Walter Junkin

Walter "Walt" Junkin, age 82 of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 16, 2015 following a long battle with heart and kidney failure at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, December 20 at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. A family entombment service will be held at Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, North Dakota.

Walter Edward Junkin was born on August 31st, 1933 to Floyd Junkin and Adeline Junkin (nee Howley). He spent his entire childhood in Fargo. During his adolescence, Walter developed a passion for photography and music. His first professional photograph was taken in 9th grade. He also developed into a fine jazz trumpet player, touring with the Bob Calamese band, out of Nebraska, at age 17. He also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts.
On March 20th, 1954, Walter Junkin married Karen Jean Amundson at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. They lived briefly in Moorhead, MN, and then purchased the Sauk Centre photography studio owned by Irv Ledel. They moved to Sauk Centre in February of 1956. Together they ran Junkin Studio for 40 years.

Our dad continued his professional career as a photographer throughout his life in Sauk Centre. He was a Past President of several photographic associations, including, the Central MN Professional Photographers Association, the MN Professional Photographers Association, and the MN Society for Photographic Artists. He was known for his work throughout the state, and a large print of Fr. Torborg, of St. Paul's Catholic Church, was displayed internationally. He received numerous photographic awards throughout his life.

Dad played his trumpet up until 2013. He was a member of several bands within the region, as well as leading his own jazz band in the 1950's. He played with the River City Jazz Band, the Alexandria Big Band, the Dick Thompson Orchestra, and the Denny Zaviska Orchestra. He loved big band jazz. He led the Sauk Centre band and the First Lutheran Church choir during the 1950's. One of dad's other accomplishments was the fact that he was the Sauk Centre Honor Guard's bugler for 58 years. He played Taps for many, many veteran's funerals.

Dad was a devoted member of the Sauk Centre Lion's club. He was a Past-President of the club (1975), and had achieved an amazing 60 years' perfect attendance. He was quite proud of his time with the Lions club. When asked how the Lion's meeting went, he'd often say, "We roared."

Walt Junkin is survived by his children, Tracy Junkin of Lakewood, CO, Doug Junkin (Roxy) of Fargo, ND, and Matthew Junkin (Cheryl) of Long Prairie; grandchildren, Gabriel Junkin of Long Prairie, Spencer Junkin of Fargo, ND, and Patrick Junkin of Fargo, ND; and sisters, Mary Jane Halvorson (Jon) of Grand Forks, ND, and Doreen Vangerud (Paul) of Valley City, ND.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 57 years, Karen Junkin, and his sister Doris Junkin.