Merle Huhner

Merle L. Huhner passed away on Wednesday, April 26th, 2017. Merle was born on July 12th, 1934 to Reinhold and Edith Huhner on a farm near Davenport, N.D. He graduated from Davenport High School where he met the love of his life and wife for 62 years, Temmie (Heuer). He attended North Dakota State University (NDAC- go Bison!), during which time he served in the Naval Reserve (served on the battleships USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin) and graduated with a degree in Mechanized Agriculture and a minor in Agricultural Economics in 1956. Merle and Temmie were married at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Moorhead MN, June 28, 1955. Merle then took his degree and his love for the land and all the things that grow in it and got a job with the Soil Conservation Service. They called him the “tree man” and his service with the SCS took him and his ever growing family all over the state of North Dakota, first to Grafton, then to Kenmare, then Fessenden and then, finally, to Devils Lake, ND where he retired in 1989. Upon retirement he started working as a consultant to the Ramsey County Water Resource Board. In 1992 he was instrumental in the installation of the Ramsey County Rural Water System. In the 1990's he was also involved with the Devils Lake Basin Water Resource Board and the Devils Lake Emergency Mgmnt Committee. He received a ND Community Leadership Award and the ND Water Wheel Award. SCS and his other post-“retirement” work were his jobs and he loved his work and did it well, but his real passion was working hard to help others. Sure, he would take a break to watch the Twins or a Vikings game, or take you on a casual drive around the countryside, pointing out what crops were growing where and showing you where the water was and where it shouldn’t be, but otherwise he was off to the Masonic Lodge (raised a Master Mason in Devils Lake Lodge #21, exalted, greeted, and knighted in the York Rite, joined the Kem Temple Shrine headquartered in Grand Forks, served as Secretary of the Devils Lake Lodge from 1982-1998, and served as head of the Lake Region Shrine Club and the Lake Region Flag Corps marching unit) or at a Kiwanis meeting (50 year member-Kiwanis Club president, Club Secretary, Lt Governor, and President of the Past District Officers Association) or being a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts or helping out with the Special Olympics or getting up early in the morning to deliver Meals on Wheels or flipping pancakes at some fundraising breakfast at the Masonic Lodge. (He always tested the food frequently to make sure it was good enough for the hungry crowd). In retirement, he spent much of his time working with The Masonic Lodge, receiving his 33rd Degree with the Scottish Rite in Minneapolis MN (although he always kept busy helping elsewhere.). To his last days, already working much harder then one really wants to just to get a good deep breath, he was still concerned about some paperwork he had to finish for the Lodge. Many told him to just let it go, that someone else would take care of it, but he wouldn’t have it, because helping wasn’t something he did, it was who he was. It’s what made him feel good. And if he knew we were putting this in the paper he would tell us not to because he never wanted it to be about him and, if you asked him, he wasn’t anything special. Well, just for now, for a few words, we’re making it about you because you were very special and if you have a problem with that you can take it up with us later. In the meantime you’ll just have to be content hanging out for all eternity, soaking up the love of the countless people you have helped. Merle is survived by his wife Temmie, Fargo; his children, Donovan Huhner (special friend Petra), Lakewood, WA; Jamison (Carla) Huhner, Nashville, TN; Ronna (Friz) Brodell, Warwick, ND; Daril (Ted) Rainesalo, Devils Lake, ND; and Debbie (Ray) Albright, Lakeland, FL; and special daughter-in-law, Kris Huhner, New Prague, MN; 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Raymond “Bud” (Elaine) Huhner, Shakopee, MN; and sister, Louella (Martell) Stenberg, Fargo, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Francis Richardson, Eleanor Larson, Carol Salberg, and Marion Tuskind; and son, David. Masonic memorial service will be at Boulger Funeral Home, 123 10th St S in Fargo, on Monday, May 1st, 2:00 P.M. with visitation one hour prior to service. Reception will be held at Boulger Funeral Home following the service with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Fargo, ND Memorials may be sent to Red River Valley Hospice, Fargo, ND.