Marilyn J. Baumann

Marilyn Jean Baumann of Grafton, ND passed away April 14, 2026, at the Altru Medical Center in Grand Forks after a brief illness and surgery. She was 91 years old.

Marilyn was born October 3, 1934, in Wahpeton, ND to Arnold and Clarice (Bolstad) Peterson. The family moved to a farm in Galchutt, ND when she was young. She went to Galchutt High School where she was a standout basketball player, leading the entire league in scoring. She also stood out academically and was the valedictorian of her class.

Marilyn attended Valley City State College to become a teacher, and later earned a master’s degree from the University of North Dakota. She started her elementary teaching career in 1953 at the Antelope, ND Consolidated School. On June 17, 1956, she married Kenneth Baumann and they moved to Grafton, where she continued teaching elementary classses in the Grafton school system; mainly second grade.

Kenny, Marilyn, Beckie, and Brad moved to California briefly in 1966 before re-locating back to Grafton in 1967. They built their home on Dogwood Avenue and were active within Zion English Lutheran Church and Grafton life. In 1982, her beloved husband Kenny died at the age of 50.

Marilyn moved out of Grafton in late 1983 and lived in various places, including White Bear Lake, MN, Bedford, TX, Wahpeton, NDand Mooreton, ND, before settling back in Grafton in 1994. In 2000, she bought a home at Fountain of the Sun in Mesa, Arizona and lived there independently for nearly 25 years. She loved ballroom dancing with her later-in-life friend, Joe Quinn. She was actively involved in Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Mesa and enjoyed singing alto in the choir.

In 2024, Marilyn returned to North Dakota. After a brief stay at Edgewood in Fargo, ND, she returned home to Grafton in 2025. She became a member of Grafton Lutheran Church and settled into Leisure Estates independent living within the Lutheran Sunset Home complex. She enjoyed the company of many friends and playing cards on a regular basis. Marilyn was always the first one to greet you with a smile and inquire earnestly and with such a good heart about how folks were doing. She was the friendliest, sweetest person in the room, and we will all miss her dearly.

Marilyn was a lady of deep faith, which guided her life. She was actively involved in various church activities wherever she lived. Despite her eyesight failing later in life and other medical challenges, she loved life, she loved people, and she loved the Lord. Marilyn also very much enjoyed sports activities, whether on TV or radio wherever she lived. She loved any sporting activities her children or grandchildren participated in.

She is survived by her daughter Beckie (friend Bill) of Minneapolis, her son Brad (Brenda) of Warroad, MN, sisters LaVonne (Odell) Berg and Patti Rose (both of Grafton); sisters-in-law Eileen Peterson and Verna Peterson. Brothers-in-law Walt Baumann and Jim Berndt. 5 grandchildren: Tom Wahlin, Kate Mol, and Jake Wahlin; Carissa (Reid) Kittelson and Sara (Logan) Wallace; 6 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents Arnold and Clarice Peterson; husband, Kenneth Baumann, brothers Harlan Peterson, Laverne Peterson, and Dale Peterson; brothers-in-law, Luther Baumann, and Ed Rose; sisters-in-law Marian Baumann, Dorothy Baumann, Nelda Berndt, Janet Rood, and Gloria Baumann; nephews Lynn Berg and Curtis Rose.

Funeral services will be Friday, May 15 at 2:00 PM at the Grafton Lutheran Church, Grafton, ND. Visitation will be Friday at the church for one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be at the Grafton City Cemetery.

Marilyn’s family is deeply grateful for the wonderful care she received at the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, and previously at Edgewood in Fargo, as well as all the medical teams wherever she lived, and all the family and friends who helped her along the way.

The family suggests memorials to the Lutheran Sunset Home in Grafton, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch, Church of your choice, or favorite charity.