Valerayn "Val" Birdie Bauer

Valerayn “Val” Birdie (nee Lenarz) Bauer, age 97, died with family by her side on April 9, 2026 in Hastings. Preceded in death by loving husband of 63 years, Frank. Mother to Connie, Greg (Shirley), Barb (Dick Lieder), Mary (Alan Walter), Maureen (Pat Lynch), Mike (Rhonda), and Carol (Peter Lokhorst). Grandma of 14, great-grandma of 21, and dear friend to many.

Val was born to Christine (Berg) and Raymond Lenarz in Williston, ND on February 25, 1929 and with her sister, Gayle, lived much of her early life in Crosby and Minot, ND. After graduating from St. Leo’s High School and Minot State College, she married Frank Bauer in 1950 and lived in Williston until moving to South St. Paul in 1960, where they raised their seven children and founded Bauer Floor Covering. After retiring, Val and Frank were snowbirds in Mesa, AZ, moved for several years to the lake near Danbury, WI, and settled eventually in Hastings, MN.

Val and Frank were active volunteers in the community and set an example of community service to their children. Val and Frank also loved traveling with the Road Scholar Learning Adventures. When you hear the church bells chime at St. John Vianney Church, you can think of her and her leadership in funding the bell tower. She was a member of the Council of Churches in South St. Paul that founded Neighbors, Inc. in 1972, a social services organization formed to combat poverty caused by the local meatpacking industry’s decline. Val served on the South St. Paul Police and Fire Commission, was a dedicated member of the Divine Redeemer Hospital Auxiliary and sang for many years with the Divine Redeemer Auxiliary Girl Singers (DRAGS), as well as the Leisure World, Arizona Mixed Chorus. Val was also an avid member of the AAUW (American Association of University Women) in Mesa. She also served for more than 20 years with the Regina Hospital Auxiliary, and the Hastings Friends of the Library. Val was active with the Hastings Senior Center and played bridge regularly and the family is so grateful for the great friends she met there who brought so much joy to her life.

Val’s family sincerely thanks the Benedictine Assisted Living staff, Allina Hospice, the Regina Hospital staff, and Dr. Diana Bussey, P.A., for their loving care.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Hastings with a visitation one hour prior to Mass and a luncheon and gathering follows Mass. Private interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. If you are unable to attend, the livestream will be available the day of the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Neighbors, Inc., Hastings Family Service, or St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

Arrangements by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.