for most of her teaching career, having written grants to acquire training in the field for teachers to use in their own classrooms. She later went on to gain a master's degree in counseling in 1994 and was licensed as a counselor in North Dakota in 1995. Having experienced many losses in her own life, working in the funeral service industry was a natural progression for her.

What Elaine likes best about her duties with the funeral home is meeting so many wonderful families and sharing their grief as she gets to know them. She does much of her aftercare work by phone and written correspondence, but loves meeting with family members for coffee and making home visits, including visits to nursing homes, where a surviving spouse or parent may reside. "Families are so grateful for the smallest kindness at this very difficult time," says Elaine, "which makes my work very gratifying." She also provides literature on grief and loss in the form of "CareNotes" and other literature obtained in her past and ongoing counselor training. "I never want to intrude on a person's or family's privacy, I will provide only the level of support the family wishes, and that may be purely social or none at all". She believes education in the grief process is also very important, as just knowing what's `normal' when grieving is such a reassurance to a surviving loved one.

Elaine has also worked part-time as an addiction counselor, and has been doing volunteer crisis counseling in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault for Three Rivers Crisis Center since 1995. "All types of counseling involve a loss of some sort," she says.

Elaine and her husband Terry live in Wahpeton, where they are active members of St. John's Catholic Church. She enjoys yard work and gardening, walking outdoors, reading, continuing education, and traveling. She has been a member of several teaching and counseling organizations over the years. Elaine will also be providing the school counseling for children at St. John's Catholic School in Wahpeton beginning in the fall of 2007.

 Ann Deal

Pre-arrangement Advisor

A Breckenridge native, Ann graduated from Breckenridge High School, and later from Alexandria Technical College. She lives in Breckenridge with her husband, Dan, who farms in the area. Together they have three grown daughters: Sally, Carolyn and Alicia. Ann is the daughter of John and Marge Lommel of Herman, Minnesota.

Following her involvement with the funeral home, Ann discovered an important need in assisting families who wish to make their funeral plans before the time of need. Ann holds a license to provide life insurance, which helps her in serving families who wish to pre-arrange their funerals. Ann is very dedicated to the families she serves with pre-planning.

Ann is an active member of St. Mary's Church in Breckenridge, the Breckenridge Rotary Club, and Richland-Wilkin Aging Coalition. In her personal time, she enjoys spending time with her family.