Mary Juntunen, 97, of Bowman, ND, passed away on Monday, January 8, 2018 at the Southwest Healthcare Long Term Center in Bowman.

Funeral Services for Mary will be on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bowman United Methodist Church in Bowman with the family present at 10:00 am to visit with friends. Pastor Ron Olson will officiate with burial to follow in the Bowman Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, January 12, 2018 from 12-9 at the Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Home Chapel.

Mary Elizabeth Gerbig was born on May 22,1920 in a bedroom at the ranch in rural Billings County to George and Imogene (Hanson) Gerbig. Mary was the youngest of 5 children. She attended the German country school graduating 8 grades in 7 years. Mary attended high school in Belfield, ND graduating in 1937. She often told how lonesome that shy badlands girl was the first couple years and how glad she was when her brothers got to town to bring her home for the weekend. After high school, she attended Dakota Business College in Fargo for 9 months.
Mary returned to Medora and worked in the Billings County Welfare office, County agents and Billings county Adjustment Agency. She met O. A. (Junt) Juntunen, who was there working at the SCS in Medora and they were married May 27,1944.. During these war years, they had no car, so they rode a bus to Glendive , Montana to get married. Mary and Junt moved to Bowman in 1947. Mary worked as the deputy register of deeds at the Bowman County courthouse until Junt started in the farm equipment business in Bowman with John Rouzie. This later became Bowman Implement Company and Mary was the ever efficient office manager. She enjoyed sec work and bookkeeping and was very organized. To this union, one daughter, Margie was born. Mary and Junt retired in 1971. They enjoyed 14 winters at a retirement park in McAllen, Texas and Mary continued her winters there for 10 more years after Junt passed away.
Mary lived in her own home in Bowman that she and Junt built for over 60 years. She was a gracious lady, independent and a friend to many. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and later great grandmother.
Mary loved the Lord. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and lamplighters circle. She belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron, and was the oldest member of the SW Healthcare Auxiliary. Mary was a 4-H leader of the Lucky Leaf 4-H club and drove lots of chattering girls on several field trips. She belonged to the Modern Homemakers Club in Bowman.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband. O.A. Juntunen, her parents, 2 sisters : Mildred Cross( Norman) and Genevieve Gerbig and 2 brothers: John Gerbig (Effie) -and Morris Gerbig (Ella) . Survivors include her daughter and son-in -law : Margie & Cary Hande, Bowman,ND, two grandchildren: Heidi Hande Weatherly (James) Wheatridge , Colorado and Travis Hande( Jamie) Glen Ullin, ND and three great children: Stella and Ansel Weatherly and Jorja Hande. Other survivors were her 8 nephews and4 nieces and a special cousin and lifelong friend, Victoria Stegner. , Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Memorials are suggested to the www.sunrisefoundationND.org or the United Methodist Church, Bowman, ND

Krebsbach and Kulseth Funeral Services of Bowman in charge of the arrangements.