Bernard Munson

Bernard "Bun" Munson, 92, Wahpeton, ND, passed away Friday, January 1, 2016 at CHI St. Francis Health, Breckenridge, MN. The Funeral Service will be Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., at Evergreen United Methodist Church, Wahpeton, ND, with Rev. Jen Tyler officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 5 PM to 7 PM with a 7 PM Prayer Service at Evergreen United Methodist Church and one hour before the service on Wednesday. Interment will be at Fairview Memorial Gardens, Wahpeton. Arrangements are entrusted with Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.

Bernard "Bun" Munson was born April 30, 1923 at rural Detroit Lakes, MN (near Munson Lake) to Ernest B. and Anna B. (Beaver) Munson. He attended rural school in Maple Grove Township, rural Detroit Lakes. His father died when Bun was 3 years old. His mother was a registered nurse, so the family moved several times. They lived in several communities and in 1934, the family moved to Mahnomen, MN. They moved to Detroit Lakes where Bun graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1941 and played on the basketball team. He graduated from the School of Mortuary Science at the University of Minnesota in 1943.

In 1943, Bun entered the US Navy, and served aboard the USS Buckingham-APA 141, in the South Pacific. After the service he married Lily Arnett in 1948. The couple lived in Breckenridge, MN and Wheaton, MN. In 1951, Bun began working for Vertin Furniture Store and Funeral Home, which was associated with his brother, Russell Munson and Robert Caspers, Sr.

The name of the funeral home in Wahpeton was changed from Vertin-Wahpeton Funeral Home to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in 1994, in honor of Ben and Russell's memory. During this time he trained seven apprentices to become funeral directors including Doug Peterson and Craig Caspers.

On April 17, 1976, he married Jeanette (Martin) Twohig at Abercrombie, ND. The couple has resided in Wahpeton since their marriage. Bun had continued managing Vertin Funeral Home until semi-retiring in 1987; and continued to help with funeral services and assisting families until the age of 89.

Bun is a member of Evergreen United Methodist Church, serving on the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Memorial Committee for many years; served on the Leach Home Board for 51 years (past president), Past Board Member of the Fairview Cemetery Association and was instrumental in ordering and planting 1500 Evergreen trees at Fairview and Fairview Memorial Gardens; member of the Wahpeton Rotary International since 1951; (became a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 2001); Wahpeton Masonic Lodge (joined the Wheaton Lodge in 1948); Wahpeton American Legion Post No. 20 since 1949; a charter member of the Wahpeton AmVets Club; and a member of the Buffalo Club, Wahpeton.

Bun is survived by his wife, Jeanette, Wahpeton, ND; two sons, Scott (Kathy) Munson, Ft. Gibson, OK, Kim Munson, Dillwyn, VA, a daughter, Carrie A. Munson, Minneapolis, MN; a stepson, Brian (Kelly) Twohig, Flushing, MI; seven grandchildren, Rocquel, Michelle, Angela, Amanda, Russell, Joshua, Paul; great grandchildren; three step-grandchildren, Brianna, Brandon, and Taylor Twohig.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Joel, 1955; brother, Russell and his wife Bella Munson in a plane accident in 1961, and two sisters, Gertrude at 3 years old, and Dorothy Ordal.