Vernon "Vern" Wagner

Vernon “Vern” Wagner, 84, Bismarck, died October 26, 2017, at CHI St. Alexius Health, Bismarck. Services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, October 30, at Century Baptist Church, 205 Colt Ave., Bismarck. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck. Visitation will be held from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm Sunday, October 29, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Parkway, Bismarck, where a prayer service will begin at 4:00 pm.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. Vern was born July 17, 1933, the son of Richard and Magdaline (Munch) Wagner on the family farm northeast of Hazelton, ND.  He attended grade and high school in Hazelton.  Vern and Florence became acquainted in the Summer of 1951 and spent time together going to the movies, roller skating, and attending church activities.  On June 20, 1954, the couple was married at First Baptist Church in Linton, ND.  The following eight years they lived on the Richard Wagner diversified farm, northwest of Hazelton, where they raised grains, hogs, chickens, horses, and cattle. The family later moved to Moses Lake, WA, where they managed a hotel for two years, and returned to North Dakota to take over the John Kiemele farm operation.  They continued to farm until 1979 when they leased their farmland to neighbors and traveled the country for several years.  In 1981, Vern accepted a seasonal job and worked for the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. God and church attendance has always been important in Vern and Florence’s lives.  Vern and his family enjoyed boating, water skiing, snowmobiling, motor cycling, hunting, and fishing, as well as playing the guitar.  Vern is survived by his wife, Florence, Bismarck; his daughter, Wanda (Paul) Johns; grandsons, Ross and Paul; and his sisters, Ellenora Schultz, Luella Maier, Vye Olson. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Raymond, O’Neil, Elmer, William, Emil; and two brothers-in-law.