A public celebration of Wes' life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the Minot State University Student Center.

Celebration of the Life of Wes Luther: (Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Restriction) will be private at Christ Lutheran Church, Minot. A livestream of the service may be viewed for two weeks starting on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. using https://vimeo.com/clcminot

Wes Luther, 90, Minot and longtime Minot State University athletic director, coach and professor died on Sunday, April 26, 2020 in a Minot hospital.

Wesley Merton Luther was born on July 3, 1929 in Rugby, ND to Charles and Edna (Romine) Luther. He was raised and educated in Rugby and graduated from Rugby High School in 1947. While in high school he was active in football, basketball and track & field. He attended Minot State University on a football scholarship and graduated in 1954 with a degree in secondary education and was a four year NDCAC all-conference football player. He was a third-team Little All-America performer in 1947. While in college he enlisted in the Army National Guard and was stationed at Camp Rucker in Alabama from January of 1951 until August of 1952 when he returned to MSU.

Wes married Donna M. Borstad on April 6, 1954 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minot. They made their home in Fessenden (1954-1961), Beulah (1961-1962) and Devils Lake (1962-1966) where Wes was a teacher and coach. Wes earned his Master's Degree from the University of North Dakota in 1966. The family moved to Minot in 1966 when Wes began teaching and coaching at Minot State University. He was the head coach of the men's basketball team from 1968 to 1976 in addition to being a football and track & field assistant coach. Eventually, he became the MSU Athletic Director in 1976 and retired from that position in 1991. During his time as A.D. the MSU Dome was built. Upon his retirement he was named Professor Emeritus and received the University Alumni Association's Golden Award in 2010 and established the Wes Luther Athletic Scholarship Endowment through the MSU Development Foundation in 1991. For 72 years, Wes rarely missed an MSU ball game.

Wes was a charter member of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame and a member of the ND Officials Hall of Fame. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Elks Lodge, Eagles Aerie, American Legion Post #26 and MSU Board of Regeants, Beaver Boosters and Hall of Fame Committee. Also, he especially enjoyed fishing at Van Hook where he had a lake cabin, yardwork and traveling to Arizona.

Wes' loving family includes his wife of 66 years: Donna; children: Mark Luther of Lake Havasu City AZ, LeAnn (Phil) Momerak of Minot and Michael Luther of Minot; grandchildren: Nicole (Mike) Brown, Sarah, Brenden and Chassis; great grandchildren: Jaxon, Quinn, Audrey and Bradley and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Wes was preceded in death by his parents, daughter-in-law: Judy, infant brother: Aaron David and siblings: Irma Mae Stewart, Arden Glen and Charles Lee Luther.

Celebration of the Life of Wes Luther: (Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic Restriction) will be private at Christ Lutheran Church, Minot. A livestream of the service may be viewed for two weeks starting on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. using https://vimeo.com/clcminot
Public Graveside Service: Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 12:00 (noon) at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Please observe social distancing restrictions for everyones safety and health.
Memorials are preferred to the Wes Luther Endowment Fund at Minot State University, MSU Beaver Boosters, Christ Lutheran Church, Minot or to the donor's choice.
A public celebration of Wes' life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2020 at the Minot State University Student Center.

Wes Luther Flower Pictures