119 Third Street Southwest ~ Rugby, North Dakota ~ 58368-1797
Chapel of the Cross ~ Towner, North Dakota
Jon M. Stork - President / Licensed Director

Phone: 701.776.6381 ~ 701.537.5130
Fax: 701.776.5916
email: afhrugbytowner@gondtc.com


 

Pastor Brenda Burns

Brenda Lee Burns, the daughter of Duane and Shirley (Johnson) Burns was born on May 16, 1960 in Langdon, North Dakota.  She died at the age of 53 years on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Trinity Medical Center in Minot, North Dakota from injures suffered in a one motor vehicle accident on Thursday, November 7th near Rugby, North Dakota.

Brenda was raised in the homes of her parents, first in York, North Dakota, then Mandan, North Dakota and Rugby, North Dakota where she graduated from High School, the class of 1979.  Following high school, she earned her Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Minot State College then furthered her studies at Northwestern Bible College in Minot, graduating from there with a Bachelors Degree in Theology & Biblical Studies.  At the time of her death, Brenda was completing her Masters Degree requirements in Theology & Divinity from a Christian University in Missouri, via correspondence.  Brenda worked several years in the retail business in Rugby including the Ben Franklin Store and Rugby Hardware Hank, while serving the congregations of Knox Community Church and the Lebanon Lutheran Church in Leeds as their Pastor.  In addition to serving her congregations, Brenda was Chaplain for the Heart of America Medical & Care Centers and the Haaland Estates.

Brenda dearly loved her ministry work, never tired of volunteering, greatly enjoyed music, loved going fishing with her nephew, Jonathon and treasured the companionship and dinners with Balzer.

She is survived by her parents of Rugby; one sister, JoAnn (Mitch Amble) Burns of Rugby; nephew, Jonathon Burns of Rugby; companion and closest friend, Balzer Welk of Rugby; an aunt, Adeline Erb of Minot; several cousins, other relatives and many, many friends.  She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Alfred and Olena Johnson and Roger and Patsy Burns; a nephew, Samuel Burns; an aunt, Delores Harmel; 3 uncles, Raymond Arlien, LaVerne Harmel & Kenny Erb; great uncles, Raymond & Cecil Burns; and a great aunt, Louise Baker.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, November 14th at First Lutheran Church in Rugby.  Burial will be in the Pleasant Valley Brethren Cemetery, rural York, North Dakota at 2:30 p.m.  Rev. Nathan Steen, Pastor of Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church, Rugby, officiate.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Rugby.  A time of prayer and sharing of memories will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.

 


Posted Condolences:

My condolences to the Burns family. While it is difficult to lose someone in our earthly life, we all can rest assured that Pastor Brenda is with our God in Heaven.
Scott Sperry


Our condolences to the friends and family.
Mark Church


I am very sorry about this she meant a lot to all of us, she will always be in remembered in our hearts, she is one of a good hearted lady she will always be in our lords prayers. i will keep you in all in my prayers she is one of a kind i will never forget the good old times that we had together, she is one who brought me a long ways and always will be in my heart. you will be missed by lot of your blessed friends and family.
God Bless ya
Art Carlson


We have prayed daily as Brenda taught us. Initially our prayer was for God to heal her (which he did, but not in the way so many hoped). Now our prayer is for that hedge of protection for the family and that God holds you all in his arms during your time of sorrow and loss.
Jerry and Sharon Harmel


NEVER WOULD I OF GUESSED IT WOULD OF BEEN BRENDA OF ALL PEOPLE I CAN REMEMBER GOOD AND BAD TIMES I AM GLAD SHE GOT TO KNOW MY SON THATS SOMETHING I HAVENT EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO DO SO SORRY FOR THE FAMILY KEEP YOUR HEAD UP LIFE IS TOO SHORT LIvE LIKE EVERY MOMMENT IS YOUR LAST I LOVE U ALL been a long time
Matthew Billman


Brenda was a wonderful aunt to Johnathon and loved her family and with our deepest regrets Grandma Leta, Bernadette, Abbigail, and aunt Vicki .


Will miss a wonderful friend and prayer partner. But now we have you watching over us from above.
Cyndy Thomas


I didn't have the opportunity to meet Brenda in person, but listened to her often on KHRT on Sundays at noon. She was so inspiring. I loved listening to her sermons, the stories, and always a song she would sing at the end. She often told funny stories, or made a joke, then would laugh at her own funny, I always laughed with her, she was so precious. I will miss listening to her on KHRT. I wish I would have gotten the chance to meet her, but in heaven I will. I am sorry for your loss. God bless you.
Diane Harmon


Barry and I are sending you our deepest sympathy and our thoughts are with all that knew and loved Brenda.
Brenda was a 'one of a kind' person.. with a ready smile and a contagious laugh, which will be missed alot.
She loved her LORD and life itself, and now she is 'home' safe, happy and pain free in the arms of 'her Lord'.
We the ones left behind have the heart deep in our hearts and tears ready to flow, but we have to remember her as she would want to be remembered.. With a smile and a laugh and to love everyone.
Imagine the wonderful reunion she is having with all the loved ones that have gone before her, and the awesome reunion we will have with her when it is our time.
Look into your hearts, she is there, always has been and always will be.
RIP Brenda
Sharon and Barry Hart


To the Burns family. Brenda was one of a kind. I have fond memories of her back in Northwest Bible College days. Brenda, Vicky Miller, Wendy Daniels, Kevin Fred and myself used to chum around together. She used to make jokes about her "beauty' and then laugh! Funny thing is that she was a very beautiful person inside and out. She has touched many people over the years and her life was well spent. You did great Brenda. Through Jesus Christ will see you someday soon. :-].
Ron Inches


My Deepest and Sincere Sympathy to The Burns Family What a true inspiration Pastor Brenda was for me as well as her Mom & Dad Her sister JoAnn Mitch and Jonathan she loved you so very much as well as her companion Balzer.We belonged to a prayer group at Little Flower Church a few year ago along with Sister Genevieve and others that I wont mention here but at that time I was so inspired at how she loved her Lord Our Lord! I was in awe at how she loved the bible. Through Storms of trials and tribulation she was there as a faithful friend, she would listen and suggest but she would never judge! She Loved with her whole Heart and Soul. She was Compassionate, Honest, and the most Giving to all....She was a Saint to me as she loved everyone for who they were, always had time for the young, middle aged and the elderly. Please Shirley Duane JoAnn, Mitch, Jonathan, and Balzer I know you are hurting , I am hurting all her family and friends are hurting but we just need to look up, she will be watching and comforting us from above! We have our own special Angel !!
Love and Prayers to you all Nancy Schneibel


Linda and I are saddened by Brenda's death, yet comforted by knowing enough about her to share her faith in everlasting joy.
Jim Miller


Our deepest sympathy,love and prayers to Brenda's family. We were blessed to have her as our little Angel Pastor for the past 15 years. What a blessing! She was of "the old school" as well as the modern age. She treated each Parishioner as if they were the only one. I personally credit her with bringing my son "J.P." to walk with the Lord for the past 13 years before he passed away. And I am sure many others can say the same, she touched many lives. She prayed for her family every week and was so proud of her nephew,Johnathon.
We will miss her very much, but have the comfort of knowing that there was nobody more ready to meet the Lord.
May God Bless and guide her family thru this time and forward.
Love and Prayers, Pat Robbins, Knox Community Church


Brenda will be greatly missed by my husband, my children and myself. She was such a special part of my dad, Balzer's life and through their friendship she became a special part of our lives as well. Her kindness, her laughter and her smile were one of a kind. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.
Troy, Julie, Elsie and Cooper Reiten


My deepest sympathy to Brenda's family. Brenda was a bright spirit and her presence will be missed. May God hold all of you close and surround you with love and support during this difficult time.
Cari Oppen


Our thoughts and prayers go out to Brenda's family. Brenda presided over my Mother's, Ethel Church Bauer, memorial services in June 2013 at the Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren. She wrote and recited the most beautiful poem about my mother's life as an educator that touched us all so very deeply. Thank you Brenda.
Elena Mitchell, Phoenix, AZ


Dear Family:
My prayers and thoughts are with and for all of you. Brenda was a friend of mine at Northwest Bible College. I will always remember her contagious smile and funny laugh. Have not heard from her since college days. So glad that she persued her passion in life in ministering to people.
(Pastor Lane Lavender, Plainfield, CT)




Send Condolences by Completing this Section:

Date Sent:

*Posts are not immediate.  Condolences are reviewed by a staff member prior to posting to ensure proper use of the site.
*Email addresses will not be available to the public.

 

"Quality Care with Quiet Dignity Since 1921"
 
©2012 Anderson Funeral Homes, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Site designed and hosted by NDTC.