Merlin “Merle” John Baumgartner, 87, Valley City, ND, passed away at SMP Health-St. Raphael on May 10, 2023, and is now reunited with his beloved Marie. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Saturday, May 20, 2023, in St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Valley City. He will be laid to rest in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Barnesville, MN. Visitation will be the hour prior to the service. The service will be live streamed, then archived, on a link provided along with his obituary on his tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com. An online guestbook is available there as well.
Merle was born December 27, 1935, to John and Florence (Hawley) Baumgartner at the farm in Rothsay, MN where he attended school, graduating in 1953. He worked on the farm with his father until enlisting in the US Army from 1954-1957. Merle was an Army Airborne paratrooper and medic.
Merle was united in marriage to Marie Kieselbach on April 11, 1959, at Assumption Catholic Church, Barnesville, MN. They were married 54 years until Marie passed away December 18, 2013. They made their home in Valley City, ND. Merle worked as a railroad agent—ticket clerk for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, retiring in 1998 after 39 years of service.
Merle enjoyed hunting, trapshooting, yardwork, snowmobiling, and farming. He was proud to be grandfather to his three grandsons, Jordan, John, and Lucas. He was a member of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, the American Legion, VFW AmVets, Eagle Aerie 2192, Valley City Trap Club, and Sheyenne SnoDrifters. Merle volunteered at the Nearly Nu store for many years.
Merle is survived by his daughter, Debbie (Marlynn) Lunde, Spooner, WI; son, Todd (Roxanne) Baumgartner, Litchville, ND; grandsons, Jordan (Allison) Lunde, Chaska, MN, John Baumgartner, Jamestown, ND, Lucas Baumgartner, Fargo, ND; great-grandchildren, Audra and Reed Lunde, Chaska, MN; sister, Marilyn Ostlund, Fergus Falls, MN; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and Bob Ishaug, Barnesville, MN; sisters-in-law, Kay Kieselbach, Moorhead, MN and Dorothy Kieselbach, Park Rapids, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Marie; his grandson, Garrett Lunde; brother, Donald Baumgartner; and sisters, LaVonne Akers and Darlene Gustman.
The service will be live streamed, then archived, on a link provided along with his obituary on his tribute page at www.lerudmathias.com. An online guestbook is available there as well.