Dwaine Delbert Bauer, 88

Dwaine Delbert Bauer passed away at 12:20 a.m. Feb. 5, 2025, at the age of 88. He was born Dec. 5, 1936 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota to Gottifred Bauer and Faun Adeline Combs. 

His sister Thana Gail was born in 1940. His mother, who had a lifelong heart condition, passed away in 1953 when he was 16. His father was later married to Bonnie Hunt, and together they had his three younger sisters. Robin (Dahms), Diane (Roseberry) and Freddie (Howard). 

In 1955 while attending church camp he saw his future bride, Mary Elaine League, for the first time. He told his best friend Carrol “I’m going to marry that girl”. Which he did on Feb. 11, 1956, after a series of long-distance letters and driving from another state to see her and gain her father's approval.

His first job after leaving home was to go with his friend Carrol (who later became his brother-in-law) to install air conditioners in Dallas. He worked as a logger and in a lumber yard - it was there he was inspired to build homes. He bought a set of books on house construction and during his lifetime built over 20 homes. One of the first construction jobs he had was to build a garage for the very man who designed Mount Rushmore! Later in his life he decided to do something new and taught himself the craft of building outdoor furniture and was featured on the cover of an Arizona Magazine. He was naturally artistic and enjoyed designing his own unique line of furniture.

During their nearly 69 years of married life together they lived in multiple states. It began in Stratton, Nebraska and in a short time they moved to Hot Springs, South Dakota where their oldest son Rodney, was born. They had their first daughter Starla, in Stratton, Nebraska and another son Kirk, in Goodland, Kansas. A few years later a second daughter Rhonda, was born in Custer, South Dakota. Their two youngest daughters were born in Whitefish and Plains, Montana - Beth and Kathleen. They settled in Plains with a short move to Fort Collins, Colorado, before moving back. They raised their children in Plains and then lived for several years in Chino Valley, Arizona, with a final move to Kalispell, Montana.

They had 6 children, 25 grandchildren, 65 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

He loved the Lord, the study of scripture and was involved in church ministries of various kinds. He was a generous man and if he saw a need, he did what he could to fill it. He and several other families in Plains started a church fellowship and met in homes. He saw the need for a church building and donated the property, designed and helped in the construction of the Plains Bible Chapel. He was also a founding elder and made lifelong friends that still attend to this day.

Throughout his life, two things remained steadfast, his Faith in God and his love for family. On a freezing night in January of 2001 Dwaine lost his woodshop, his father's apartment and most of their home to a fire. He was alerted to the fire by their little dog Appaloosa (Appy). He tried unsuccessfully to put it out. He did save his father by entering the smoke-filled apartment with his grandson Ransom. Nothing in the shop or apartment was saved. The roof and rafters were burned beyond repair on their home. But the Lord was gracious, and many blessings came from all around. As the fire was yet burning, a neighbor whom he had never meant, showed up in the driveway and wrote him a large check. Family, friends, neighbors and even strangers came and cleared the rubble, stripped the house down and rebuilt it and the shop in a short time. 

Through all of this, Dwaine encouraged himself and those around him with this Bible verse. Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. 

They lost their son Kirk in October of 2021 and Mary passed away in the Plains Nursing Home the following September of 2022. Dwaine lived his remaining life with his youngest daughter Kathleen, in Plains.

His journey in this life was long and full of new places and new beginnings. He had a bold adventurous spirit…with a bit of wanderlust, a love of the outdoors and the beauty of God’s Creation. He was often heard to say “Let's take the long way home” and that… is exactly what he did. 

Dwaine was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Faun, his wife Mary, a son Kirk, a granddaughter Angela, a great grandson Isaiah, many unborn grandbabies and two sisters Thana Gail and Diane Dwaine is survived by his son, Rodney Bauer, his daughters Starla Mallery, Rhonda Mallery, Beth Wagenius and Kathleen Mathers, 24 grandchildren, 64 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and his two sisters Robin Dahms and Freddie Howard. ~I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith.~ (2 Timothy 4:7)

Celebration of Life will be Friday Feb. 14 at Noon Plains Bible Chapel.