Harold "Bud" Gessner, age 87 of Bottineau, passed away on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at a Bottineau hospital.  A private service will be held (masks are required).  Visitation will be Sunday, January 3, 2021 from 1:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.

Harold Edward Gessner, a son of Gerhard and Olga (Trebas) Gessner, was born on April 8, 1933 on the family farm near Russell, ND.  He was raised there and graduated from Russell High School in 1951.  Bud worked on the family farm near Russell.  In the early 1960's, he would travel to Los Angeles during the winter months and worked at General Motors to supplement his farming due to the drought in North Dakota.  In 1959, he started farming in Canada.  On June 1, 1968, he married Avonne (Vellema) Gorder at the St. John's Lutheran Church rural Upham.  Through this marriage, Bud became a father of three daughters.  They made their home on the family farm.  Bud retired from farming in 1990 but continued to help out on family farm.  In 1996, they moved into a beautiful log home north of Bottineau that Bud helped build.  In 2006 they moved into Bottineau.  Bud moved into the St. Andrew's Health Center on September 11, 2020.

Bud was baptized and confirmed at the St. John's Lutheran Church rural Upham where he was active in the Walther League.  In 1996, he became a member of the Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bottineau.  He held several church offices in the ND District Lutheran Laymen's League, ND District Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and volunteered at the Bottineau Braille Center.  He served on the Newburg School Board, the All Season's Water Board,  Farm Credit Services of North Dakota and was president of the Orphan Grain Train North Dakota Branch.

He is survived by his loving wife Avonne of 52 years; 3 daughters, Shelley Klein of Minot, Tammy (Mike) Hall of Newburg and Debbie Nelson of Minot; grandchildren, Bethany (Justin) Hughes, Jameson (Libby) Hall, Jasmine (Jake) Tengesdal, Elizabeth (Zac) Elgie, Jordan (Kayley) Nelson and Alex (Shaylyn) Nelson; great grandchildren, Dennis and Harrison Hughes, Piper Tengesdal, Avery Jordan Nelson and baby Elgie due April of 2021; sister, Lorraine Green; in-laws, Elaine Fiskum, Vonda Olson, Steve and Randy Gorder, and Joyce Gorder and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Egon Gessner, Martin Gessner, Ewalt Gessner, Ben Gessner, Maurice Gessner and Earl Gessner.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Our Savior's Lutheran Church Paving Fund (709 East 11th St, Bottineau, ND 58318), ND Orphan Grain Train (PO Box 1546 Jamestown, ND 58402) and St. Andrew's Health Center (316 Ohmer St Bottineau, ND 58318).

Arrangements were with Nero Funeral Home in Bottineau.  Friends may sign the online register book at www.nerofuneralhome.net.  Bud's service will be live streamed on Monday, January 4, 2021 at 2:00 pm on the Our Savior's Lutheran Church's Facebook page.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at St. Andrew's Health Center for the exceptional love and care they provided Bud for the past 5 months.