John M. Aune

John M. Aune, 81, lifelong Whitman County farmer and cattleman, passed away Wednesday, August 31,2022, after a yearlong struggle with heart and lung issues. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 10, at 2:30 p.m. at the Onecho Bible Church with Pastor Mike Nyholm officiating. A private family committal service will precede the memorial.

Born August 14, 1941, in Colfax to Gunder J. and Beatrice (Betty) Wigen Aune, he grew up on the family farm and learned a strong work ethic early in life. He was always kept busy helping his family and throughout his life willingly helped his neighbors and friends when they were in need.

Being the sixth of eight children and part of a large extended family meant that John was always surrounded by cousins, nieces, nephews, and siblings. He was gregarious by nature and was loved by the children, spending hours joking, playing, and laughing with them.

John began his schooling in Hay and later transferred to Lacrosse where he graduated in 1959. He was active in 4-H and became skillful at grooming and showing cattle. He enjoyed participating in sports, especially football. Upon graduation he enrolled at Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland and played football for the Lutes. He later returned to the Lacrosse area and worked for his brother Bud as part of his hog operation.

In 1964 John met Jane Wilmot of Colfax, and they were married the next year on October 23, 1965. They moved to Farmington where John farmed and raised cattle, and Jane taught school at Tekoa. His early experience with cattle in 4-H enabled him to successfully show cattle for farmers in the area at various sales and shows. Their daughter Lisa was born in 1969 while they were living in Farmington.

The couple purchased land in the Penawawa Canyon near Dusty, and their son Greg was born in 1973, several months after they moved. Their family absolutely loved living amongst the varied wildlife there. They reconnected with their college friends and invited them to hunt on their new land which created life long memories for all of their families for many years. As the children grew up, they developed strong friendships and looked forward to the weekends spent at Penawawa. One of the young guests exclaimed, “Opening weekend is even more fun than Christmas!”.

John enjoyed serving on the Board of Directors of the Dusty Co-op, and on the Whitman County Library Board as well as being involved with Meals on Wheels. He was a member of Gideons International and especially loved passing out Bibles to students at WSU and U of I. His faith in God was of utmost importance to him throughout his life. He grew up in the Selbu Lutheran Church and was active in Bible school, youth group, and Camp Lutherhaven. After moving to Penawawa, he was a member of the Onecho Bible Church and looked forward each week to the men’s Bible study and the couple’s Bible study.

John had always been an avid football fan and looked forward to the start of the season each fall, especially the WSU Cougars. One of the highlights of his life was watching the Cougars at the Rosebowl in 1999 and 2003.

In 2014 he and Jane were part of a heritage group which toured Norway. The members of the group included 36 other descendants of Norwegians from Selbu, Norway. The group spent three days in Selbu, and John was able to visit the Aune family farm where he saw and held the handmade cradle in which his father had slept as a baby.

John was predeceased by his parents, sisters Corinne Spitzer and Phyllis Stueckle and brother Dwight Aune. John is survived by his wife Jane at their home in Colfax, daughter Lisa (Michael) Ofenloch, Spokane; son Dr. Gregory (Dr. Christine) Aune, San Antonio, TX; six grandchildren who brought him untold hours of laughter, joy, and pride Abigail and Emily Ofenloch, and Emma, Noah, Sophia, and Elijah Aune. He is also survived by his siblings, sister Ann Emerson, and brothers Gunder (Bud) Aune, L. Gene Aune, and Norman Aune.

The family suggests memorial gifts be made to Onecho Bible Church or Selbu Lutheran Church.