Harold Lloyd Bauman

Harold L. Bauman passed into the presence of Jesus after a brief illness in a Missoula hospital on March 8. Born to Elsie (Jensen) Bauman and Reinhold Bauman at the family home in Deer Lodge, Harold was the second of three boys. He spent his youth with his brothers fishing, hunting and riding bikes in the Deer Lodge valley. Harold graduated from Deer Lodge schools before attending the Assembly of God, Central Bible Institute in Springfield Missouri, where he served as class president his junior year and student body president his senior year, graduating in 1954 with an emphasis in missions. It was there he met his life partner, Marvel Andersen. They married in Conrad in 1954 and hoped to enter the ministry as missionaries to Africa. That dream did not come to fruition for them. Harold was ordained to preach in Montana and he accepted the role of pastor in Mandan, North Dakota and Molt, Montana. While living in Molt, he also taught at a small country school with a provisional teaching license. Harold made the decision to pursue a teaching degree through Southwestern University in Florida with full credits transferring from CBI. He missed his opportunity to begin school after contracting Hepatitis B from Student Health Services. He and Marvel then answered a call to pastor a pioneer church in Sandusky, Ohio. They stayed for three years as pastor of the small church, making lifelong friends. Harold also worked nights in the Ford plant at that time to support his family. Missing Montana, the family returned and Harold applied to the University of Montana to pursue his education. While there he worked for the U of M as a custodian at the men’s gym and cleaned the Field House after events. Quitting a semester shy of his teaching degree Harold bought a backhoe and entered into his own excavation business continuing his night job as custodian. He was an avid gardener, sharing tomatoes, and fresh carrots dug year round, with friends and family. He and Marvel filled two freezers with garden produce and wild game claiming an elk each year for 25 years before Marvel became housebound. They worked side-by-side, canning an abundant variety of produce. As an ordained minister, Harold served as; interim Pastor, taught bible studies and officiated at weddings and funerals. He did not charge for his services, instead supporting himself with a variety of jobs over the years including, logging, operating his own big rig grain truck and working for an electrical business. His influence for the gospel and his love of missions spanned seven decades, from the first pledge he made to missionaries at age 18 to the end of his life, with much of his resources given to missionaries around the globe. Harold deeply missed his wife of 60 years, who passed away in 2014. He had taken care of her during her housebound years, in a handicapped accessible home they had built for them in Stevensville, overlooking the Bitterroot Mountains and finally visited her twice a day at a Stevensville nursing home where she eventually lived until her death. We believe Harold and Marvel, who spent their lives praying for friends and family members and serving those people who crossed their paths, are now enjoying time together, seeing the fruit of a lifetime of faith. Harold is survived by a brother, Charles Bauman of Deer Lodge, children; Rebecca Waldenberg (Terry), Great Falls, Montana, Steve Bauman, Lolo, Kathye Tangeman, (Cort) Wisconsin, seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. His parents as well as a brother Eugene Bauman of Deer Lodge and his wife, Marvel, preceded him in death. A celebration of life will be held at the Light of the Valley Church in Stevensville on May 19, from 1-3 p. m. Cremation has taken place.