Luther Baumann

God called his faithful servant, Luther Frank Hermann Baumann, 88, of Wahpeton, ND, home on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Luther, the oldest of six children, was born on October 1, 1927, to Walter and Martha (Hoefs) Baumann on a farm near Wyndmere, ND. He was baptized into faith on October 23, 1927 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, rural Lidgerwood, ND by Pastor J. Julius Cloeter and confirmed in his faith on July 20, 1941 by Pastor Harry Wians at Peace Lutheran Church, Barney. He attended country school near Wyndmere. His family moved to a farm west of Wahpeton in 1940 where he worked with his father, eventually taking over operation of the farm.

Luther was united in marriage to Marian Ziegelmann on August 31, 1952 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend, ND after a two year courtship which began when Luther's sister, Nelda, introduced them. The couple lived on a farm south of Great Bend and in 1960 purchased a farm north of Great Bend where, in addition to grain farming, they raised dairy and beef cattle, sheep and chickens. His sheep were shown at local county fairs by 4H Club members winning many awards. Their marriage was blessed with three children – Paul, Annette and David who was a newborn when Marian passed away on March 11, 1976. Luther was later married to Dorothy (Herrmann) Gunderson on November 25, 1978 in Norcross, MN who he met at a dance. They made their life together on the farm until they moved to Wahpeton, ND in 1997.

Luther was active in his faith throughout his life - as a young member participating in Lutheran Walther League at Peace Lutheran Church and later as a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. He taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, was a Men's Club and L.L.L. member and held many church offices, including chairman of the church and church elder. His good singing and reciting voice was very distinctive as people would tell him that they could always pick out his voice among all of the others. He was a member of the church's Centennial Committee, planning Trinity Lutheran Church's 100th anniversary in 1975. After moving to Wahpeton he became a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Breckenridge, MN and a Golden K member. Luther was very meticulous in his work, even having other farmers commenting on how straight his grain/corn field rows were. After retiring from farming in 1992 one of his favorite past times was cutting wood in his farm tree grove where he would place perfectly cut firewood in perfect stacks in the barn. He enjoyed taking car rides in the country to do field checks every year even after he retired. Luther loved fishing, square dancing, bowling, camping, gardening, and playing cards. His dream was to one day have a place at the lake; so in 1989 Luther and Dorothy bought a camper and lodged it for many years at Swan Lake by Fergus Falls, MN. He spent many enjoyable hours and days there and on his fishing boat, coming home only in the middle of the week to mow the lawn and do other such errands. Luther was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and was able to enjoy attending three games at Fenway Park. He saw the "the curse of the Bambino" broken when the Red Sox won the World Series in 2004.

Luther is survived by his wife Dorothy, Wahpeton; his children, Paul Baumann Fargo, ND, Annette Baumann and David Baumann, both of Plymouth, MN; Dorothy's children Jeanne (Jerry) Leinen, Rutland, ND, Gary (Jeannie) Gunderson Mound, MN, Don (Jackie) Gunderson Bemidji, MN, Sherry (Doug) Laddusaw Delano, MN, Rick (Celene) Gunderson Loretto, MN, Julie (Kenny) Johnson Breckenridge, MN; sixteen grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren and nine great-great grandchildren; brother Walter (Diane) Baumann, Arlington, TX; sister-in-law Marilyn Bauman, Mesa, AZ; brother-in-law James Berndt, Colton, CA and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Martha, his first wife Marian, his brother Kenneth Baumann, his three sisters Nelda Berndt, Gloria Baumann, and Janet Rood and his brother-in-law Gary Rood.

The Celebration of His Life Service will be Monday, March 14th at 11:00 AM, Grace Lutheran Church, Breckenridge, MN, with Rev. Anthony Ahrendt officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, March 13th, 3 PM to 6 PM with a 5:30 PM Prayer Service at Willow Creek Chapel, Wahpeton, and one hour before the service at the church on Monday. Interment will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Great Bend, ND. Arrangements have been entrusted to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home, Wahpeton.