Helmer "Morris" Dunrud

A Funeral Service for Helmer "Morris" Dunrud of Fosston, MN formerly of Baudette, MN will be held on Thursday, July 2, 2015 at 2:00PM at First Lutheran Church in Baudette, MN. Visitation will start at 12:30PM at the church prior to the funeral service. Interment will be held at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette, MN.

Helmer Morris Dunrud, 91, passed away June 29, 2015 at First Care Living Center, Fosston, MN. He was born April 20, 1924 in Gully, MN, the first-born son of William and Ragna (Jacobson) Dunrud. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, Gully, MN and attended country school through the 8th grade.  After graduating from 8th grade, Morris worked on the home farm and neighboring farms. During WWII, Morris and his father went to Oakland, CA and supported the war effort by working in the munitions factory. In 1947, Morris  enlisted in the Army and was stationed in South Korea in the security forces as a Morse code operator. Discharged for medical reasons, he returned to U.S. soil, and upon his return to Fosston, MN, he was met at the bus by his sister, Ruby, and her friend, Jeanette Quam. Morris and Jeanette became a couple and married on May 21, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls, MN. Throughout their married life, Morris and Jeanette lived in McIntosh, Mentor, Goodhue, and Baudette, MN. Morris was an award-winning butter maker and creamery operator. When the creamery in Baudette closed in 1970, Morris and Jeanette established Dunrud Dairy and Farm Supply, which they operated until January 1995. During his career, Morris became a first-class A engineer boiler operator and also completed his GED in 1970. Besides working very long hours to support his family, Morris was an engaged member of the community. These activities continued after Jeanette’s passing in February of 1995. He was an active member of First Lutheran Church (Baudette), Baudette Rotary, LOW fair board, the hospital board, and the Brink Center, running and organizing the Senior Chuckwagon for auctions, delivering Meals on Wheels, helping at the food shelf, and bowling on the senior league. He was on the board of directors of Land O’ Lakes. He was once crowned LOW King of Senior Volunteers. In February 2011 due to failing health, Morris moved to Prairie Pines Assisted Living in Fosston, MN, and in May 2012 entered First Care Living Center Nursing Home. Morris was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. We will miss him dearly, but know he is at peace and watching over us with Jeanette.

Morris is survived by his four children, Rebecca (James) Bradshaw (Duluth, MN), Gregory (Baudette, MN), Kristie (Douglas) Dally (Fosston, MN), and Kevin (Tammy) (Forest Lake, MN), his brother, Lloyd (Judith) (Gully, MN), his sisters, Ruby Wold (Fosston, MN), Mavis (Richard) Linder (Bradenton, FL), Marian (Jack) Hansel (Toccoa, GA), and Verna (David) Heaney (Tucson, AZ), fourteen grandchildren, Erin, Kara, John, Timothy, and Steven Bradshaw, Brady, Briana, and Kayla Dunrud, Sara (Kurt) Philion, Eric (Morgan) and Trevor Dally, Laura, Alyssa, and Andrea Dunrud, sister-in-law, Sharon Stewart, special cousin, Harry Dunrud, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette, his parents, William and Ragna, his in-laws, Gerhard and Christella Quam, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ardis and John Jaksha, brother- in-law, Charles Stewart, brother-in-law, Vernon Wold, and foster brother, Donavon Edwards.

 Service Information