Agnes Adeline Munns

Services for Agnes Adeline Munns, 97, of Spirit Lake, will be 2 pm, Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will begin at 5 pm, Tuesday, May 24, 2015, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake, with the family present from 5 - 7 pm. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Agnes Munns died peacefully Saturday, May 21, 2016 while in hospice care at Lakes Regional Hospital in Spirit Lake, after a short illness and a long battle with osteoporosis. After moving from the family home in Okoboji, she treasured visits from old friends and the new friendships that blossomed with neighbors at Heritage Landing and Welcov Assisted Living. Agnes and the family are especially grateful for the kind and patient care and support provided by staff and aides at Heritage Landing, Welcov, Good Samaritan Home Care, Home Instead, Lakes Regional Home Care and Hospice, and Grapetree Medical Staffing. Agnes Adeline Munns was born May 3, 1919 to Ole and Anne Bothen of Field Township, Nelson County, North Dakota. Her parents emigrated from Lom (Ole 1891) and Ringsaker (Anne 1913) Norway and homesteaded in Field Township. Agnes attended the one-room Field School #4, about 3 miles from the homestead, from January 1927 until 1933. Her brother, James was born in 1923. When she started school the only English phrases she knew were "Good morning", "Happy New Year," and "It's cold today." She began school in town at McVille, North Dakota in the fall of 1933. She was confirmed at Logan Norwegian Lutheran Church in Rugh Township that same autumn. During her high school years Agnes boarded with a family in town because a daily 16-mile round trip commute was impractical. She was graduated from McVille High School in May 1937. Agnes's parents mortgaged their farm to pay for her college education at Concordia College in Moorhead Minnesota, where she graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree on June 2, 1941. Her first teaching position was at Goodridge, Minnesota where she taught high school English, physical education and was the librarian. Agnes went on to teach for 19 years in Waterville, Madison, Princeton, and St. Cloud, Minnesota where she was also department head and part time counselor. Agnes was introduced to George Wallace Munns by the couple she stayed with while teaching in St. Cloud, Brian and Ann Dyson. On September 10, 1960 Agnes married Wally in St. Cloud and they went on to have two children: Gordon in 1961 and Ann in 1963. Agnes eventually went on to teach English at Arnolds Park and later at Milford High School before retiring from teaching in the mid-1970s. Agnes was devoted to service at Grace Lutheran Church where she was a regular at Sew-n-Go, Circle, the salad luncheon, and other efforts. For years, she served as a 'pink lady' at the Dickinson County hospital, runner and treasurer for Meals on Wheels, volunteer fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and as a docent for the schoolhouse at Kenue Park. Those who wish may send memorials in her memory to the Voluntary Action Center in Spirit Late (coordinating hospital volunteers, Meals on Wheels, and other opportunities), Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake, or to the charity of their choice. Agnes was preceded in death by her parents, Ole and Anne, her husband Wallace, and her brother James. Agnes is survived by her daughter Ann Munns and son-in-law Roy Dugger of Lompoc, California; son Gordon and daughter-in-law Lisa (Chaplin) of Stacy, Minnesota; granddaughters - Katie Munns (fiancé Jacob Beyer) of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; Anna Munns (fiancé Kyle Engdahl) of Fargo, North Dakota; and cousin Byron Bothen of Petersburg, North Dakota and his siblings and family. Agnes is also survived by numerous cousins in Norway including Marie Kvissilien and Knut Kongssund of Moelv, Eli Kongssund of Biri, and Synnøve Aukrust of Lom.