Arnold Luther Bungum, age 79 of Austin, Minn. died at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Wednesday morning, May 28, 2008 as the result of stroke.
Arnold was born Aug. 31, 1928 on the family farm near Sargeant, Minn. to John and Johanna (Hellen) Bungum. He was baptized and confirmed at Evanger Lutheran Church, rural Sargeant, and graduated from Austin High School in 1946. He joined the Air Force where he served in Japan during the Korean War and upon his return, spent several years farming with his brothers in the Sargeant area.
Arnold married Judy Knutson on Oct. 24, 1954 at Evanger Lutheran Church, and they had five children. He worked for Jordan Builders for 12 years as their shop foreman. In 1968, he went to work for Hormel Foods until his retirement in 1986. Arnold and Judy spent many happy winters in Oceanside, Calif., burned up I-80 on road trips to Colorado and vacationed annually with extended family atPelican Lake in northern Minnesota. Arnold never really retired; he worked every day in his garage and shop, repairing small engines or anything he was told was “unfixable.” His passion was getting hydrogen to work on his pick-up as an alternative fuel source. His life exemplified to all those around him his strong faith in Christ.
He is survived by his wife: Judy Bungum, Austin, Minn.; two sons, John (Barbara) Bungum, Austin, Minn., Michael Bungum (partner, James Price), Minneapolis, Minn.; three daughters: Amy (Steve) Adamson,Rochester, Minn.; Kathy (William) Fischer, Fort Collins, Colo.; Mary (Mark) Jasmin, Rochester, Minn.; ten grandchildren: Matthew (Becky) Bungum,Knoxville, Iowa; Kyle Jasmin, Brighton, England; Jake (Libby Welch) Bungum, Des Moines, Iowa; Ben Adamson, Rochester; Katy (fiancé Matt Rockwell) Jasmin, Fort Collins, Colo.; Megan Bungum, Bend, Ore.; Sarah Adamson, Rochester, Minn.; Bryan Fischer and Grant Fischer, Fort Collins, Colo.; one great grandchild: Ava Rose Bungum,Knoxville, Iowa; sister-in-law: Arletta Bungum, Sargeant, Minn.; brother-in-law: Elton Graff, Clever, Mo.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Vic and Ted Bungum; three sisters, Gertrude Bhend, Olga Hauglum and Lillian Graff.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2008 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, Minn. with the Rev. Ron Barnett officiating. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m., Sunday, June 1 at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin. Interment is at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Dexter, Minn. with military rites by American Legion Post 91. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, The Human Rights Campaign (HRC-Memorial gifts: 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington DC 20034) or donor’s choice.