Meet Our Caring Team

Lara is from West Branch, Iowa. She has an associate degree and is currently enrolled at DMACC, where she is studying mortuary science. Lara was the 2024 Iowa Funeral Directors Association Scholarship Recipient. 

Experiencing the challenges of working in healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic made Lara acutely aware of the preciousness of life, which is what ultimately led her to funeral service. She is deeply honored to provide support to families during their most trying times and accompany them on their journey.

Lara has two children, Ben and Bailey. She is involved with Iowa Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans on the Lake Resort. Her interests include outdoor activities, fishing, quality family time, exploring new destinations, and refinishing furniture. Lara and her significant other, Jim, have three dogs, one of which is a service dog.

Colette began serving families as an Aftercare Coordinator in 2017. Her unique perspective stems from being married to a funeral director, which opened her eyes to the needs of families and loved ones after a death occurred and their lives were forever changed. Colette’s own experience with grief and loss elevated her passion to serve and support others, and her work with CHI Health at Home and Hospice as a Spiritual Caregiver has given her insight into the journey of end-of-life care.  

Colette and her late husband, Jason raised their five children near Wyndmere, ND.   She has an adventuresome spirit that is nurtured with connection; she spends time with family and friends engaging in life! She is a member of the Milnor United Methodist church and a charter member of the Headwaters Lions Club. Colette is committed to her community through various volunteer opportunities.

Renee grew up on a farm near Mooreton, ND. She graduated from Wahpeton High and then attended NDSCS.   She joined the staff at Vertin-Munson in the fall of 2018 and takes pride in being part of such a caring family.  After working in the printing industry for the last 20 years, Renee finds helping families create personal and meaningful tributes for their loved ones very rewarding.

Renee enjoys walking, reading, gardening and bonfires with family and friends.  She lives in Wahpeton with her husband Bob, together they enjoy spending time with their three grown children and six grandchildren.

Elaine has been working with families at Vertin-Munson since 1999. She is a graduate of Hillsboro High School, the University of Minnesota-Moorhead, and North Dakota State University. Elaine retired in May, 2007, after 34 years of teaching. She has been interested in counseling for most of her teaching career and has written grants to acquire training in the field for teachers to use in their own classrooms. She later went on to gain a master's degree in counseling in 1994 and was licensed as a counselor in North Dakota in 1995. Having experienced many losses in her own life, working in funeral service was a natural progression for her.

Elaine and her husband, Terry, live in Wahpeton, where they are active members of St. John's Catholic Church. She enjoys gardening, walking outdoors, reading, continuing education, and traveling. Elaine has also worked part-time as an addiction counselor and has been doing volunteer crisis counseling in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault for Three Rivers Crisis Center since 1995. Over the years, she has been a member of several teaching and counseling organizations.

Craig grew up in Wahpeton and graduated from Wahpeton High School. He earned degrees from North Dakota State College of Science and Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. Craig was employed by First Bank Systems in Aberdeen until 1978. Due to his father's illness, Craig returned to Wahpeton, and he and his two brothers managed their family business, Caspers Seven Levels of Home Furnishings. While working as a buyer for the furniture store, Craig met several individuals in the furniture industry who were also licensed funeral directors, and they encouraged him to consider the rewarding and meaningful life of a funeral director.

Craig graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Minnesota in 1987 and began serving families at Vertin-Munson soon after. He was mentored in the profession by Bernard "Bun" Munson, who had managed the business for 27 years.

While Craig enjoyed his career in banking and furniture, he has found the work of being a funeral director as the most rewarding and fulfilling. Because he grew up in Wahpeton and is familiar with so many families in the community, Craig is able to develop a close, personal experience while serving the Wilkin-Richland area. 

Craig has discovered through his funeral director experience that although life does not always follow a plan, it is through caring for others and having compassion for those grieving that helps all of us get through difficult times. Craig values spending time with his two children and five grandchildren. His wife, Sue, passed away in 2019.