Full History

The history of Vertin-Munson Funeral & Cremation Service dates back to 1919 when the business, then owned by brothers Frank Vertin and Joseph Vertin, Sr., operated a funeral home and furniture store in The Old Opera House located at 403 Dakota Avenue. In 1937, Frank assumed responsibility for operating the Wahpeton locations while Joseph Vertin, Sr. and his three sons operated a corresponding funeral home and furniture store in Breckenridge, both under the name of Joseph Vertin and Sons.

Upon Frank Vertin's retirement in 1947, Robert Caspers, Sr. and Russel Munson partnered to purchase

the Wahpeton businesses. In 1961, they moved the funeral home operation from the furniture store to

a new building at 503 Third Avenue North in Wahpeton. At the same time, Caspers and Munson bought the Schmitt and Poulton Funeral Home in Wahpeton and combined all funeral operations at the new location.

In 1961, after a tragic airplane accident claimed the lives of Russel Munson and his wife, Bella, Robert Caspers, Sr. became the sole owner of both the funeral home and furniture store, which operated for many years under the name Vertin's Wahpeton. Bun Munson (Russel’s brother), a funeral director, became the manager of the funeral home and faithfully served area families for more than five decades

until his retirement in 2012; Bun died in early 2016.

In 1987, with the death of Robert Caspers, Sr., his son Craig—who had completed his funeral director licensure at the University of Minnesota—returned to work with Bun Munson in operating the Wahpeton funeral home, about which time the name was changed to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home. Then, in January of 1992, Craig and Sue Caspers became the owners of the funeral home operation.

A dozen years later in 2004, in order to more efficiently operate the three funeral homes in Wahpeton and Breckenridge, Vertin-Munson Funeral Home and Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home/Willow Creek Chapel joined forces in a collaborative partnership. In 2009, the Vertin family of Breckenridge acquired full ownership of the business. Craig and Sue continued in management roles, working hard to provide high quality funeral service to area families.

In late 2015, construction began on a new Vertin-Munson funeral home facility on the property located adjacent to the facility constructed in 1961. The new location was completed in 2016 and opened its doors as Vertin-Munson Funeral & Cremation Service during a grand opening celebration on October 16, 2016. Sue Caspers retired in 2015 and passed away in 2019. Craig Caspers, although retired, continues to help at the funeral home occasionally.