Ann Luhning

Annetta Luhning, 87 of rural Battle Lake died Thursday, December 1, 2022, at Sanford Health in Fargo. 

Annetta Joanne Luhning was born on April 9, 1935, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota the daughter of Herbert Sr. and Alta (Jacobs) Christensen.  She attended country school, then attended and graduated from Battle Lake High School in 1952, and continued her education with the Teachers Training School in Fergus Falls.

Annetta married her best friend and true love Don Luhning, who was serving with the U.S. Army while she was teaching school in North Dakota.  They traveled to Sisseton, South Dakota and were married.  Don returned to Ft. Slocum, New York and Ann returned to teaching at Merricourt, North Dakota.  Annetta joined him in New York during the summer.  After his Army discharge they returned to the farm that Don had purchased prior to his military service.  Annetta continued teaching for a while and then retired to help operate Shady Oaks Riding Stable which Don and his brother, Roger, started in 1948 and continued until 2016. They also raised purebred Arabian horses, beef cattle, and hogs. 

Annette and Don were always interested in showing what draft horses had done in American Agriculture history.  They scoured the country searching for antique equipment and with the help of horseman, neighbors, relatives and many friends the show called Bonanza Days was started in 1969, and ran for twenty-one years, their mission was accomplished.

Annetta was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Ottertail, the Otter Tail County Historical Association, Ft. Ransom North Dakota Sodbuster’s Association attending their historical show annually, and the Central Minnesota Draft Horse Association.  Ann enjoyed good conversation, people and especially her family.

Annetta is survived by two sons, LaMont and Donavon and their families.  LaMont and Sara (Behl) have four children: Jill (Mike) Hagen and their children Wyatt and Ashlyn of Great Falls, Montana,  Amanda (Matthew) Shaw and their daughters, Megan, Mia, and Mackenzie of rural Henning and Will (Katie) and their children Weston, Wade, and expected baby girl of rural Battle Lake, and Alicia (Steve) Taylor and their daughters Ariella and Alara of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, Donavon and Joni (Behl) and their eight children: Ashley Easton (Andrew) children Ella, Kennedy, Rhett and Liam of Fargo; Zachary Henry (Kari) children Kinlee and Kullen of Moorhead; Lynsey Maloney (Dustin Schertler) children Savannah, Gage, Jace, Adelynn, Jaydin and Lillyan of rural Deer Creek; Jared Luhning (Mariah Laugen) children Zaire and Sophie; Mercedes Luhning, Drew Luhning, Isabelle Luhning and Octavia Luhning of rural Battle Lake.  Also survived by sister, Rose Ketcham of Battle Lake, two brothers, Herb Christensen Jr. of Battle Lake and Gary Christensen of San Antonio, Texas, and by numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Don Luhning, parents, Herb and Alta Christensen, and by five brothers, Bill, Jack, Arvin, Bob and Clifford Christensen.