Pillager Activities Hall of Fame

Carl started his education in 1937 at the Rail Prairie School, a "country school" south of Pillager then moved to the "new" Junior High School program in Pillager which brought new interests into his life, ranging from the arts (choir, band), athletics, school paper and annual staff, and the Future Teachers Club. After graduation, he attended Brainerd Community College. 

During his sophomore year of college, his Pillager Future Teacher's Club advisor, George Stroming found Carl a teaching job at Bowman, ND on an emergency teaching certificate. Still without a complete degree, in 1960 Carl got another teaching job in Klawok, Alaska where he would "commute" to St Cloud State College in the summers to work on his degree. 

This pattern of teach, fish, think about grad school, repeated itself for Carl in Alaska for the next four years with a marriage to wife Cleo tossed into the mix in December of 1964. In 1967, Carl headed to the University of Minnesota Duluth where he taught and worked on his Masters degree for two years, then a few years at St. Cloud State, and finally finishing his Doctorate in 1973 from the University of North Dakota. 

Carl's PhD led to a prestigious 27 year career of teaching, research, and publication in the education department at South Dakota State University as well as being an outreach consultant and evaluator for the South Dakota, North Dakota, and Iowa Departments of Education. It was during this period that Carl created a resume' that extends for pages! Carl served on over 25 major committees and/or administrative appointments at SDSU, including an appointment as SDSU's representative to Chung Nam National University in Taejon, Korea, as well as state appointments and committees. He has published over 30 articles in refereed journals and authored, co-authored, or formatted seven books. His most important book, Developing Leadership and Character (Zigarmi Associates) has been revised and re­published as The Leader Within, published by Prentice Hall in 2004. This book has been republished in Japanese and Korean as well as Spanish and Italian under different titles. There are agreements in place to also re-publish it in Arabic, Portuguese, and Chinese. 

In addition to publication, Carl has presented over 30 refereed papers and over 50 reports in the U.S., Korea, Germany, and the United Kingdom. He has taught or coordinated over 70· outreach lectures and workshops in South Dakota, Montana, Iowa, and Nevada and has been appointed to serve as an evaluation design consultant at the Office of Bi-lingual-Bi­cultural Education in Washington, DC. Carl also has worked with The Ken Blanchard Company of California in the design and the validation and reliability of over a dozen copyrighted assessment instruments, providing the same services to the University of Nevada for evaluating the qualifications for certifying their public school teachers. 

Regardless of age, whenever people think back to their high school days, names pop up from the past: the great teachers - and the not-so-great; great students - and the not-so-great; great athletes - and ... well, you get the idea. Pillager graduates will remember those same names: scoring leaders, record holders, heroes of the big game, winning coaches. Yet, for people who have really followed Pillager closely, one name regularly pops up into the conversation: Jerry Fornshell. 

Jerry's connection with Pillager Schools began at birth. His dad, Leonard, owned Fornshell Bus Service (eventually owned by Jerry and now by Jerry's son, Eric) which has transported many Pillager students over three generations.

Jerry's connection to the school continued as a student where he was actively involved with sports and other extra-curricular activities. It was after graduation and after starting a family that Jerry's connection to Pillager School became even stronger. Jerry began volunteer coaching youth sports of all kinds and never looked back. His long, successful coaching career as an assistant and head coach ran through elementary into junior high and culminated at the varsity level. He led teams at all levels to countless successes and winning seasons, including three state football appearances and one state basketball appearance. 

However, Jerry was far more than just a successful Pillager volunteer and coach for over 20 years. He was a successful business owner, entrepreneur, community leader and role model. A true "workaholic," Jerry built a small gas station and convenience store at the entrance of Pillager into two successful businesses, Pillsbury Junction and The Plaza, as well as developing new commercial lands around the Plaza. This, in turn, led to medical clinics, dental offices, retail businesses, and housing moving into the newly developed Pillager area. This was accomplished while he was operating Fornshell Bus Service and doing over 200 snow removal jobs every winter. Jerry also served on the Pillager Fire and Rescue Squad, was a First Responder, and was chosen Pillager Citizen of the Year in 2005. Oh - and he coached in his spare time. 

No one may ever know the amount of time and service that Jerry "volunteered" to the school and community. No one may ever know the number of bus trips he supplied to the teams and community groups or the hours he spent preparing and repairing the fields or the ice rinks flooded or the sod laid. But, if you followed Pillager closely, you just knew that Jerry had a hand in it some how. As an ex-Activity Director said "It's hard to say how much he's done because he's done so much. What he's done for Pillager athletics is tremendous... Jerry touched the lives of so many in so many different ways... Jerry's name is synonymous with Pillager." And another associate added, "Every community needs a Jerry Fornshell." 

The son of a PHS teacher, Lowell graduated from Pillager in 1963, a three sport athlete, team captain and all-conference performer, who as far as we know, is the only PHS football player to score six touchdowns in one game. 

After high school Lowell attended Brainerd Community College (now CLC) and Bemidji State. Lowell came back home in 1967 for the first time to teach and coach at Pillager. His two-year coaching of track, baseball, cross country, and basketball netted a basketball Sub-District Championship in 1968-69. But then it was time to move on.  

1969 started a three year stint at Verndale High School teaching math and coaching everything from Pee Wee baseball to Babe Ruth to high school to American Legion ball as well as an amateur baseball team (he also played for them). His Verndale teams set the bar high with great win/loss records, and both baseball and basketball teams were conference champs all three years and Sub-District Champs two of those years.

1972 began a twenty-seven year career teaching and coaching in the Brainerd School system (retiring in 1999). The list of accomplishments for his teams, his players, and Lowell personally could fill any high school trophy room to the top! His baseball teams had a 72% winning percentage (643-253), forty-one various championships, and seven state appearances with two state championships. One hundred fifty-one of his players went to play on college diamonds, twenty-nine played in Minnesota State All-Star games, and nine went on to play professional baseball. He is currently the winningest Minnesota coach of all time.

Lowell's experience ranges from Pee Wee baseball to college football, with thirty-five years of service at CLC (the longest tenured football coach in Minnesota Community College history). With forty-three years of coaching experience, Lowell has logged 110 seasons as a coach as well as thirty years as a football and basketball official. He has worn the "zebra" stripes on the field and courts of all levels across Minnesota and also college basketball tournaments in Hawaii. In all Lowell estimates that he has officiated 3,735 high school and college games in his career. 

From Minnesota Baseball Coach of the Year - TWICE to Minnesota Community College Football Coach of the year - TWICE to three (now FOUR) local and state Halls of Fame to the prestigious "George Haun Award" given by the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association, Lowell's list of awards, honors, and accomplishments would fill a book. 

But this humble legend just couldn't stand still! In 2007 Lowell took over the head football coach's position at Pillager High School - going full circle and returning home a second time.

Jane Reimer-Morgan is a prime example of "like father; like - DAUGHTER"!!! Since both Jane's parents were teachers, education was always important in Jane's life, and with dad (John H. Reimer) being a highly respected Pillager coach for whom the track complex is named, sports were also very high on the "to do" list. It's no wonder that Jane followed the family path into teaching and coaching as did her sisters Karla and Trish. 

Jane's family moved to Pillager in 1970. Jane took advantage of every opportunity Pillager had to offer from arts to politics, and, of course, sports. Jane participated in drama, choir, triple trio, and band, receiving two state ratings for her individual saxophone work. She also was a DAR representative and a Voice of Democracy Speech winner. Jane was Homecoming Queen, cheerleader, class officer, and graduated Valedictorian. Sports, however, was where Jane really took off. As a three year letter winner in three different sports, Jane earned All-Conference honors in basketball, was District 24's second leading scorer, and held the three-year scoring record. In track and field, she holds Pillager's 100 yard dash record (now retired) and was a state participant in the long jump. 

College meant more participation and success in sports for Jane: two years of volleyball at Brainerd Community College (now CLC), three years of basketball at Bemidji State University (BSU), and of course track at BSU, serving a stint as team captain. Jane will be inducted into the BSU Hall of Fame in February of 2011. Like her parents, Jane graduated as a teacher and began her career in 1977. Jane has taught and coached in Brainerd, Staples, Parkers Prairie, Beck, and is currently teaching Phy. Ed and coaching in Minnetonka.

Jane is recognized state-wide for excellence in coaching track and field as well as cross country. Her track and field coaching honors include District 22 Boys Coach of the Year in 1983; Section 6AA Coach of the Year in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2010; and State Coach of the Year in 2005. Her cross country credentials are equally impressive: Section 6AA Coach of the Year in 2002, 2004, 2009 Minnesota State Championship Coach in 2004; and an inductee into the Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in 2009. 

Jane also serves as a member of the ATHENA committee which honors exemplary female athletes in the Metro/Suburban area, and she serves on the MSHL advisory board for Cross Country. 

Jane has often spoken about the benefits and opportunities that she received from the Pillager school system and the loving community she moved into in 1970. She followed in Dad's footsteps and Pillager is proud of her. 

When people hear something referred to as a "work in progress," people often think that it isn't finished yet. Well, nothing describes Roy C. Booth's varied career to date better than "a work in progress"; it is far from finished, literally expanding every day. 

As a Pillager student, Roy's interests and achievements varied; holding class offices, lettering and receiving honors in track and field, receiving perfect attendance awards, achieving rank of Eagle Scout (Roy's proudest achievement, we're told), collecting comic books (Roy owns and operates a successful book, comic, and games store), acting in school plays, reading incessantly and writing, writing, writing! Roy made his first professional short story sale in 9th grade at the age of 14 and numerous poems published in national literary magazines beginning in 1983, the year he graduated from Pillager High School. 

In college, Roy's interests continued to expand into theater, and of course, more writing, graduating with honors from Central Lakes College; graduating magna cum laude from Bemidji State University (BSU) with degrees in English, Speech, and Theater, and graduating BSU again with a Masters of Arts Degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing in 1998.

Throughout high school and college, Roy got involved in theater; his first appearance was on the Pillager stage in a 1983 production of Desperate Ambrose as a villain. Since then, Roy has worked on over 200 play productions, holding every possible production job available. He has also directed 77 productions and and acted in over 100. These figures do not include the numerous films and TV productions that Roy has also been in and worked on. 

Roy's passion for reading, theater, film, and writing naturally led to a career as a writer. not just a writer, but a PROLIFTIC writer. Roy has published over 50 short stories to date, ranging from science fiction to mystery to fantasy to romance, just to name a few of his genres. He also has published over 55 stage plays which have been performed in excess of 700 times in over 27 countries world-wide with translations done in over seven different languages. He won play writing competitions across the country and internationally, even in the UK. Roy has had seven screen plays optioned and has numerous other writing successes ranging from essayist, journalist, comic strip gag writer (including Garfield and others), comedian, game creator, and television writer. Roy has been a keynote speaker and panelist at various literary, educational, and business conventions around the United States. 

Because he writes daily, Roy's resume' changes rapidly. His passion for his craft expands every day as he explores new ideas and subject matter for his writing. But it doesn't just stop there. As a husband, father, business owner, and creative artist, Roy C. Booth is far from finished. "Please stay tuned" because Roy C. Booth is just beginning...as always a "work in progress"!

In the high school setting, women's competitive athletics are a somewhat recent addition. In Pillager, one woman can be considered the "mother of girls' athletics"; that woman is Carol Demgen. Coming to Pillager in 1969, Carol taught elementary and high school physical education and health for 31 years, retiring from full-time teaching in 2000. 

In addition to her teaching duties at Pillager, Carol completed her Master's degree In Physical Education, advised the cheerleading squad for all sports, advised the GAA (Girls Athletic Association), taught Drivers' Education (which she still does, making 43 years and counting of teaching Drivers' Ed. at Pillager), and laid the groundwork for competitive girls' athletic programs at Pillager. 

In 1970-71, Carol and the (then) District 24 coaches and physical education instructors (Pillager, Wadena, Pequot Lakes, Pine River, Motley, Verndale, Staples, and Brainerd) spent the entire year, meeting on week nights and weekends, to form an alliance that would provide athletic opportunities for girls. Prior to this time, there were no organized girls' programs for competitive sports in our district. In the fall of 1971 with no uniforms, little or no equipment, and very little money, these coaches started competive girls' basketball for the first time in our district. Pillager's first girls' head coach was, of course, Carol Demgen. The alliance that Carol and the other District 24 coaches created was also the framework for TitlelX, which equalized opportunities for all of the girls' sports that followed. 

Carol was basically in charge of all girls' athletics until 1974, when the school district finally bought girls' uniforms and scheduling was taken over by then Athletic Director, Mike Greer. Carol remained as the Head Girls' coach for basketball, volleyball, and track and field from 1971-1980, but she continued to coach girts' intramural sports for many years. Girls' athletics would have eventually come to Pillager schools; however, without Carol's determination, passion, and hard work laying the foundation, girls' athletics would not have become a reality as quickly. 

Mrs. "D", as she is lovingly called, was (and remains) a major Influence in the lives of countless girls at Pillager schools. She touched those lives not only as a dedicated teacher but also as a role model and mentor to the young women of Pillager. Her legacy lives on in the girls' athletic programs we see today. There is no doubt that Mrs. "D" is the "mother of girls' athletics" at Pillager schools. 

The early 1930's were tough times in America. The stock market crash in 1929 led to the Great Depression of the 1930's. Graduating from Pillager High School in 1931, Andrew Hargrave had a mission. He enrolled in Dunwoody Institute of Minneapolis in 1932, hoping for a career in the printing industry. Graduating from Dunwoody, Andrew found it impossible to find employment in the printing field or in any field for that matter because of the depression. He struck out into a hard-living, rough and tumble world and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps for a number of years before returning to Pillager. As he is quoted from a July 1960 article from North Central Bible College "In 1937 I came back to Pillager and became the operator and best customer of a night club near home."

Life continued on this path until the autumn 1938 when Andrew's life changed forever. A revival group called "The Light Bearers Quartet" spent seven weeks in Pillager holding revival meetings and stirring the entire community with their message. As Andrew stated, "It was during this time that I found Christ and my life was drastically changed." In 1940 Andrew enrolled in North Central Bible College in Minneapolis. He arrived on campus with only $10 in his pocket and not even an entire suit of clothes to his name. Andrew worked his way through college in the print shop at school, a trade he learned earlier and one which lead to hi true mission later. 

After graduating in 1943, he married Doris Charles and served as a pastor in Sauk Centre, Minnesota for three years. He then returned to school and operated the printing press until it was sold, training other missionaries in graphic arts and printing. In 1946, Andrew's life would change again as he and Doris received a missionary call to Brazil. This call would begin Andrew's life-long mission that would change thousands of lives across South America and eventually extend to Africa as well. Andrew's next eight years were spent setting up a large printing plant in Rio de Janeiro which printed and distributed the gospel's message throughout the region. This gospel press was eventually turned over to the national ministers of Brazil and continued distribution. 

Andrew then continued this mission in Nigeria and Ghana, providing the gospel's message to third-world populations and extending an alternative to tribal politics and strong-arm governments. Literally millions of pieces of literature were provided to third-world populations through Andrew's mission and leadership. But his life-long mission did not stop there. Despite losing all of his personal belongings as well as his printing presses and equipment, Andrew insisted in the rebuilding of Nigeria after the devastation of its civil war. As a young Pillager graduate, Andrew's mission was to learn a trade to survive the Depression. However, with one life-changing experience, he became a man on a mission that would change hundreds of thousands of lives in South America and Africa. This man on a mission lives on through his work. 

Being a graduate of a small school like Pillager never stopped Don Bergstrom from following his dreams, and his dreams and passions led him to jobs around the world. 
Valedictorian of the class of 1958, Don was a well-rounded Pillager student, active in football, track, and the Letterman's Club; Annual Staff, Paper Staff, Science Club, and Dramatics; as well as being Student Council President his senior year. 

It was after graduation when Don began to prove that being from a small, central Minnesota school was no reason not to go after your dreams. Don struck out for Arizona State University in Tempe to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. 

The US Air Force beckoned next, and from 1965-1970, Don served as an Operations/Engineering Officer. He was the test director for low orbit military satellite programs throughout forty-two missions that involved three different generations of orbital vehicles. He specialized in directing orbital operations utilizing support teams comprised of military personnel, subcontractors, and consultants working as one unit. He is credited with personally saving one mission by his correct assessment of conflicting data. Based on Don's actions during this mission, the General in charge ordered Don to be present at all subsequent launch and recovery operations. 
After leaving the Air Force, Don worked for various national and international companies from 1971-1976. Duties with these companies ranged from Management Consultant to Project Manager to Project Coordinator/Expediting Supervisor at locations from Chicago to Phoenix to Sao Paulo, Brazil. In all of these roles, Don was responsible for timely and cost-effective construction projects and deliveries that all his employers depended on. 

In 1976, Don began a twenty-six year career with General Electric Company. His first job was as Principal Project Engineer for a nuclear generating station in Switzerland. His administrative and engineering ability produced a completed nuclear power station on deadline and under 
budget. Don's safety design changes led to a nuclear plant capable of withstanding airplane crashes, floods, and terrorist attacks and which has set many records for performance. 
In 1985, Don became manager of GE's Litigation Technical Support division. Here, Don managed and coordinated litigation support teams for legal and arbitration efforts. This division supplied expert witnesses, supervised document research, directed the preparation of discovery/document databases, and coordinated trial support. Don oversaw a yearly budget for this division as high as 26 million dollars. 

From 1997-2002, Don was General Electric's Principal Systems Design Engineer. In this position, Don was in charge of resolving design and licensing issues for operating nuclear plants as well as defining the design basis for hardware and systems that enhance modification programs for operating nuclear plants. 

From May 2010 to May 2011, Don was the Mechanical Engineering Design Manager for Diego Garcia where he supervised and approved designs for US Navy projects. Don also performed in­ depth studies and cost analysis for complex US Navy mechanical projects. 
Don followed his dreams and his passions, and he serves as a role model for other young Pillager graduates that anything is possible. Anything from saving satellites to building nuclear power plants to working for international companies to handling millions of dollars in budgets is possible for a graduate from Pillager High School. Just be proud of who you are and follow yow dreams, just as Don did. 

After a four-year stint in the Marine Corps and a successful college football career at Bemidji State University, Mike Greer started his Thirty-one years at Pillager in 1965 when he was hired to teach social studies, history, and German and coach football. In 1965, Mike became Pillager's first Athletic Director (AD). Previously, these duties were handled by the school's principal. Mike held this position for 24 years before handing it over to another teacher/coach. The only organized sports at Pillager when Mike became AD were football (begun in 1947), boys basketball (begun in 1939), and baseball (begun in 1948). During Mike's tenure as AD, Girls' and boys' cross country, girls' basketball, volleyball, girls' and boys' track, softball, golf, and wrestling were added. Mike, along with Pillager's first girls' basketball coach, Carol Demgen, was instrumental in forming the first District 24 girls' athletic programs, against multiple obstacles and objections. Mike also pushed to start Pillager's softball program in 1986. Mike believed in equality in sports long before it became popular. 

Below, you will see that Mike's coaching achievements will speak for themselves. However, more important is what Mike gave to fellow teachers, players, and students during his 31 years at Pillager that the public never saw. The fact that Mike was one of the most well-respected and well-liked teachers in Pillager history can be seen in numerous ways. 1) Students in 1969, 1974, and 1986 dedicated their school yearbook to Mr. Greer. 2) Coaches under Mike's mentoring appreciated his knowledge and understanding of coaching: "His (Mike's) insight on the art of coaching was appreciated, and he was always there for support when it was needed." OR ... "I remember Mike saying, 'No matter what the record is, the sport is always about making memories for the kids!'" 3) Staff relied on Mike as well, "His mentoring was so valuable to me. I could ask him anything and he was always there to help ... and he was always patient with his mentoring process. I have used his advice my whole life including when writing my thesiMike Greer was known for many "Greerisms", but one that was heard by almost all who knew him was, "This too shall pass!" Things that will never pass are the service, dedication, influence, and stats that Mike Greer contributed to the Pillager School District. 
s for my Ph.D." 4) Players respected Mike and learned more than how to win: "Beyond the victories, however, I feel the most important thing coach Greer did was to pass on to his players his dedication, motivation, and caring. He wanted you to be a good ball player, but more than that, he wanted you to be the best person you could be." 

These are just a few samples of the statements made in support for Mike Greer from students, coaches, players, and colleagues. Mike's influence during his 31 years at Pillager can best be summarized by this statement from one of his players: "Even today, thirty-three years after my last high school game, I find myself trying to emulate the attributes he possessed and taught to his student athletes. These types of enduring legacies separate the great coaches from the good coaches." ... and the GREAT teachers from the good teachers. Mike Greer was one of the GREAT ones! 
FOOTBALL : Head Coach for 20 years (92-80); Coached 3 undefeated teams (1968, 1971, 1978); Won 6 conference championships; Coached 5 All-State players. 
BASEBALL: Head coach for 16 years (128-96); Won 7 conference championships. 
SOFTBALL: Began the program in 1986; Head Coach for 11 years; Won 1 conference championship; Won 1 Sub-District Runner-up. 
BASKETBALL: Assistant Coach for 2 years 
*****Mike Greer coached a total of "52" seasons at Pillager High School***** 
Mike has been a finalist for the "Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame
and the "Minnesota State High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame" 

Jane (LaPorte) Gedde was once described as "small of stature but big of heart." It's that big heart that created the warm smile, always positive attitude, and personal drive that make Jane a perfect choice for the Pillager Hall of Fame. 

Jane was born and raised in rural Pillager, walking to the one-room school near her home until she completed eighth grade. Jane then attended Pillager High School, graduating in 1946. After graduation, Jane attended Brainerd Junior College (currently Central Lakes College) which was then housed on the third floor of Washington High School in Brainerd. The Washing­ton High School teachers would constantly stop Jane as she attempted to get to class on the third floor, telling her that "high school students don't belong up there!" Well, belong up there she did, and she proved it by graduating with a two-year Associate of Secretarial Science degree, a degree that she successfully used her entire career. 
Jane's first secretarial job was with Brown and Bigelow Catalogue Company, making fifty cents an hour, but Jane saw more in her future. Two years later, she passed the Civil Service Test and landed a job with the Department of Education. After becoming engaged to her future husband, Ray Gedde, whom she married in 1952, Jane transferred to the Minnesota Highway Department in Brainerd. 

Jane left the Highway Department in 1956 to begin raising their family. Also wanting to put her skills to work, Jane worked at the Pillager Post Office (serving two years as Postmaster) and at Security State Bank as a bookkeeper, all while her family grew. 
Jane was still looking for a little more. She passed the Federal qualification test to be eligible to apply for Federal jobs and quickly landed a job with the Selective Service. This was during the Viet Nam War, and Jane sadly remembers so many tearful scenes as parents said their goodbyes to sons drafted into service. Jane worked at Selective Service until it closed at the end of the Viet Nam War. Jane only had a short time off, however; her skills were in demand. Pillager Superintendent Phil Pfeifle recruited her out of her garden one afternoon to fill the new bookkeeper/secretary position at the school. It is here that Jane served the Pillager School District for 23 years, retiring in 1996. During those 23 years, students, teachers, parents, and visitors all got to know and appreciate "the little lady in Mr. Pfeifle's office" ... Mrs. Gedde, the little lady who always had a huge smile and a friendly greeting; who would work tirelessly to solve anyone's problem, big or small; who, to this writer's knowledge, never said a bad thing about anyone in or out of school. Mrs. Gedde, the little lady whose job description was over a-page- and-a-half long with duties ranging from answering the phone to assuring that the correct state funding was being received, from working with a not-always friendly auditor to balancing the students' class accounts and dues, from managing the incoming mail to manag­ing the various operating funds of the district, just to name a few. Jane worked with the district through some extremely tough financial times and helped the school board through numerous building projects, updates, and financial changes.

Jane Gedde is a Pillager Hall of Fame inductee because of her unselfish service to the Pillager School District. She is an inductee because she changed people one smile and friendly greet­ing at a time. She is an inductee because her smile, her heart, and her compassion are truly genuine. Jane Gedde is an inductee because she can teach us all how people should treat one another every day throughout our lives. Thank you, Jane for showing us how!

Mel Hime let very few things In his life hold him back. Mel won a part In his 1937 Senior Class Play, For Pete's Sake, and had to find his own transportation into rehearsals and performances. No problem for Mel! He traded his bike In for a Model T so that he could drive to school to participate. While serving with the Coast Guard in 1942, Mel married the love of his life, Milda, began a family of six, and was sworn into the National Intelligence Forces (OSS). In 1943, Mel was wounded by a shell from a pipe gun. No problem; Mel recovered and continued his career with National Intelli­gence. In 1944, Mel was Involved in a classified radiation accident and acquired radiation sickness. 

This too was not a huge problem. Mel recovered, was discharged, became a mechanic, and then was hired to manage a huge beef operation at what was then known as the St. Olaf College Farm, west of Pillager until 1964 when the operation ended. No problem here either. Mel and Milda bought two cafes, a gas station, and some rental properties. Life moved forward.
Tragically, in 1969, Milda lost her life in a car-train accident. Mel sold the cafes, the gas station, and the rental properties and became a single father, working in heavy equipment and raising his two youngest children while still being actively involved with his family, his church, his communlty, and his local government. 
During Mel's life, he lost part of an arm, walked with a limp, was wounded, suffered radiation sickness, tragically lost his wife, and yet Mel kept moving forward from these mishaps, bumps, and tragedies. As a matter of fact, he didn't just keep moving; he excelled! 

Mel was elected to the Pillager School Board in 1956 and served for 20 years. He worked the school board through three building projects and a huge list of positive changes. In the early 1960s, Camp Ripley expanded and swallowed one third of the PIiiager School District. It was imperative that the school district recoup the lost taxes and revenues from this property and the lost students to stay afloat. No problem for Mel. Pillager Superintendent Olson, Board Secretary Gibb Tessmer, and Board Chair Mel Hime spent a week lobbying the Minnesota State Legislature for relief from this financial loss. They successfully saw a bill pass reimbursing the PIiiager School District for the lost revenue in taxes and student aid. Mel stated fter the bill passed that, "The most satisfying thing was to see our school become a first-class Institution." 

Mel also served 5 years on the Sylvan Town Board. He was appointed the Civil Service Commis­sioner for Cass County and also appointed to the Board of Adjustments and to the Planning Com­mission. He served as Cass County Commissioner from 1980-1988, and he assisted In grant writing and the founding of Deep Portage. Mel's Grandfather and Grandmother were founding Charter members of First Lutheran PIiiager, and Mel continued that family tradition by serving on the church council for 10 years and being a very active member there all his life. 

Remembering his desire to travel that was Instilled in him by a high school geography teacher, Mel travelled extensively with his family after retiring from his county commissioner's post In 1988, Washington, DC, Alaska and the Great Wall of China being the high points of his travels. He was proud to live on his family's homesteaded property all of his life, and spent countless hours restor­ing his beloved Ford tractors. 
All of us will face times in our lives when things just don't go as planned, and many of us will struggle through these times. Mel Hime was the epitome of overcoming these struggles. He was the epitome of family commitment; community, county, state, and national service; and, despite setbacks, was always moving forward to make a positive impact on others and on his community. Mel is that role model for Pillager students to show them how to overcome, to excel, and to 

George Stroming taught 30 years in North Dakota before venturing across the border into Pillager in 1951. George only taught in Pillager 13 years before retiring in 1964, but his influence on Pillager youth was life changing for most of his students. 

George taught 5th and 6th grade at Pillager, often in a combined-grade room of more than 40 students. Even with those high student numbers, Mr. Stroming was known as a kind and patient teacher who really knew how to keep his kids in line. It only took a time or two standing at the board with your nose pressed tightly inside the chalk ring he had drawn for even the rowdiest students to realize they didn't want to do that again. 

George encouraged ALL his students to do their best ALL of the time. Both he and his students knew that everyone was not exactly the same, yet they all treated each other with respect. This was required! His classes were known for doing fun things and learning at the same time. His spell -downs, math relays at the board, and extended recesses of something fun was going on and the kids were learning something, too) made even the student who had very little interest in learning or school suddenly ready and eager to participate.

In addition to his classroom duties, George became Pillager's first Elementary Principal, serving from 1952-1964. He was also Pillager's first Little League baseball coach, organizing the team in the early 1950s by driving around the district picking up the country kids at their homes so they could play ball and returning them home after practice and games. As Lowell Scearcy stated,
"When Mr. Stroming's old, green Studebaker pulled into our yard, all I knew for sure was he saved me a 13 mile, round trip bike ride!"

George also organized Pillager's first elementary football team. Somehow, he found some small shoulder pads and resurrected the old, varsity leather helmets that hadn't seen wear for over 10 years from the scrap bin, and fall recesses became the most important football season that any 5th or 6th grade boy could ever play. George never got paid a cent for his time spent coaching. He did it because he loved kids first and sports second. That showed in his classroom and his life. There was no social promotion then, and it just seemed that every problem student who couldn't quit school until age 16 ended up in Mr. Stroming's classroom, sometimes for a year or two in a row. George never seemed to mind and treated the "older" students just like all the others, and the students loved and respected him for it.

When Pillager School was planning its first All-School Reunion, the question, "Who is the most memorable person in Pillager School history?" was sent to all graduates. There were two very overwhelming answers that reappeared over and over. Mr. George Stroming was one of those two most memorable people. The class of 1963 dedicated its year book to Mr. Stroming as their most respected teacher.

Lowell Scearcy sums up the students' feelings about Mr. Stroming with this story: "It was George Stroming who convinced his deer hunting partner, George Scearcy, that Mr. Scearcy's son lived to play sports and that it would be a shame to squelch that love. For a little boy who wanted nothing more in the world than to play ball, Mr. Stroming was my hero!"
Lowell and many of Mr. Stroming's students became respectful and successful adults because they would never dream of disappointing Mr. Stroming.

Passion is a strong human emotion and can be the controlling force In many of our actions. Dr. Barbara Lindman has that strong passion for athletics and an even stronger passion for education. 

Dr. Lindman's high school career was filled with activities: Future Homemakers of America; annual staff and paper staff; Glee Club, band, and choir; class plays and operettas; as well as leadership positions, serving as a class officer for three years. Of all the activities Dr. Lindman was involved with in high school, sports (especially basketball) was one of her greatest passions. She was a fierce competitor in intramural play at Pillager since extra­ curricular women's sports was not a part of the PHS athletic program yet. 

However, all those activities never hindered her passion for learning as she graduated as Salutatorian in 1964. This passion took her to Bethel College after graduation where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree (BA) in 1968. Her educational passion continued at the University of Minnesota where she earned a BS Degree in 1971, a MA degree in 1978, and a PhD in 1994. 

Dr. Lindman put both her passion for education and sports to work when she became a Physical Education instructor at University of Northwestern-St. Paul (UNW) in 1972. She continued in this position and coached Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball there until 1981. She also served as the Chair of the Physical Education Department and as Women's Athletic Director from 1978-1984. 

Her passion for education took a slight tum in 1985 when she was named the Chair of the Department of Education at UNW. Here she was able to strengthen the education curriculum for student teachers and pass her passion for education onto young teachers who would influence future youth. 

Dr. Lindman's skills then led to more leadership positions. She was appointed Dean of Curriculum and Instruction in 1994 and served in this capacity until 1998 when she became Dean of Academic Programs. In this position, she was in charge of all Departments at UNW. Dr. Lindman served in this capacity through 2005, and as of her induction, serves as UNWs Senior Academic Dean. 
During her current tenure at UNW, Dr. Lindman has received numerous honors and awards: Coach of the Year, the Teagle Research Grant, Outstanding Leadership Award, and the Distinguished Service Award, to name a few. 

Passion is a strong emotion, and Dr. Lindman's passion for athletics and education has led to an extremely successful career which positively influenced many young people through her teaching, coaching, and leadership. As one of her student teachers stated, "Coach Lindman helped me become a leader!" 

As a successful educator, coach, administrator, and sports statistics entrepreneur, Dr. Barbara Lindman is a great role model for young people to follow their passions and to work toward their goals. 

"If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives." In his quote, Robert South, a 17th century clergyman and orator, could be talking about Calvin Martin. What Calvin has done all his life is farm. What Calvin has given 
during his life speaks volumes about him as a man. 

Calvin was born and raised on the farm and has continued that career his entire life. He graduated from Pillager High School in 1950 where he played trombone in the band and was very active in Future Farmers of America (FFA), serving as its President. Calvin 
served two years with the U.S. Army in the 5th and the 9th Divisions, stationed in Germany, Fort Knox, and Fort Leonard Wood. He attended Staples AVTI where he took farm 
management classes from 1957-1959. 

Calvin is not a man who seeks out fame and fortune but rather a quiet, humble man who shows us by his example that you don't have to drastically change the world to be a 
positive influence in the world. He has been a successful dairy farmer for 52 years and a beef and crop farmer since 2002. He has substantially provided for his family and proudly helped feed an entire nation. However, it is the influence that Calvin has had on family, community, and his church that has made the difference. 

Calvin served on the Pillager School Board for 14 years, holding the offices of Treasurer and Vice-Chair. He was an influential force on the school board which completed a huge building and re-modeling project in 1991. Calvin also fought tirelessly against the 
consolidation of the Pillager School District with a neighboring district at a time when districts throughout the state were combining, allowing Pillager School District to remain 
independent and hold on to its identity. He also served and held offices in the American Dairy Association, Cass County Soil and Water Board, Cass County Conservation and Development Board, the American Legion, and was extremely active in Cass County 4-H Programs. Calvin trained at the National Conference Center in Washington, DC and worked with 4-H youth throughout Cass County, actively participating in both Cass County fairs (Pillager & Pine River) as well as the Minnesota State Fair. 

For 63 years and counting, Calvin has been a faithful member of the Casino Assembly of God church, serving on the church board for 20 years and as church Treasurer for 15 
years. At Casino church and in the community, Calvin and his entire family have always been involved with young people. Whether through Calvin's work on the Pillager school board, his involvement with 4-H, his and his wife's work with music and youth in the church, or just by his example and encouragement, Calvin Martin has quietly influenced many 
people around him. Family members have continued the ministry of their church and involvement with youth within their own communities, and many young people whom Calvin encouraged and worked with have followed his model in their lives, becoming hard working, caring, and giving adults. 

Calvin's daughter, Carrie, summed it up: "Calvin has always had a vision for the future. Whether it was being in the first Pillager School band, helping start the very first Future Fanners of America club, helping build additions or sports programs for our school, or 
being involved in community or church activities, Calvin is truly a man who has made a difference.· 

Myron Tiemens was a simple man who enjoyed simple things, yet he changed the course of rivers and lives. Born the oldest son to a farm family two years after the Depression, Myron had humble beginnings. He and his family moved in with his mother's parents in Scandia Valley about 10 miles Southwest of Pillager where Myron walked to the one-room school about a mile and a half from the farm. Sometime around 1940, Myron transferred to the Rail Prairie School south of Pillager and from there to Pillager High School. 

Being the oldest boy, Myron knew the meaning of hard work. He helped his father clear their "new" 160 acre farm, picking rocks hour after hour, day after day. Myron also had a zest for learning and for life. A shy but intelligent youth, Myron loved simple things; any meal cooked for him was "the greatest he ever had." Coming from a very musical family, Myron loved to sing and dance, a passion he continued throughout his entire life. In high school he was a member of the Male Quartet, and as an adult he continued this passion, taking ballroom dance, piano, and voice lessons. 

Myron continued his zest for learning in high school. In 1948 he graduated as Valedictorian at the age of 16. Two weeks after turning 17, he started college at St. Cloud Teachers' College, striving to be a science teacher. Two years later, Myron enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War.
Returning from the Army, Myron continued his post-secondary education at the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology, graduating with high distinction in 1957. Already married (to PHS grad, Anita Reis) and the father of two, Myron began his civil engineering career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers working in flood management.

Myron's zest for life was seen daily by his family and the neighboring kids as well. Almost every kid in the neighborhood would be waiting for Myron to get home from work because there was always a baseball, soccer, or hockey game going on in the back yard. Of course, It couldn't be played properly until Myron got home to play! His second oldest son said that Myron would drive in the yard from work, yell at his wife to let her know he was home, throw off his blazer, roll up his sleeves, grab his glove or whatever equipment he needed, and play with them until supper or dark, whichever came first. 

Myron's life-long learning continued, and he received his Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California in 1967. He worked with flood management and river environments his entire life. In 1969, he spearheaded efforts to save Minot North Dakota from one of that city's worst floods. His efforts earned him honors from both the city of Minot and the state of North Dakota. In the early 70's, Myron moved the entire family to Annandale, Virginia where he worked at the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC. He continued at the EPA until his retirement. 

Myron's zest for learning and for work was not finished when he retired, however. After his retirement he became what was affectionately called a "Beltway bandit" This term refers to his work (as a private consultant to his former agency, the EPA. He and another group of environmental engineers were hired to study the possible cleanup of the sacred Ganges River in India. This group reached a unanimous decision that because of religious and cultural practices, this project would be impossible. 

A life-long learner, Myron and Anita would often take educational and recreational tours. One of their favorites was white-water rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Myron also became a Civil War buff. Through his research, he published reports on Minnesota Army units' actions during Civil War 
battles: "Portraits of Courage and Sacrifice" and "Engineering in the Civil War." 

Myron spent the last 40 years of his life in Annandale, Virginia, but his heart was "home" in Scandia Valley, Minnesota. He made every effort to vacation here when he and his family could; he attended class and all­school reunions whenever possible; and he stayed in touch with his roots here in Minnesota. 

From his humble beginnings moving rocks, Myron's zest b- learning allowed him to move rivers. His zest for life moved the people around him to follow his example. Myron Tiemens is surely an example of where a person can go regardless of how and where that person begins. 

Moving up the ladder in a person's career takes a lot of hard work. Kathy (Phillips) Johnson has been working on climbing that ladder since graduating from Pillager in 1967. Kathy's dad, all her siblings, and her kids also graduated from Pillager. 

Like many high school students, Kathy worked hard in her classes, as well as in band, choir, yearbook (serving as editor), and in the Girls' Athletic Association (GAA), a pretty typical high school career. Like many high school graduates, Kathy worked hard as a wife and mother raising her kids and helping support her family as a Nursing Assistant at the Staples Hospital and Home, a pretty typical life story. However, Kathy knew that there were higher goals to climb for. 

Fifteen years after graduation, still with her kids at home, Kathy began a climb that would lead her up the ladder to an influential career in health care. In 1982, Kathy went back to school at Brainerd Tech, graduating as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1983. This first step allowed her to change hospitals, and she began working at St. Joseph's hospital in Brainerd as an LPN. 

As a working wife, mother, and student, Kathy's climbing pattern began to develop: working towards a more advanced degree equals a step up on the health care profession ladder. This climbing pattern would repeat itself. In 1985, Kathy received her Associates Degree in Nursing (RN) and numerous steps up the job ladder, eventually becoming Staffing Coordinator at St. Joseph's in 1990. 

But there were more steps on this ladder to climb, while working at St. Josephs, Kathy took classes at Concordia College in St. Paul from 1991-2005, majoring in Organizational Management and Communications. This allowed a move to Mille Lacs Health System and a step up into numerous management positions, eventually becoming a Director of Hospital Based Services from 2000-2007. Kathy even served a stint as a Interim CEO in 2004. 

The climb continued from 2005-2007 when Kathy attended the U of M, majoring in Management Studies in Health Services Administration ISP. This led to Kathy's current position on the health care ladder: SEO/Administrator at Johnson Memorial Services of Dawson, Minnesota. She also serves as an interim CEO/Administrator of Appleton Health Care Services. 

From Kathy's current step as CEO/Administrator, she has instituted management, financial and care changes to two health care systems that have been recognized on the state and national level by numerous awards: Excellence in the Work Place Award from Aging Services of Minnesota; Women's Satisfaction (24th in the nation) from Women's Certifies; Top 100 CAH Hospitals from National Rural Health Association; MNSHARP Award- OSHA-placing 1st in care center and 2nd in hospital. Because of Kathy's leadership and positive change to these systems, Kathy is also a highly requested presenter at health care facilities and workshops around the region. She also serves on many local, regional, and state health and civic groups, maintaining presidency on four of them. 

It has taken Kathy time, hard work, and commitment to make the long climb to where she is now. Her passion is to help others succeed in reaching their goals, and her example shows that if you have the desire to start the first step and the work ethic to keep climbing, you wll reach that goal.

John Reimer was a standout athlete from Luverne, MN, graduating in 1945. He was involved in football, where he was selected to the very first MN State All-Star team. It was North vs South, (he played for the South) and the South won! He was a 3 year starter on the basketball team, chosen All-Conference all 3 years, and excelled in track and field. He was captain and qualified for State in the pole vault and hurdles. Unfortunately in his 2nd hurdle race of the day, he fell and broke his leg, so was unable to compete at State. This was during a one-class system. 

In college, John attended the U of MN his freshman year. Due to his leg injury, he could not play football that fall, but was ready for basketball. He was the 6th man for the Gophers as a freshman, and had a lot of playing time. He also competed in track and field.

His mother passed away the following year, so John transferred to Augustana in Sioux Falls to be closer to home. There he was nicknamed: The Triple Threat" because of his prowess in the three sports of football, basketball and track. 

In his senior year at Augie, he got his first glimpse of his future wife, Beverly Ring, as he saw her modeling in a fashion show. They were married in 1950 and John began teaching. He was drafted into the Korean War, and did not get to meet his daughter Karla, born in 1953, until she was 6 months old. Two other daughters followed: Jane in 1955 and Trish in 1957.

John taught in Wessington, Kimball, Willow Lake Erwin, and Canova SD thru 1965. He then taught in Ellsworth, MN 1966-70. During the early teaching years, John also played traveling semi-pro basketball in the area. 

Coach Reimer came to Pillager in the fall oof 1970 as the new Principal! Tragically his wife Beverly died in a house fire in November, at the age of 40. He became a single parent to three teenage daughters. The town of Pillager rallied around the family and embraced them!

John taught at PHS thru 1991 and coached thru 1993, coaching football, football, basketball, track and field, and for a short time, wrestling. His boys and girls track team did particularly well, with individual State Championships in 1977, 1985, and 1993, and may State place winners. In 1985, his boys' team was the Region 6AChampion and Coach Reimer was Region Coach of the Year!!

John passed away of January pf 2000, but left a huge legacy. The track and field complex is named in his honor, as well as a track invitational meet that is held every April! In 2010, Coach Reimer was also inducted into the MN State Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame.

Many of John's athletes are successful coaches themselves, including current Pillager Track coach Terry Hollingsworth, as well as John's three daughters: Karla Reimer Jensen at Pierz, MN, Jane Reimer-Morgan at Minnetonka, MN, and Trish Reimer Kealy at Becker, MN. John's impact as a teacher, administrator, and coach is remembered by many, and the torch has been passed. 

When Lynn (Sandberg) Scearcy graduated with honors from PHS, she already had distinguished herself as a top-notch student, actively involved with almost everything available to her. Her yearbook activities listed four years of band, chorus, GAA, FHA, and Pep Club; three years of Declamation, yearbook, and majorette; two class plays, two One Act Plays, and two nominations for Queen; one year in Drama Club, as a class officer and Student Council Rep., and a Girls' State Representative as well. Some might say that she was an over-achiever, but to Lynn, this was just what she did. 

With this high school resume', college was the next of many career moves for Lynn. After graduating summa cum laude from Concordia College in Moorehead, Minnesota, Lynn taught secondary English at Fridley Public Schools from 1971-1979. Her next move was as Research Assistant at Metro Education Services Unit for one year, and in 1982 Lynn became the interim Coordinator of Personnel for Centennial Schools. She was also working on her M.A. at the U of M. After receiving her M.A in Education Policy and Administration in  1983, Lynn became the Gifted Education Consultant at Fridley Public Schools and Publications Consultant for Inver Grove Public Schools. 

In 1985, Lynn began a thirteen-year series of administrative positions including Assistant Principal positions at Minnetonka Junior High and Senior High, an Interim Principal position at Minnetonka at Deep Haven Elementary School in Minnetonka; and Principal positions at Minnetonka Junior High and Minnetonka Middle School. She also earned a Ph.D. from the U of M in 1999.

From 1999-2006, Lynn became the Coordinator of Licensing and Leadership Development for Educational Administrators at the U of M and was also in demand as an expert lecturer/presenter in the school of field of school administration. In 2006, Eastern Carver County Schools in Chaska hired Lynn as their Chief Academic Officer/Superintendent. Six years later, Lynn returned to the U of M College of Education and Human Development where she has held numerous faculty and administrative positions. 

Lynn has authored and co-authored many professional works that research, study, and educate school leaders throughout the state. She is also in demand as a lecturer/presenter not only on the state level but also nationally. Her expertise in leadership and school administration is widely known and respected. 

Lynn has been affiliated with numerous state and national professional organizations and has won state and national awards for her work and leadership in school administration. Lynn's impact is best summed up by this quote from the U of M College of Education and Human Development: "As a Department, we are indebted to her for years of service, not only to the University of Minnesota, but also for her service to the landscape of educational leadership in Minnesota."

Overachiever... Nah, this is just what Lynn does.

Look up the action verb "minister" in the dictionary and you will find many definitions. Most of them will describe activities which Bob Osell has done in Pillager for the past 38 years. However the one definition that sticks out the most is "to contribute." Bob has contributed greatly to the First Baptist Church, to the Pillager Community, and to the Pillager School since his arrival here in 1978. Bob Osell, or as Pillager folks call him, pastor Bob, came to serve First Baptist Church, but he ended up "ministering" to the entire Pillager community regardless of religious affiliation, and this includes the Pillager School too. 

Bob was born in Little Falls, raised in Duluth, and graduated from Proctor High School in 1959. He spent two years at the Minnesota Duluth getting his general education credits out of the way while he tried to figure out what God had planned for him. He continued his quest by spending one year on an evangelism team traveling throughout the Midwest. 

Bob met the love of his life, Darlene, in Duluth and they married in 1965. They were blessed with two children, Kristin and Kevin, who were both actively involved with athletics and fine arts at Pillager. Between the two of them, Kristin and Kevin have fifteen children who definitely keep Grandpa Bob and Grandma Darlene busy with grandkid duty. 

Bob's journey to the ministry and to Pillager began when he enrolled in St. Paul Bible College where he graduated in 1967. Then, after four years at Bethel Seminary, graduating in 1971, he pastored a church in Quamba, MN. In 1978, God called Bob to the "big city" Pillager, population 469 (as of July, 2016) . His service to First Baptist Church would last 30 years, but Pastor Bob's service to Pillager community and Pillager school lives on today and will continue much longer. As Pastor Bob stated, "We believe we were called to Pillager by God to minister not only at the church, but to the community including the school."

Here is where Pastor Bob's story should really become a tribute to all of the things he has done for the Pillager community and the school; yet, when asked about his accomplishments, Bob replied in his typical humble Pastor Bob was, "I can't think of anything." Bob never wanted awards and rewards, but, Bob we can think of a few. First of all, Bob has received one of Pillager's "Citizen of the Year" awards. Most of Bob's other accomplishments don't come in the award/reward category, but they are impressive at any rate. When fire destroyed First Baptist Church in 2001, Bob and the congregation continued their ministry and rebuilt even bigger and better, fittingly moving in on Easter of 2005.    

Pastor Bob has also had accomplishments tied to the school. He has served on numerous committees during his 38 year tenure in Pillager. Superintendent Search Committee, Building Task Force, Community Emergency Response Team, Hall of Fame, Spelling Bee, just to name a few. Bob and Darlene even bought a house built by Pillager Construction Trades students. "We didn't give a lot of money to the school down through the years, but we DID buy a house from them," Bob said. 

Over the years, seldom could you look up into the stands or seats at any Pillager athletic or fine arts event, especially boys' basketball and not have seen Pastor Bob in attendance; he's a regular! Bob has provided transportation, coaching and above all else, encouragement and prayer for teams and players for years: a Pastor Bob pregame, team prayer was always standard operating procedure at home and away games for the boys' basketball team. The impact that Bob's presence and prayers had on those players is known only to the players themselves, but he will always be remembered for his caring and support. Pastor Bob receiving the Booster Club's "Huskie Spirit Award" was definitely the correct choice. 

This is the way Pastor Bob described his call to Pillager, " The 'marriage' of the Osell family and the Pillager church was a good one, very supportive of each other." What a great analogy for the relationship Pastor Bob has had with the Pillager community and school, a sincere, trusting, loving relationship with strong support from both parties.  

Here is where the folks who know Pastor Bob get to sit back and reflect a little because Bob's contribution's are not visible; they are felt in the heart. Bob didn't contribute vast amounts of money or material things; Bob didn't receive tons of public accolades, awards, and honors for his contributions. Pastor Bob contributed his faith, his trust, his knowledge, his goodwill, his caring, and his "ministry" to all who knew him. Those contributions will live on in those whom he has touched and in those whom he will touch in the future. The humble Pastor Bob wouldn't want it any other way!

It was 1938, and Betty Jo was six years old. That's when she and her family moved with horses and a hayrack into the town of Pillager so that Betty could start "town" school. This was the beginning of a lifetime of dedication and commitment to Pillager education and to the Pillager school system. 

Betty began her working career at the ripe old age of nine, candling eggs at the Pillager grocery store for a dollar a day. She also worked at the C& A Hardware and both or Pillager's cafes during her school years, graduating in 1951.

Betty met her husband, Norm Rohl, also a Pillager school graduate, while working at one of the cafes. Together, they have raised six children. All six of those children graduated from Pillager school as well as five of her grandchildren and four of her great grandchildren. 

After graduation, Betty attended Staples Teacher Training from 1951-1952. In the fall of 1952, Betty taught a Deer Creek country school for her first teaching assignment. Betty's contract stated that the school would be sure to "provide suitable and sufficient fuel for the fire" that she was required to make sure was always burning. Other duties included "ordinary sweeping and cleaning" as well. Betty's signed contract paid her $2,025 for that year. Betty later taught grades one through six at the Scandia Valley one room school south of Pillager. Her students there remember that Betty WAS the hot lunch program, providing hot soup for her students' lunch. 

In 1964, Betty was hired by the Pillager school system as a Second Grade Helper. Betty received her teaching certificate in 1965 and started as a kindergarten sub for Mrs. RoseMarie Pietz. Betty's change in schools also brought a substantial change  in salary to $3,500 a year. In 1968 Betty moved into grade one. Then in the following years Betty moved continually; grade 2, then 3, 4, and combination-grade rooms as well.

Besides teaching, Betty was going to school herself. She attended St. Cloyd State University summer sessions, and also Bemidji State University. Betty received her degree from Bemidji State University in 1974.

During Betty's 29 year career as a teacher at Pillager, she taught with numerous colleagues. However, Betty and RoseMarie Pietz co-taught and tag-teamed together for years! Each added their own special style to their classes and complemented each other well. Betty was always adding poetry and art to her lessons, and both Betty and RoseMarie made sure that every student had something entered into the Cass County Fair each summer. 

School wasn't the only thing that Betty was involved in. Betty taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years, and always found a way to "teach" even in the community, like working the old Constitution Days every year as a living history that kids and adults could learn from and enjoy.

Gardening and art have also been ongoing passions for Betty. Oil painting, embroidery, and reading also filled a lot of Betty's time when she isn't in the flower gardens, and painting old saw blades to make them keepsakes fills the rest. Come summer, you can bet that Betty is starting to plan her many exhibits for the Cass County Fair here in Pillager, and her first and second place ribbons far outnumber any other ribbons she receives. The fair board has also honored Betty with the "Citizen of the Year" award. Retirement for Betty doesn't mean rest; it means more things to do that aren't teaching!

Betty officially retired in 1993. When asked what major impact she hoped she made on her students, Betty's answer is, "I would like to help each and every student to know that there is no one else in the whole wide world with their exact personality, looks, and capabilities....Then because they are each special as 'my kids', I would hope and pray that they would hold kindness and honesty as their highest priorities."

There may be many ways to "judge" a teacher, but perhaps the best is to listen to the teacher's students. Here's one of Betty's from year's gone by: "Mrs. Rohl, I think you were a nice teacher... I liked art, math and language, reading and all other things at school. But most of all you."

Betty's total years within the walls of Pillager School as a student and teacher number 41. Over 500 kids came through her classrooms. Four generations connected to her have seen the halls of Pillager School. That's devoting a lifetime to Pillager education. 

Paul Swedberg came from strong Swedish stock who grew up in and near Pillager in the late 19th Century. From that solid background came Paul's appreciation of the three important basics of a good life: home and family, schooling, and a church with witness to Jesus Christ as a Lord Savior, solid, important, old school aspects of a good life and especially Paul's life. 

After graduating from Pillager High School in 1952, Paul began his theological training in Canada at Luther College in Regina, the University of Saskatchewan, and also Luther Theological Seminary, both in Saskatoon. Paul also returned to the "states" for one year of Luther Bible Institute in Minneapolis. 

Paul met his wife, Sally, whose home town is Des Moines, Iowa, in his home town of Pillager. Sally, another young lady from Pillager, and two other gals made up a girls' quartet which was touring the Pillager and Brainerd area in the late 1950's. Paul and Sally married in 1956. Their marriage was blessed with four sons: Dan (1957), Eric (1960), Philip (1962), and Michael (1964) who, because of Paul's ministerial travels, where born in three different cities and two different countries (US and Canada). Paul and Sally also have six grandchildren, born in Manitoba, Ontario, Mozambique in Africa, and Connecticut as well as two great-grandchildren, a truly world-travelled family for sure. 

Paul was ordained in 1960 as the pastor of Augustana Lutheran Church at Rock Island Illinois. Also in 1960, Paul was extended a call ID Camrose, Alberta, Canada, where he served until 1965. This call to Camrose actually would include three churches: Camrose, Wilhelmina Lutheran Church, and Fridhem Church. Serving three churches simultaneously was a lot of work; Sundays were pretty busy. There were also three seperate confirmation classes, three sepsate council meetings to attend, and mid-week services in each church during Lent. Paul was a busy man, and not just on Sunday!  

In 1965, Paul received a call to serve in West Africa with the Lutheran Church in Liberia. Paul received specialized missionary training at the School of Missions in Maywood, moved his family to Liberia in 1966, and set about his first assignment intensive study of the Lomo language. 

After learning the language, Paul was assigned a "parish" of 21 towns within the rain forest, most of which could be reached only by foot path. Paul Sally, and the family's arrival coincided with the unprecedented acceptance Gospel in this area. After four years of service, Paul and family returned to Minnesota for a one-year "home leave", but Paul was not done serving  yet. Paul and his family again returned to his 21-town parish for a three-year term. However, due to lack of personnel, Paul found himself with an additional assignment pastoring a 7-12 high school as well as his own 21-town parish. Despite the double duty, Paul states firmly that "It was an unforgettable privilege to have lived and worked for seven years in Africa!" 

After their return to North America, Paul continued his ministry to two "Midwest" parishes in Manitoba and Grand Forks, North Dakota for eight years. Paul completed his "official" ministry with sixteen years of service in Alberta. Paul retired in 1998, and he and Sally moved to Osoyoos, in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia where they spend their time in volunteer ministry to their community. The mountains of the Okanagen Valley are somewhat different than the hills of central and northern Minnesota, but the area is similar with all the tourists that visit the valley year round, reminiscent of the Pillager and Brainerd Lakes Area. 

Despite Paul's worldly travels, memories from his formative years in Pillager have stuck, and many names and places still remain as reminders of his strong and basic upbringing and the three basics on which Paul built his life. It is easy to see that Paul Swedberg is a prime example of the theme: "You can go anywhere from Pillager."

Iduna Bertel Field was the first graduate of Pillager School, as the only graduate in the class of 1915. She was named by her father after a goddess in Norse mythology. She was born May 19, 1898 in O'Neill, Nebraska, the daughter of Andrew and Mathilda Bartel, Swedish immigrants. 

After graduating from Pillager, she graduated from the University of Iowa where she was elected to Phi Betta Kappa, then taught English at Lincoln High School in Des Moines. A poet and journalist, her poems have been published in many books and magazines while her historical and literary features appeared in such newspapers as The Milwaukee Journal and Des Moines Register. 

lduna Bertel Field was active in many community and state organizations. She was co-founder the Winneshiek County Mental Health Association in 1952, served as its first President, and was responsible, along with several others in the community, for the establishment of the Mental Health Center in Decorah. It was the first rural Mental Health Center in Iowa (if not the nation). She was also involved in convincing Allamakee Co. to join with Winneshiek Co., thus forming the first Mental Health Center in Iowa to consist of more than one county. At that time it was called the Winneshiek-Allamakee Guidance Center. Mrs. Field, along with a few others, funded the program for eight months before the counties became involved fiscally. She was also active at the State level in promoting community Mental Health services. This activity occurred in the early 1950's. Mrs. Field was also instrumental in the establishment of the Northeast Iowa Mental Health center, which included Howard, Winneshiek and Allamakee Counties. Clayton Co. joined in 1967. 

In 1953 Mrs. Field was honored by the Iowa State Mental Health Association as recipient of the Award of Merit presented annually to one individual in the state for the most outstanding and distinguished service that year in promoting better mental health in the state of IA. She was elected president of the Mental Health Association of IA, and served on the Board of Directors of the State association. 

Iduna Field, a longtime member of the National League of American Pen Women, was state  president from 1960-62, and Waterloo-Cedar Falls Branch president from 1956-60. She was the author of numerous articles, many on Indian lore, published in The Chicago Tribune, The Milwaukee Journal, The Minneapolis Journal and The Chicago Daily News Magazine, among others. On several occasions she won first prize for Best Book Review on The Des Moines Register Book page. Her short fiction, "The Tryst," was published in The American Short Short Story, an anthology cited as presenting the best selections by the American Authors in 1935. Every year for more than twenty years from the 1950's through the 1970's her poetry appeared in Lyrical Iowa, and Mrs. Field was published in other anthologies as well. For four years she was editor of The Annals, a poetry magazine featuring Northeast Iowa poets which was affiliated with the poetry society of Iowa. In 1982, Iduna Field researched and wrote a history of Decorah as it was "50 years ago" for the Decorah newspapers. For fourteen years in the 1930's and 1940's Iduna Field conducted a weekly radio program for Station KWLC at Luther College where she broadcast book reviews on emerging writers. 

Honored as a 60-year member of PEO in 1992, Iduna was a Charter Member of Decorah's AAUW. She also set a record as a 35-year campaign worker for the Community Concert Association. Iduna Field belonged to the Congregational United Church of Christ and was a 50-year member of Eastern Star. She may be remembered for her devotion to the elderly, shut-ins, and those who were lonely or alone, among them Mr. Hendrickson, a wood-carver living at the Aase Haugen Home in the 1940's whose work is displayed at Vasterheim, and Archibald Sowden, the blind violinist from West Union who performed with the Luther College Messiah for many years. Mrs.  Field died in Decorah, Iowa on January 5, 1994 at age 95. 

When Tricia moved to Pillager with her family at the start of her seventh grade year, no one knew how it would be the start of a new life. Her father was hired to be the new High School Principal in 1970, so Pillager became their new home. Tragically, just a couple months later her mother was killed in a house fire and Pillager became their new "family". Her track/basketball/football coaching father set the example and sports became a very important part of Tricia's life very early. At the time girls' sports were not available until 9th grade but she quickly made her mark on the teams. She was selected All Conference in basketball as a 9th grade. The neighboring Brainerd coach reported that she was way ahead of her time and the best female rebounder he had ever seen and, at that time, the only female he had seen who shot a true jump shot! In her senior year, Tricia was the first female to receive (from Mike Greer) the Athlete of the Year award.

Tricia was a three-sport athlete, earning 16 letters through her high school career. She represented Pillager High School at state four years in Track and Field and participated in five different events. At the time, track was a one class system which made the competition much more difficult. Her senior year, the state track 110 yard hurdles ended in a three-way photo finish - every girl had the same time! They recorded her as a third. To this day, Tricia is on the track and field honor roll at Pillager School. 

All the way through senior year, the yearbooks show P. Reimer on the sports teams, in the band, chorus, cheerleading, class plays, homecoming court, and choir. Tricia filled her days with "everything school" doing all of this plus was an honor student. 

All of this launched her college career at Bemidji State University. While studying for her degree in Art and Physical Education, she was a basketball cheerleader, captain of the track team, and competed at nationals on the 4x800 relay team. She was honored at Bemidji State University as one of the top all-time "60" female athletes from BSU history at the 30th Anniversary of Women's Athletics. 

Her teaching career took her to the Pipestone and Rockford, Minnesota school districts where she also coached. She spent twenty years as a flight attendant for Northwest, then on to Becker, Minnesota as a substitute teacher....and girls' coach for cross country and track/field!

Her coaching career has been a state wide success. She has been named as the Cross Country (Class AA) Section and STATE Coach of the year in 2009. She continues to be a great coach at Becker and continues to invite Pillager athletes to their time trials and the Becker team attends our "John Reimer Invitational" where Tricia and her sisters have sung the National Anthem. She has never forgotten her roots in Pillager and still has many friends here. Tricia married Patrick Kealy and together they have two children, John and Madison. 

Dave grew up on a farm near Red Wing, Minnesota. Maybe that is why he had such a work ethic. He attended Goodhue High School where he played sports and found his love for the theater. He continued his education at Winona State College where he majored in Speech and English. Dave found his passion at Winona State in working with the tech crews and did the lighting of the plays and concerts. It was here where he met Connie and was married after they graduated from college. 

He was hired by Phil Pfiefle to teach English and do the class plays in 1973. He taught the 7th and 8th grade English classes for years and then switched to high school English and taught some college English courses. He directed plays for many, many years. One of his favorite styles of directing is when he did the Community Plays and directed Grease and High School Days.

He was a coach and an announcer at football games. He was also a softball coach with Mike Greer who he respected very much and learned so much from as far as teaching and coaching. Dave enjoyed homecoming so much. You would see him dressing up as a clown on a motorcycle with Lynn Enberg passing out candy to the crowd. 

Dave took his students very seriously. He listened to them and tried to guide them in the right direction. He was known not to mince words and everyone knew exactly what was expected of them and he tried to help them achieve their goals and dreams. Students also knew that when he said something, he stuck by it and you knew where the boundaries were drawn and the consequences of crossing over the boundaries. He would go that extra mile to help any student with selecting a college, read their term papers and mark them with his red pen! Even after his retirement, he would get requests from students in college to read over the paper for their composition classes. They would send it to him via email, he would mark them up and send them back with the corrections. He was very much interested in where students went and how successful the students were. There were students that went on to the theater world and were very successful because of their introduction to theater in Pillager. Some students even turned to writing and had some books published. 

Dave taught a class in theater and production. There were students that took the class that never thought that they would get on stage but they did a great job. This really boosted their self-esteem and self-confidence. Some of them continued with doing plays with Dave and others said that one was enough, but they were glad they tried it! Dave was a real stickler with grammar. He had little quotes that would help students remember the rules of grammar. He loved to teach the diagramming of sentences. 

Outside the community, Dave performed and directed plays at Pequot Lakes, Staples, and Central Lakes College. One thing that many people do not know is that Dave was the voice of Paul Bunyan at Paul Bunyan Land for many years when he and Connie first moved here. 

He truly wanted to be part of the community. He was very active in the Pillager community. He served on the City Council for four years, the Fire Department for 29 years and the Church Council at First Lutheran for eight years. After retirement, Dave still proofread term papers for college students, but got into voice over. He did a commercial for Home Depot selling paint. He was in the movie "Tilt" which was his proudest accomplishment. He also auditioned for an advertisement in a journal as a model for medical supplies. 

Dave went on to start a painting business as a hobby after retirement because he would do this during the summers while teaching. Little did he know that his hobby turned into a second job with the addition of his son, Bryan, working with him in his business. Dave would be proud to know that Bryan is keeping the business alive and well. 

If you ever drove past Dave's house, you would see his farming background come into play. He loved his garden and yard. Of course he had to keep up with Ben Mudgett and Norm Rohl on the yard. He loved planting and harvesting vegetables with his daughter-in-law, Canndi. They would have a real production line out in the "Canning Cave" in the garage. 

Dave will always be remembered by his sayings, and of course his favorite one was "KENNEL". Dave is up in heaven now, correcting all the angel's grammar and directing plays. 

Tom Kavanaugh was "inducted" into the hospitality business when his parents purchased a small resort on Sylvan Lake. Kavanaugh's Sylvan Lake Resort, as it came to be known, is celebrating 50 years of operation this season and Tom has been there for every one of those years. Starting as a 4-year old Director of Public Relations he grew up interested in many things around him and a love of meeting people. Tom learned about cooking, flavors and developed a true passion for the kitchen from his mother Mae. 

Tom is a 1984 graduate of PHS and during his school years he was involved in basketball, track, theater, choir, yearbook staff, and newspaper staff. While still in high school he took on a significant role in the restaurant and gave up playing football to be more available to work in the family business. To keep working he chose to stay home and attend Central Lakes College, where he also performed in multiple theater productions and competed in tennis. 

Tom's culinary path has led him to many exciting endeavors, including competing and judging in over 150 culinary competitions (which included top ten finishes in the World-Food Champion-ships, World Paella Challenge, The Seafood Olympics, The Taste of Elegance, and many Iron Chef and BBQ Competitions) as well as teaching over 250 culinary classes. Tom also appeared  in his own cooking show, "Market Fresh Cooking with Tom Kavanaugh". In 1999 he was chosen as one of twenty-five American chefs to create food for the commencement exercises at the United States Naval Academy. 

After closing their restaurant in 20025, Tom took on more restaurant duties and became more involved in numerous business associations throughout Minnesota. He currently serves as a Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hospitality Minnesota, is past President of the Minnesota Resort and Campground Association and served as an officer on the Hospitality Minnesota Education Foundation Board. He also served on the Brainerd Lakes Chamber and Governor's Council on Tourism Committee. In 2014 Tom was named Minnesota Resort Operator of the Year by the Minnesota Resort and Campground Association, and 2016 the Kavanaugh Family was inducted into the Resort Hall of Fame. 

Through Hospitality Minnesota Tom became involved in the National Restaurant Association Pro-Start program, a high school culinary certification curriculum. Over the last 12 years Tom has helped increase Pro-Start programs in Minnesota from 18 schools to over 70. Tom has also worked with the Brainerd Chamber in developing a grant in which they were able to start programs in eight additional area schools, including Pillager. After eight years as the lead judge for Minnesota's Pro-Start state competition, Tom stepped down to coach the Pillager Culinary team and in 3 years they went from 15th place to 3rd place in the state competition. 

Tom has also worked with the University of Minnesota Extension Service helping local growers and area chefs to aid in the "Farm to Table" movement in the lakes area. Tom has a true passion for Pillager School and in addition to the Pro-Start program he has also dedicated much time to other school functions over the years, including setting up the first elementary girls basketball program, coaching girls basketball in some capacity for 14 years, assisting in track and boys basketball, directing both a One-Act play and Pillager's only Theater in the Round production, and being very involved with fundraising for the Booster Club and the Pillager Dollars for Scholars and Education Foundations in which he has coordinated and led 10 fundraising dinners. Tom is married to Jennifer (class of 1982) and has two daughters Kelley (class of 2006) and Heather (class of 2008) who is teaching at Pillager, his sons-in law Cole (class of 2006) and Zack (class of 2008) as well as grandson Liam and granddaughters Amelia, Charlotte, and Elizabeth. 

Ken LaPorte is a second generation Pillager with two generations following him showing his deep commitment to the Pillager community. Growing up on a local farm, and watching his dad serve a supervisor in the Cass Soil and Water Conservation department for 20 years, it is no wonder that Ken took a similar path. 

After a brief time with Northwest Paper Company and Burlington Northern Railroad, Ken quickly found his way to serving with the Cass County Highway department for 13 years. That le to 17 years working in the field of his real passion, field inspection for the Planning and Zoning and Environmental Services department for Cass County. He also had served on the Cass Soil and Water Conservation Board (SWCD) since 2006. 

Ken continues to enjoy his work with the SWCD, and has been elected to represent Cass County as the North Central Area 8 Supervisor on the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Board. 

Ken has devoted his life working directly with the public to increase conservation practices and protection of our natural resources. His passion has been the conservation work with farmers, landowners, and local units of government including cost-sharing for shore-line buffers, rain gardens and reducing surface water runoff on roadways. 

He states "I Have enjoyed being involved in my local community. I grew up on a dairy farm and continue to be a 'farm boy' at heart. Farming was where I first learned to be a good steward on land, and the SWCD's priority of soil health in Minnesota has afforded me the opportunity to take that passion even deeper and allowed me to educate myself on the many technical and scientific aspects of the topic. 

Ken has made a difference in our Pillager community and state-wide. For over 50 years, Ken and his father's work with our natural resources has set a standard for the future that will allow the next generations to enjoy the abundance of clean drinking water and pristine lakes and rivers that we have enjoyed. 

In Ken's spare time he enjoys antique cars and trucks, his hobby farm, and singing at his church. 

Dorothy is a true Pillager girl who was involved in many things, but always found the time to help other people. After high school graduation in 1959, Dorothy attended St. Cloud State for a year then she went to work at Cambridge State School and Hospital and Brainerd State School and Hospital as a Psychiatric Technician at each location. 

In January 1966, Dorothy joined the U.S. Army and had a one-year assignment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland as a Neuropsychiatric Specialist. Next was an assignment to 2nd General Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. There she met her husband, Dannie Williams, also serving in the military, and was married in November 1967. Their oldest son was born in Germany before returning to the states for Dannie's new Army assignment as a recruiter in Little Falls, Minnesota. 

In 1973, when the Minnesota Army National Guard opened its' doors to women Dorothy was one of the first of six women to be sworn in by Governor Wendell Anderson in St. Paul. 

The first year at summer camp at Camp Ripley there were three women and about 24,000 men. That drew the attention of the TV reporters from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area who followed every move of the new female recruits at Camp Ripley. 

Dorothy served at Camp Ripley for about eight years attaining the rank of SSG (E6) and was selected as Soldier of the Year one of those years. She worked as a Stock Control and Accounting Specialist which was a part of the Supply Section.

Another assignment change for Dannie took them to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX in 1980 where Dorothy immediately joined the TX Army National Guard. She was assigned the job of supervising the Orderly Room and later was transferred to the S-1 Section as the Personal Sergeant. She was promoted to Sergeant First Class (E7), the rank at which she retired after completing 20 years of service. 

In addition to Dorothy's military service, she and Dannie were foster parents for 23 children over a 14 year period, adopting one of the foster babies. She served for many years in her church playing the piano, singing, teaching Sunday School, and serving as church clerk.

Her family includes two biological sons, a daughter by adoption, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great- grandchildren. They have put retirement on hold while they raise two grandchildren since their very early years who are now in college and a seventh grader in the Gifted and Talented Program. 

Now in her spare time she helps her husband manage three rental homes and they have flipped a fourth. She enjoys spending time with her children and church community.

Dorothy has always had a soft spot in her heart for the less fortunate. From her youth through these retirement years she has served others with a genuine love and care that sets her apart as a true Pillager Hall of Famer.