Obituary of Dwight Haberman

 

Dwight Haberman was born in Saint Paul and grew up in Nordeast Minneapolis.  He graduated from the U of M with a degree in agronomy and horticulture, but he was called to ministry and went to New Jersey with his wife Barbara to attend seminary at Drew.  While in New Jersey they had twin sons (Craig and Mark) on January 19, 1956.  20 months later, on September 27, 1957, son John arrived. 

 

Upon graduation Dwight took his first appointment in Akeley and Hubbard, MN where son Mike was born on August 17, 1960  His next charge was Ortonville, MN, followed by “The Mobile Ministry” where the family lived in Cook, MN, then on to Woodbury UMC, MN and finally at Grace UMC in Burnsville, MN.  Dad pioneered and gave the name to “The Mobile Ministry” where his office was a Ford Econoline van, complete with library, desk, typewriter and mimeograph machine.  Each Sunday entailed a 50 mile trip to Kabetogama UMC, followed by a 60 mile drive to the Crane Lake chapel and then the 50 miles back home.  By the time we arrived at Crane Lake, the organist may have already extended their prelude because Dad could be chatty (Minnesota goodbyes at Kabetogama) and would never pass a hitchhiker on the way, often Native American.  

 

During his last year at the Mobile Ministry he took a 3 month Sabbatical and moved his family to Denver to further his theological studies at Iliff School of Theology.   He was also a chaplain at Methodist hospital for a couple years and then for several years at Fairview Ridges…he had a gift.  He ministered to many over the years, and the family is grateful for his ministry to us.  Over the years he baptized or dedicated all his grandkids, some of his great grandkids and performed many family weddings.

 

In retirement, Dwight never slowed down as he served roles at Prairie Church (Eden Prairie UMC), subbed at the Mobile Ministry and did interim duty at the CMP (Central Mesabi Parish).  And that’s not all; over the years he was active at the ARC retreat center in rural Cambridge as well as Ring Lake Ranch in the Wind River Range in Wyoming where, even though at a great distance, he was a beloved contributor (volunteer).  He never met a stranger and it was at Ring Lake Ranch that he struck up a friendship with Marcus Borg, among other amazing people.  

 

He was very active in a leadership role of the PIJP(Palestine Israel Justice Project) and traveled far and wide giving presentations, including at HAUMC.  He traveled to the Holy Land 9 times, including a 9 month stint at Hope School in Beit Jala with then wife Debra.  During his travels he met many new friends and even had a sit-down with Nobel Prize honoree Yasser Arafat.

 

Dad really enjoyed hanging out for many years with a lively group of ministers dubbed “The Dirty Half Dozen,” a group that was later joined by Bishop Clymer.  Dwight’s sons got to listen in on some amazing conversations over the years with that bunch! .

 

Over the latter years Dad gravitated towards Hennepin Avenue UMC and ultimately it became his church home, where he led a small weekly communion service (Sabbath Beginnings) as well as engaged in other areas of the church, including the Friday Morning Group and the Dignity Center.  He was a seeker, which during these years  lead him to the Iona Community as well as to the writings of John O’Donohue…. he subsequently made multiple trips to Scotland and Ireland.

 

Dad/Pop-Pop had many interests and over the years he built a stereo and our first TV.  He was a ham radio operator, built his kids telegraph keys and taught us to solder.  The family wild riced together.  He was an enthusiastic photographer and we  now have many slides to go through.  He taught tennis and was a practitioner of the now obsolete drop-kick.   He paddled the BWCA many times with church groups from Woodbury UMC (most years he was there) and also with family. 

 

He also did many amazingly thoughtful things for his family.  An example is the door jamb at the cabin where the family members had their heights recorded for over 50 years.  He replicated it on a pine board for his sons and their children, ultimately making 15 copies of it…can you imagine the love, dedication and time it took?  Plus, he used his cabin building experience to build tree houses for each of his sons’ families.  Oh, and he was a putterer extraordinaire.  

 

For over 50 years the family enjoyed that water-access cabin that he and Barb built on the Canadian border and where he welcomed many guests including several Hennepin members as well as many others.  For instance, we have a picture of  noted Palestinian Pastor and writer Alex Awad fishing off the dock.  It has also been the site of family reunions over the last several years with family coming from Seattle, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Sioux Falls and the Twin Cities.  That cabin is in what is now Voyageurs National Park.  In 1977 we had to sell it to the Park and it is now on a life estate lease which means it will soon pass into history.

 

Dwight leaves behind his children, Craig of Ely, MN, Mark (Dave) of Hayden, ID, John (Brenda) of Golden Valley, MN and Michael (Catherine) of Jeffersonville, IN; his ten grandchildren (to whom he was “Pop Pop”), Kirk (Kimberly) of Beaver Falls, PA, Joshua of Seattle, WA, Christopher (Meg) of Sioux Falls, SD, Ethan (Lindsey) of Rathdrum, ID, Sarah (Jake) of Golden Valley, MN, Seth (Judith) of Moses Lake, WA, Daniel (fiancée Natalie) of Minneapolis, MN, Lesley of Dallas, TX, Rebecca of Minneapolis, MN, and Christian of Jeffersonville, IN; and his thirteen great-grandchildren, Bryden, Simon, George and Daphne of Beaver Falls, PA, Jordan and Isaac of Sioux Falls, SD, Bennett and Wesley of Rathdrum, ID, Grace and Noah of Golden Valley, MN, and Hannah, Sarah, and Rachel of Moses Lake, WA.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Emily Haberman of Mesa, AZ, and his sister, the Rev. Joyce Haberman, of St, Paul, MN.

A Celebration of Life for Dwight will be held on Saturday, June 26th at 11AM. 

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

511 Groveland Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55403

Masks will be required inside the church.

 

Memorials preferred to

Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church

511 Groveland Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55403

 

Ring Lake Ranch

570 Trail Lake Road

Dubois, WY  82513