In loving memory of Bun Bunson

 

     It is sad when a person is lost but on the morning of January 6, 2016 twenty six members of the Rotary Club of Wahpeton said good bye and celebrated the life of  Bun Munson our longest standing member who died January 1, 2016.  As a Rotarian Bun (really Bernard but that name never fit) loved and contributed greatly to the fellowship.  No member could recall not seeing him smile.  He was an enthusiastic participant in projects but his greatest contribution came in 1988 when he defied his gender and invited Past President Renelle Bertsch-Merbach  and Joan Carlson to become members, the first female members of the Rotary Club of Wahpeton.  He took a lot of grief for that and several men quit.  Those who opposed him and remained later apologized. He believed that it was was one of the "best things I had ever done." He was a Rotarian for 63 years having joined in 1962.

     Bun was born near Detroit Lakes on April 30, 1923.  His father died when he was 3.  He graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in 1941 and  from the School of Mortuary Science of the University of Minnesota in 1943.  He joined the US Navy where he served aboard the USS Buckingham (APA 141) a Haskell class attack transport. In 1951 he began working for the Vertin Furniture Store and Funeral Home.  In 1976 he married Jeanette (Martin) Twohig.   In 1994 the funeral home in Wahpeton's name was changed to Vertin-Munson Funeral Home from which he retired at age 89.  He served in leadership roles at the Evergreen United Methodist Church; Leach Home Board, Fairview Cemetery Board and was a member of the Wahpeton Masonic Lodge, the American Legion Post 20, the Wahpeton AmVets Club and the Buffalo Club.