Curtis Yunker, age 89, passed away at Knife River Care Center in Beulah on Saturday, July 10.  A family memorial service will be held at Goetz Funeral Home, Washburn, at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14.

Curtis Clarence Yunker was born September 8, 1931, to Edith (Thyberg) and Clarence Yunker of rural Washburn. He was the third child of an eventual nine children born to this union.  He was baptized on September 5, 1936, at Birka Lutheran Church. Curtis attended country school until the 8 ^th grade, at which time he stayed home to help on the family farm.  Too shy to ask his future wife Frances Vernell Hagen for a date, he had a friend ask her for him, and she said yes.

On February 20, 1951, Curtis began his 3-year enlistment into the military at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, then Airborne training at Fort Banning, Georgia.  He and Vernell were married March 22, 1952, in Beach, N.D., and his young bride accompanied him to Georgia.  While Curtis was stationed at Camp Chickamauga on the Japanese island of Kyusha and then Korea, Vernell stayed in Washburn with her parents, Kate and Mike Hagen, and gave birth to their first of five children, Randy, in March 1953. Curtis was honorably discharged on February 3, 1954. He received the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Parachutist Badge and Combat Infantry Badge.

After discharge, Curtis and Vernell and their young family lived in Wahpeton while he attended Wahpeton State School of Science in diesel mechanics on the GI Bill. During this time Cindy was born in November 1955 (on her Grandpa Mike Hagen's 50 ^th birthday). The family then moved to Jamestown where Curtis worked as a truck driver. Staying home with now four young children (Hal in December 1955 and John in June 1958) wasn't cutting it for Vernell, so the over-the-road trucking came to an end. The family moved to Fergus Falls, M.N. (where Cathy was born in 1960), where Curtis worked for Otter Tail Power as a control room operator. In 1969 the family moved to Center, N.D., where Curtis was a control room operator and later scrubber supervisor for the new Milton R. Young Minnkota power plant until his retirement in 1987.  In 1997 Curtis and Vernell moved into Washburn into Vernell's childhood home, where they resided until their deaths.

Curtis was an avid deer hunter and fisherman before poor health slowed him down. He had many interesting (and hair-raising) stories about growing up along the Missouri River and the buttes of McLean County in the 1930s and 1940s. Curtis and Vernell's love of the river, the buttes and everything outdoors was passed on to their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They always had a huge garden, and canned vegetables, meats, and local berries and fruits.  The grandchildren have many fond memories of riding ATV, sledding, playing in the garden, sleepovers, homemade pancakes for breakfast, many holiday get-togethers, playing on the sandbars, and deer processing and sausage making events at Grandma's and Grandpa's. Curtis and Vernell carried on Clarence Yunker's tradition of annual fish fries for many years.

Curtis is survived by three sons: Randy, Center and Washburn; Hal (Valda), rural Hensler; and John, Center; one daughter, Cathy Bonsness, Washburn; his grandchildren Lacy (Matt) Richter, Kelsy (Tim) Kallis, Haley Waldo, Hollie Daly, Hillary Hatton, Spencer (Danyal) Tracy, Amber (Kael) Melby, Tim (Sarah) Yunker, Michael Yunker, Matthew Yunker, Kelly (Keith) Erhardt, Samantha (Micheal) Henke, and Zack (Mariah Buyers) Bonsness; seventeen great-grandchildren; sisters Patsy Yunker, and Vada (Reuben) Heid; sisters-in-law Karen Yunker, Joan Yunker, and Vickie Hagen; brother-in-law Jay (Sandy) Hagen; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Curtis and Vernell always had pets, their last one being beloved dog Sadie.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents; wife Vernell on February 5, 2020; daughter Cindy on February 27, 2021; daughter-in-law Debbie Yunker; grandson Dusty Yunker; brothers Orland, Barney, Gerry, Terry, and Johnny; and sister JoAnn.

The family would like to thank the following for their kind and diligent care of Dad in his declining years: The staff at Knife River Care Center in Beulah, particularly granddaughter Lacy Richter; Dr. Ryan Hoovestol and staff at the Bismarck VA clinic; and Sue Wardner, Kaitlyn Wirtz and Amanda Schmidt and staff at the CHI St. Alexius Washburn clinic. Also thank you to Wilton Meals On Wheels and the Washburn volunteer meal deliverers for the many meals provided to Curtis and Vernell.