Erna Mae Baerg

Erna Mae Baerg, age 90, died on September 23, 2025 in her home in Butterfield, MN.

Visitation will take place Friday, September 26, 2025 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel and will continue on Saturday, September 27 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 27 at 1:00pm at Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake.

Interment will take place at the First Mennonite Church Cemetery, in Butterfield, MN.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake, Minnesota.

On line condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Erna Mae Buller was born on September 15, 1935 in York County, Henderson, Nebraska in a 3 room house. She was the third daughter of five to her parents, David E. and Marie (Thieszen) Buller. At the age of 5, she was sitting on her mother's lap in the kitchen of their home and asked if she would help her accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. This began Erna's love for the Lord and her faithfulness to tell others about Him. Erna was baptized on June 1, 1952 by Rev. Arnold Nickel, had received membership of the Bethesda Mennonite Church in Henderson, Nebraska and enjoyed the growth in her faith along with the fellowship of the other members.

Erna worked very hard on the farm with her dad. At the age of 5, she milked cows by hand. She drove the tractor to do field work. Her favorite tractor on the farm was an Oliver 66. Erna attended country school, District 30 and 37 in York County, Nebraska. Her first language was low German. While in District 30 school, she memorized many Bible verses and learned Psalm 23 by her teacher Irene Friesen. Erna helped others by housecleaning, babysitting, detasseling corn, and waitressing at the Henderson cafe. Erna graduated from Henderson High School in 1954. After graduation, she worked in the hot lunch department until she moved with her family on a farm north of Butterfield. It was during this time that she transferred her church membership to Bethel Mennonite church in Mountain Lake. She worked at Butterfield Cafe from January 1956 - 1958, she also worked at Butterfield Foods from January 1956 - June 1959. On March 29, 1958, she married Melvin Baerg in a beautiful evening service. Together, they attended and were members of First Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake. Erna sold Stanley Home products for 20 years. She worked at Green Giant for 1½ years, starting June, 1978. In May, 1984, she returned to work at Butterfield Foods. After Melvin passed away, she became a member of the Immanuel Mennonite church in Delft, Minnesota. Erna continued working and sharing the word of God by giving out Gideon Bibles, telling people what the Lord has done for her, singing songs while processing chickens at Butterfield Foods. She was forced to retire in February of 2012 when she had a brain aneurysm; she had worked at Butterfield Foods for 28½ years by this time.

Erna enjoyed cooking and baking. Her cinnamon rolls were the favorite of the North Butterfield Church 4th of July picnic (the Steinle's would gladly take leftovers home). Erna enjoyed hosting people in her home for meals. After Melvin passed away, she put up a new home and it was much easier to entertain. When the new home was ready to move in, she held a dedication and blessing service on her birthday in 2002. This was one of her favorite events and began the yearly tradition of inviting Immanuel Church people for Sunday noon meal, serving the meal on her different sets of china.

Erna enjoyed singing and especially singing to those that had birthdays. Erna was a faithful prayer warrior. Many times a day she would pray for those around her and her family. She enjoyed attending many different church functions, this continued to enrich her faith and love for the Lord.

She loved being grandma so very much. She loved it when the grandchildren and great grandchildren would stay for night. Many different times she would tell them stories of when she was growing up. They especially liked the "bull" story and the "Ern, Ern" story. Erna appreciated all the people that came to visit her through the years and especially the "grandma sitters" - Richard and LaDonna Stout, Marilyn Stoesz, Arlene Dick, to name a few.

Erna is survived by her five children and their spouses: Calvin (Carol) Baerg, Coon Rapids, MN; Devon (Cindy) Baerg, Butterfield, MN; Berdon (Angela) Baerg, Butterfield, MN; Cheryl (Perry) Hofmann, Mt. Lake, MN; Diane (Ken) Harder, Butterfield, MN; 12 grandchildren: Rachel (Jeff) Alden, Michelle (Jamie) Shumski, Alex (Samantha) Baerg, Andrew Baerg, Keith Baerg, Cassandra Baerg, Patricia (Robert) Bartell, Elizabeth (Avery) Thiessen, Katherine (Bryan) Bustamante, Victoria Hofmann (Maleek Stewart), Christina Hofmann, John Bergeman; 20 great-grandchildren: Bo, Charlie, Emmelia Nadeau; Theodore Baerg; Kari (Josh) Else, Dustin Hagen; Caleb, Deserea, Harlee, Libertee Blekestad; Sonny, Isaiah, Keyanna, Adrianna Baerg; Eli, Owen, Liam Bartell; Elena, Mateo Bustamante; Eleanor Thiessen; 5 great-great grandchildren: Eden, Anna, Kori Else, Erik, Everleigh Hagen; sisters: Esther Warkentin, Edna Regier, Elfrieda (Harvey) Harder, Elvina (Dennis) Harder, many nieces and nephews. She is Preceded in death by her parents, David E. and Marie Buller; husband, Melvin Baerg; aunts and uncles; brothers-in-law, Eldon Warkentin and John J. Regier, and granddaughter, Amy Francis.