Wayne Wallace Tieman of Bemidji, MN passed away on Sunday March 30, 2025. Wayne was born May 13, 1950, to Wallace and Agnes Tieman in Thief River Falls, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. From early childhood, Wayne’s parents instilled in him a love of learning and knowing, through Sunday School, the great stories of the Bible. He loved going to church.
Wayne was blessed with an ample supply of reading material while growing up on the farm, including magazines such as Life, Look, The Saturday Evening Post, Newsweek, Time, and many farm magazines and newspapers. So began a lifetime of studying History, Politics, Economics, and Reading the great literature of the world. Even with the time spent on reading and studying, Wayne still managed to help on the farm, working as a team to feed the animals and get the crop into the bin.
After graduating from Goodridge High School in May 1968, Wayne enrolled at the University of Minnesota, Morris. He was going to stay one year at Morris and then transfer to the University of Minnesota and become a journalist, however, he changed his mind. He loved UMM and soon enrolled in the teacher education program. He graduated from UMM in 1972 and went on to U of M Twin Cities to earn his English Major the next year.
On a very hot and humid day in August 1972, Lenay Lynn Blahauvietz and Wayne Tieman were married at United Lutheran Church in Lenay’s hometown of Gatzke, MN. They were blessed with two children, Andria and Brett.
Wayne’s first teaching job was at Goodridge High School, as an English and Reading teacher. Those three years as a teacher at Goodridge were the best working years of his life!
It was at Goodridge that he became involved in various community organizations, such as church, Lions, Square Dancing, and the Republican Party. He enjoyed the people and politics of these events. He could always be counted on to volunteer for these activities.
After teaching at Goodridge, Wayne and Lenay relocated to Osakis, MN, and Wabasso, MN. At Wabasso, he had a unique opportunity to attend graduate school at Minnesota State University Mankato and earn his master’s degree in Secondary School Administration in 1980 and his Sixth Year Certification as a Secondary School Administrator. Eager to move back North to be closer to both families, Wayne assumed the high school principalship and athletic director at Hallock High School in 1981. Wayne had eighteen years as a Secondary School Administrator, English or World History teacher.
But it was time to move on to another career. In 1991 Wayne was invited to become a District Representative for Lutheran Brotherhood in Northeastern North Dakota, with the family settling in Cavalier, ND. Both Andria and Brett graduated from Cavalier High School. Lenay worked at Citizens State Bank as a loan officer. The family were members of the United Lutheran Church. He served clients and prospects in Northeastern North Dakota for twelve years, before moving on to Bemidji, MN, in 2003, where he finished a 25-year career with Thrivent. Lenay and Wayne retired in the spring of 2017.
Always the goal-setter, Wayne began his 30-year running career in 1986. His first marathon was Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN, in June 1986. He had his best time ever in that first marathon—3:24:1, and of course, he ended up in the hospital tent! He ran (and finished) 45 marathons and numerous shorter races. He trained hard.
Being the politician, Wayne was elected to the North Dakota House of Representatives in 2000. He served his constituents for two Legislative sessions in 2001 and 2003. The highlight of his service was to hold town hall meetings, campaigning, and serve on the Industry, Business, and Labor committee.
The Bemidji years have been packed with activity. Besides his Thrivent career, Wayne became very active with Lions International, serving in many offices, attending numerous conventions and meetings, co-chairing the highly successful MD5M Convention in Bemidji in 2017, and being elected to serve as 5M10 District Governor in 2019-2020. His theme for the DG year was “Together We Serve with An Attitude of Gratitude”. He met his goals, which included club visits, a highly successful mid-winter convention in Bemidji in 2020, and raising money for LCIF on his fishing rod raffle.
Wayne is survived by his wife of 52 years—Lenay; daughter Andria (Ryan) of Newton MA; and son Brett (Ashley Marie) of St. Paul MN. Wayne is also survived by two awesome 3-year old granddaughters—Sloane Michney and Ingrid Tieman. He is survived by his nephew Curtis (Jean), great nieces Vanessa and Michelle Tieman, and numerous cousins and friends. Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, brother Elwood (Rhodella), niece Susie, and uncles and aunts.
In lieu of flowers the family request Memorials be sent to The Gideons International, Trinity Lutheran Church, Sanford Bemidji Hospice, or The Lutheran Hour.
Funeral service will be held on Friday April 11th, 11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church, 123 29th St. NE, Bemidji, MN. Visitation will be Thursday evening at the church from 4-7 PM and 1 hour prior to service on Friday.
Interment will be at the First Lutheran Cemetery, Middle River, MN.
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.”
Faith—Family—Friends.
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# Wayne Tieman, #