On the morning of July 13, 2022, Frederick James Mundfrom was called home to heaven. Trusting in the saving work of Jesus Christ, the words of Matthew 25:21 became real for him: “Well done, good and faithful servant… Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Frederick James Mundfrom was born on the family farm near Cherry Grove, Minn., on March 26, 1929. He was the eighth of nine children born to Edward and Amanda (Bany) Mundfrom. He was baptized at Saetersdal Lutheran Church in rural York Township on June 2, 1929, confirmed there on July 18, 1943, and graduated from Wykoff High School on May 29, 1946. Growing up on the family farm with a large family was fondly remembered by Fred, and he loved to tell stories about that time. His parents, brother Edward and sister Ruby and their families and neighbors were always helping each other. Fred especially enjoyed talking about the various Farmall tractors in his life.
Fred served in Korea from 1953-1955 in the 388th Engineer Company, a pipeline company. He liked to say, “I never saw any combat, but I caused some.”
On May 4, 1958, Fred married Mildred (Milly) Louise Johnson. They farmed by Cherry Grove and then moved to a farm south of Spring Valley in the early 1970s. They had three children, Linnette, David, and Gary. He obliged his children in all their hobbies and loved animals himself, so the farm was also home to horses, dogs, goats, miniature ponies, rabbits, bees, an army of cats, and pretty much any other critter you can think of.
He sold the dairy cattle in 1985 and worked as rural mail carrier out of Cresco, Iowa, from 1987-1997.
Milly passed away from cancer in 2001, and Fred married Dorothy Rath on December 15, 2001. They lived on the farm together until 2015 and then moved to town in Spring Valley. Fred became a resident of Spring Valley Living in March of 2022.
Fred enjoyed life, enjoyed working, and loved his family. If there were kids around, Fred was interacting and laughing with them, and was the biggest kid there.
Fred truly lived his faith. He was active in his church homes of Saetersdal, First English Lutheran in Spring Valley, and St. Johns Lutheran in Wykoff, teaching Sunday School and serving in a variety of leadership roles. He was also active in Lutherans for Life, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, and American Legion.
Some of his hobbies included training and driving his miniature horses in parades, repairing and driving his three wheeler, model trains, and serving on the ground crew for hot air balloons. He loved playing cards and cribbage, was in the 500 Club in Wykoff, loved doing crossword puzzles and was an avid reader. He and Dorothy also enjoyed playing cards with their friends at Senior Dining in Spring Valley. He was a math whiz, and if you had math homework he couldn’t wait to help you. He and Dorothy were in a camping club for some years, and he and his son David dabbled in beekeeping. He loved making things, like flagpoles, Nativity scenes, and benches made from cedar harvested from the farm. When the golf course in Spring Valley was just upriver from the farm, he loved to take the grandkids golf ball hunting in the river. He usually made sure to “plant” some golf balls before the grandkids arrived, so they would be sure find enough to fill a 5 gallon bucket.
It would be hard to describe how patriotic Fred was. His brothers Edward and Gerald served in World War II and he served in Korea. Both of his sons, David and Gary, made a career in the military and his granddaughter Signe served as well.
Fred was the last of his siblings to go to heaven, so he is joyfully reunited with his parents Edward and Amanda (Bany) Mundfrom, and his siblings Gerald Mundfrom (Margaret), Edward Mundfrom (Gladys and also Jean Borgan), Ruby Jones (Ole), Wilma Tallerday Peters (Neill and also Frank Peters), Marie Bany (Ted) and Emma Lou Larson (Elden). He is meeting for the first time a stillborn brother and infant sister, Marion, who died of whooping cough on a Christmas Eve.
He is preceded in death by his wife Millie, stepdaughter Darlene Johnson, and several nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A number of Fred’s descendants were taken to heaven before birth. Fred firmly believed that all life is a gift of God and would want these children’s lives recognized here as well.
Fred is survived by his wife Dorothy Rath Mundfrom, his daughter Linnette Fehr (Lee) of Holmen, Wis., and children Amanda Fehr, Laura Henry (John), Karla Reagles (David) and Daniel Fehr; his son David Mundfrom (Susanne Sohni) of Russelsheim, Germany, and children Carl Mundfrom and Elisabeth Mundfrom; and his son Gary Mundfrom (Roni Lovette) of Andover, Minn., and children Signe Mundfrom, Soren (Abigail) Mundfrom, and Eben Mundfrom.
He is also survived by his stepson-in-law Steve Johnson of Chatfield, Minne., and children Kathie Johnson (Brandon Hall), Daniel Johnson, and Angela Reinke (Andy); stepdaughter Colleen Thompson (Jeff) of Chatfield and children T.J. Thompson (Abby) and Kristi Sollman (David), stepdaughter Beth Rasmussen (Ron) of Chatfield and daughter Camille Rasmussen, and stepson Mark Rath of Spring Valley. Fred was blessed with 15 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren and loved and cherished each one of them.
The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Spring Valley Living and Mayo Hospice for their compassion and care for Fred these last few months.
At every meal our family prayed, “Come, Lord Jesus, and be our guest, and let these gifts to us be blessed.” Then Fred would look around the table and say, “Look at all these blessings!”
Thank you, God, for the blessing of Frederick James Mundfrom.
Funeral services for Fred will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Wykoff, Minn., with Pastor Michael Harman officiating. Burial with military honors will take place in St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Monday, July 18 at Hindt Funeral Home in Spring Valley and will continue from 10-11 a.m. at the church on Tuesday.
Online condolences may be left at Hindtfuneralhomes.com.
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