Reverend Donald Austin Bump

After a lifetime of serving God, Reverend Donald Austin Bump was called Home on April 1st, 2026, at the age of 92, at his home in Max, Minnesota.

Don was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on July 11, 1933, as the youngest of two children. He found joy in baseball at a young age and was eventually offered a position in the New York Yankees minor leagues. However, he chose instead to follow God’s calling, and attend Hastings College, where he met and married his first wife, Sandra Sorenson and then graduated from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Don and Sandy had two children, Jeffrey and Melanie. Following ordination as a Presbyterian minister, Don’s path led them to serve congregations in Pawnee City and Lyons, Nebraska, Port Seton, Scotland and St. Paul, Minnesota. He also served as a Chaplain in the US Navy and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. But Don’s joy in life was truly helping people, not just those who came to church on Sundays, leading him as minister of one of the founding Presbyterian churches in St.  Paul to eventually serve as the first Executive Director of People Inc. which continues to this day to provide residential services, group homes, halfway houses, and mental health services to people in need in Minneapolis and St. Paul. After their children were grown, Don and Sandra went their separate ways.

Don and Linda married in 1987 and he then returned to the pulpit, serving Presbyterian congregations in rural northern Minnesota including Tamarack, Round Lake, Blackduck, Kelliher, Cloquet and United Church of Christ congregations in Birchdale, Baudette and Williams.  He continued to serve following his honorable retirement as a minister of the Presbyterian Church USA until declining health forced his final retirement.

While dementia diminished his life in later years, it was at the same time enriched by the comfort, joy and peace of the beauty of his Father’s world surrounding his home on Sand Lake, made possible by the unwavering commitment and extraordinary care of Christopher, Ginger and his great-grandsons Deon and Jaden for the last eight years of his life joined by Elizabeth and Jess in his final years. 

Don is survived by his wife Linda; children Jeffrey Bump (Jan), Melanie Bump Brown (Asheton); grandchildren: Jessica Sorensen, Christopher Bump, Andrew Bump, Michelle Tyrrell, Mackenzie Brown; great grandchildren Austin Tyrrell, Bryson Tyrrell, Parker Tyrrell, Amelia Tyrrell; nephew Bradford Panek.  He is also survived by stepchildren Robert Fobes, Elizabeth Fobes Walker (Derryl); grandchildren Deontranelle Davis and his children Deon, Daijahlee and Jaden, Terry (Alex) Pierce and his son Noah, Michael-Anthony Ingman, Christopher Ingman, Ginger Ingman, Jess Ingman and his children Kristina, William and Thomas.

He is now reunited with his parents Floyd and Mabel Buckingham Bump, sister Jean Panek (Julian), first wife Sandra Sorensen, nephew Gary Panek and step-daughter Katherine Fobes.

A Graveside Inurnment will be held at noon on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Sheridan Cemetery in Auburn, Nebraska with Pastor Barry Johnston officiating. A luncheon will follow services at the First Presbyterian Church in Auburn.   

Condolences can be shared online at www.hallfuneral.net

Services entrusted to Hall Funeral Chapel-707 15th Street-Auburn, Nebraska 68305 (402) 274-3131.

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