Edward N. Yunker, age 99 of Washburn, ND died Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at the Prairieview Nursing Home in Underwood.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 AM Monday, April 5 at the Birka Lutheran Church of rural Washburn, with Rev. Joel Sherer officiating.

Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Sunday at Goetz Funeral Home in Washburn, and will continue Monday, one hour prior to time of service at the church.

Edward was born April 19, 1910 at Manhaven, ND, near present-day Pick City. He was the fourth of ten children born to John and Alma (Youngquist) Yunker. He attended Conklin Rural and Washburn Schools. Edward grew up along the Missouri River and lived nearly all his life in McLean County. In his younger years, he worked harvesting ice, cutting and selling firewood, helping neighboring farmers, and mining coal. During the Great Depression years, he was enrolled as a W.P.A. worker. He rented farmland and eventually bought his own farm along the Missouri River, west of Washburn.

Edward married Irene Thyberg in 1934. They had one daughter, Shirley. Irene died in 1937. Edward then married Anna Thyberg, Irene's sister, on October 17, 1940 in Underwood. Together they had six children. Annie died in 1996.

Edward was a lifetime member of Birka Lutheran Church, and when the newly remodeled Birka Church burned in 1953, Edward, along with other members of the church, built the present-day structure. He was a member of the Washburn School Board, and served as president in the early 1960's. He enjoyed being outdoors on the farm. In his later years, Edward was involved with the Washburn Senior Citizen Center. He cleared snow from neighborhood sidewalks through his 97th year. He enjoyed woodworking and hosting 4th of July and Christmas gatherings. Although his vision failed in his later years, he loved to listen to the voices of his family members and his grandchildren at play.

He is survived by six children and their spouses: daughter, Shirley & Bruce Nelson, Washburn; daughters-in-law, Patty Giddings, Denver, CO, & Marilyn (Mitchell) Yunker of Goodlettsville, TN; daughter, Marilyn & Lyle Luttrell, Longmont, CO; son, Gordon & Mary Yunker, Radcliffe, KY; son, Doug & DeAnn Yunker, Washburn; daughter, Rebecca & Robert Salveson, Bismarck; daughter, Kathy & Jim Kaiser, Washburn. He has sixteen grandchildren: Julie (Nelson) and Wayne Petersen; Brian and Bonnie Yunker; Lori (Luttrell) and Jason Olson; Kim (Luttrell) and John Tucker; Ginger (Yunker) and Tim Adcox; John and Mandy Yunker; Shanara (Yunker) and David Lassig; Phaidra Yunker; Nora, Emily, and Mary Salveson; Ellen (Kaiser) and Micah Doebler; Charles, Joseph, and Andrew Kaiser. Edward's great grandchildren are: Ben and Shawna Petersen; Katie (Petersen) and David Goetz; Dane Petersen; Alex Olson; Jake and Josh Tucker; Grace, Claire, and Ethan Adcox. His great-great grandchildren are: Michael Gerlach, & Trey Petersen. He is also survived by two sisters; Aleda Martin, Mandan; & Agnes Keck, Pearce, AZ; and one sister-in-law, Amanda Thyberg, Washburn; also many nieces and nephews.

Edward was preceded in death by his wife Irene, wife Anna, one son, Donald Yunker, one grandson, T. J. Nelson, two brothers, & five sisters.