Orie L. Baumann, 91

Died peacefully on Feb. 24, 2010, at his home. He was born Dec. 1, 1918, in Dupree, S.D., the fifth of seven children by his parents Gustav and Alma Baumann His parents and siblings all preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine; sons Gary (Linda) of Roswell, N.M., Neil (Carmen) of Spokane, Wash.; and daughter Pamela (Bruce) Howard of Lewiston, Idaho; 10 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Orie finished high school in 1938 in Spearfish, S.D. He married his wife Catherine on Sept. 9, 1940. They would have been married 70 years this fall. He loved and excelled at sports. His working years included 20 years as Construction Superintendent for Montana Dakota Utilities Company beginning in Williston, N.D., later transferring to Wolf Point, Mont., and ending as the City Electrical Inspector for Lewiston.

Orie always felt that the most important commitment he ever made was his dedication and baptism in 1942 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. For the past 67 years, he made it his goal to share the good news from the Bible about the most precious gift available to all: everlasting life in the earthly paradise to come. He started sharing his hope in the rural towns of North Dakota and Montana and continued until his death, talking at the end with those he met at the Kidney Dialysis unit in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 13, 2010, at the East Lake Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 3825 Fruitland Lane, Coeur d’Alene.