Vida, Montana – Bernard Edgar Wanderaas, loving Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle, Cousin and Friend passed away peacefully, at the TenderNest, in Billings, Montana on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, surrounded by his loving family.
God abundantly blessed Bernard with a very full and beautiful life. God also blessed him with many special qualities that would greatly enrich the lives of so many family and friends. Growing up on the wide open homestead prairies of eastern Montana, would bring Bernard to wear many different hats during his busy 91 years of a life well lived.
Born the fifth child to Norwegian homesteading parents, Alfred and Regina (Christopherson) Wanderaas on June 13, 1924 on the family farm near Vida, he began developing the character, qualities and traits that would serve him and family so well.
Bernard loved to learn! He began his education at Southview School on land donated from his Mother’s homestead in McCone County. He went on to graduate from Wolf Point High School in 1942.
After farming with his parents for two years he volunteered to wear a new hat by enlisting in the US Navy in 1944 just following D-Day. He served his country during World War II as a Gunners Mate, 3 rd Class, sailing on the US Navy Minesweeper Caravan in the South Pacific. Upon being honorably discharged in June 1946, Bernard returned home to begin farming again.
He attended Montana State University for agricultural studies. After certifying as an instructor for the Vocational Institutional On-Farm Training for Vets Program he returned to Wolf Point High School to train World War II Vets. It was here he was asked to assist the new Home Economics teacher, Ruth Blair, with repairing her classroom film projector. Not long after that, she became the love of his life and the two were married on October 9, 1952 in Topeka, Kansas and began working and raising a family of seven on the farm that now has involved third and fourth generation family members. They celebrated their 50 th wedding anniversary in 2002.
The years to follow this happy union were filled with the pursuit of farming and raising seven “wild and woolly” children and keeping up with all of their activities, endeavors and educational pursuits. He saw the farm through the transition of many advances and in 1960 he was awarded as the Jaycee Outstanding Farmer of his district. He established a Custom Harvest Operation taking his fleet of New Holland combines as far south as Texas and as far north as Calgary, Alberta in the 70’s and early 80’s. Many of his own children were often part of the crew. He made lifelong friends along the way and even gained a son in law.
In 1986, Bernard and Ruth passed on the mantel of farming to the next generation and began the joys of retirement and time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gardening, travelling, visiting with relatives and time at the family cabin delighted their days. A major highlight came in 1997 when he and Ruth went on a family trip to Norway to see the original Wanderaas farm as well as meet and spend time with his Aunt and cousins.
Sadly his bride of 57 years passed away in January of 2009. Optimistically embracing that life must go on he began the challenge of adjusting to living independently with loving support from family and friends.
In 2012, Bernard was honored to participate in the Big Sky Honor Flight Program to Washington D.C. Accompanied by his son David and neighbor and fellow veteran, Eddie Olson, they visited the World War II Memorial and other monuments. As veterans, Bernard and Eddie, had the additional honor as serving as the Co-Grand Marshals for the 2013 Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede.
In 2013, Bernard’s healthy independent life was set back when he suffered a stroke. Putting on this new hat as a stroke survivor, he rose to meet the challenges that would come with the help of loving family and attentive staff.
Out of all the hats that Bernard wore, the most significant was that of a loving family man and friend.
Survivors include: sons, David Wanderaas (Kim) of Harlowton and Steve Wanderaas (Cathy) of Vida; daughters, Camille Spitzer (Bill), Melody Dobson, and Bernadine Strange (Mike) all of Billings, Bonnie Bohmbach (Clark) of Charlson, North Dakota, and Sylvia Koitmaa (Mark) of San Jose, California; sister-in-law, Rose Mary Gaspari (Dick) of Roseville, California; as well as his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ruth, an infant daughter, sisters, Helen Youst and Nellie Foster, brothers, Arthur, Harold, and Leonard Wanderaas, and son-in-law Terry Dobson.
A family service will be held at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point on Sunday, February 14 th at 7 p.m. A Celebration of Bernard’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 15 th at First Lutheran Church of Wolf Point, Montana. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery following the service. A luncheon will be held at the church following graveside services. Condolences may be left at www.claytonstevensonchapel.com . Arrangements have been entrusted to Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point, Montana. Should one desire, memorials may be made to Riverstone Hospice Billings, Montana or First Lutheran Church, Wolf Point, Montana or memorials of one’s choice.