1930
Donald
2013
Donald Luhning
February 13, 1930 — January 28, 2013
Donald W. Luhning, 82 of rural Battle Lake passed away Monday, January 28, 2013 at the Good Samaritan Center in Battle Lake, Minnesota.
Donald William Luhning was born on February 13, 1930 the son of William Gerhardt and Elsie Henrietta (Kemnitz) Luhning on the Luhning family farm which has been in the family for over one hundred years. Donald attended Balmoral School District 131 through the eighth grade, then discontinued his education to help his dad farm. They raised purebred Guernsey milk cows, hogs and farmed mostly with horses which Don enjoyed very much. He broke a lot of draft horses to drive and saddle horses to ride, for himself and other people. He also did a lot of logging. On November 13, 1953 he was drafted into the U.S. Army for a period of two years. His basic training was at Ft. Bliss, Texas near El Paso. When he came home on leave after basic training he married his best friend and true love Annetta Christensen, who was teaching school in North Dakota at the time. They traveled to Aberdeen, South Dakota and were married by Reverend Harold Trost at the United Methodist Church. He then returned to Ft. Slocum, New York where he operated diesel generators to power anti-ballistic missiles and Annetta returned to teaching at Merricourt, North Dakota. Annetta joined him in New York during the summers. He was honorably discharged from the service in November of 1955 and was honored with the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. They both returned to the farm that Don had purchased prior to his military service. Annetta continued teaching in Minnesota for awhile and then retired to be a farmer's wife. They raised purebred horses, beef cattle and hogs. They also continued operating Shady Oaks Riding Stable which he and his brother, Roger started in 1948.
Don was always interested in showing what draft horses had done in American Agriculture history. He and Annetta scoured the country searching for antique equipment and with the help of horsemen, neighbors, relatives and many friends the show called Bonanza Days was started in 1969 and ran for twenty-one years, his mission was accomplished.
He served on the Ottertail Township board as supervisor for forty-two years and enjoyed working with some wonderful township board members as well as the general public. He was a member of the Ft. Ransom North Dakota Sodbuster's Association and attended their historical show annually. He also was a member of the Central Minnesota Draft Horse Association.
Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Annetta and his two sons, Lamont and Donavon and their families. Lamont and Sara (Behl) have four children: Jill (Mike Hagen) and their son, Wyatt of Great Falls, Montana, Amanda (Matthew) Shaw and their daughter, Megan of rural Henning and Will and Alicia of rural Battle Lake. Donavon and Joni (Behl) and their eight children: Ashley Easton (Andrew) of Fargo, Zachary Henry (Kari) of Moorhead, Lynsey Maloney (Casey) and daughter, Savannah of rural Deer Creek, Jared, Mercedes, Drew, Isabelle and Octavia of rural Battle Lake. Don's brother, Roger survives him as well as many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Elsie, sister-in-law, Josephine Christensen, brothers-in-law, Bill Christensen, Jack Christensen and Arvin Christensen and also many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Memorial Service: 11 am, Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the St. John's Lutheran Church of Ottertail
Visitation: one hour prior to the service.
Clergy: Rev. Karl Weber
Military Honors: Minnesota National Guard
Interment: St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Ottertail
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake
Condolences: www.glendenilson.com
Donald William Luhning was born on February 13, 1930 the son of William Gerhardt and Elsie Henrietta (Kemnitz) Luhning on the Luhning family farm which has been in the family for over one hundred years. Donald attended Balmoral School District 131 through the eighth grade, then discontinued his education to help his dad farm. They raised purebred Guernsey milk cows, hogs and farmed mostly with horses which Don enjoyed very much. He broke a lot of draft horses to drive and saddle horses to ride, for himself and other people. He also did a lot of logging. On November 13, 1953 he was drafted into the U.S. Army for a period of two years. His basic training was at Ft. Bliss, Texas near El Paso. When he came home on leave after basic training he married his best friend and true love Annetta Christensen, who was teaching school in North Dakota at the time. They traveled to Aberdeen, South Dakota and were married by Reverend Harold Trost at the United Methodist Church. He then returned to Ft. Slocum, New York where he operated diesel generators to power anti-ballistic missiles and Annetta returned to teaching at Merricourt, North Dakota. Annetta joined him in New York during the summers. He was honorably discharged from the service in November of 1955 and was honored with the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. They both returned to the farm that Don had purchased prior to his military service. Annetta continued teaching in Minnesota for awhile and then retired to be a farmer's wife. They raised purebred horses, beef cattle and hogs. They also continued operating Shady Oaks Riding Stable which he and his brother, Roger started in 1948.
Don was always interested in showing what draft horses had done in American Agriculture history. He and Annetta scoured the country searching for antique equipment and with the help of horsemen, neighbors, relatives and many friends the show called Bonanza Days was started in 1969 and ran for twenty-one years, his mission was accomplished.
He served on the Ottertail Township board as supervisor for forty-two years and enjoyed working with some wonderful township board members as well as the general public. He was a member of the Ft. Ransom North Dakota Sodbuster's Association and attended their historical show annually. He also was a member of the Central Minnesota Draft Horse Association.
Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Annetta and his two sons, Lamont and Donavon and their families. Lamont and Sara (Behl) have four children: Jill (Mike Hagen) and their son, Wyatt of Great Falls, Montana, Amanda (Matthew) Shaw and their daughter, Megan of rural Henning and Will and Alicia of rural Battle Lake. Donavon and Joni (Behl) and their eight children: Ashley Easton (Andrew) of Fargo, Zachary Henry (Kari) of Moorhead, Lynsey Maloney (Casey) and daughter, Savannah of rural Deer Creek, Jared, Mercedes, Drew, Isabelle and Octavia of rural Battle Lake. Don's brother, Roger survives him as well as many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Elsie, sister-in-law, Josephine Christensen, brothers-in-law, Bill Christensen, Jack Christensen and Arvin Christensen and also many cousins, aunts and uncles.
Memorial Service: 11 am, Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the St. John's Lutheran Church of Ottertail
Visitation: one hour prior to the service.
Clergy: Rev. Karl Weber
Military Honors: Minnesota National Guard
Interment: St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Ottertail
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Battle Lake
Condolences: www.glendenilson.com
Donald Luhning
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