Northwest Minnesota Foundation ~ Developing Community Assets ~ Serving 12 Counties
Arthur I. Snustad: Big Heart in a Small Town
Winter 2013 ~ Number 62 ~
This is a quarterly publication of Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Lisa Peterson, Development Officer In rural northwestern Minnesota communities, we have a fair share of hard working, yet generous people who live quietly, with little interest in luxury or a place in the spotlight. You could say they are the anti-celebrities of America. Some of these folks shine as the brightest stars when their years of thrift and determination come into the light. Arthur Ingram Snustad was one of these people. This exceptional man was born in Rindahl, Minnesota in 1921. He has truly made a lasting impact with a gift to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, planned and executed through a revocable trust. Art cared deeply about education. He believed it to be the key to a full and successful life. That’s why he Arthur I. Snustad set up the Arthur I. and Jane B. Snustad Education Fund at NMF to be funded when his life ended. The fund, valued at nearly $2 million, will provide Snustad Education Scholarships to students who have graduated from the Win-E-Mac school district. In addition, the fund will help the school district through Snustad Education Grants. Art grew up in Winger, MN and attended the Winger school. He graduated from McIntosh High School in 1939. He entered the U.S. Army on September 20, 1944, serving in southern Korea and the Philippines
at the end of World War II as a part of troop deactivation. He earned the Bronze Star for Exemplary Conduct in Combat. Some of Art’s motivation to enlist was to benefit from the G.I Bill, which would help pay for his college tuition. He had already met Jane Webster, the love of his life, but wanted to wait to marry until after he safely returned from active duty, so that she would not suffer becoming a widow. Art and Jane were united in marriage in 1947 on Jane’s family farm in Beltrami, MN, and lived near Winger until 1951, when they moved to Minneapolis. Art attended the University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science, graduating Jane B. Snustad with honors in 1952. He was very proud of his accomplishment. In part, Art was determined to improve his education because Jane was a teacher when they met. She had inspired him to go further in life. In fact, he gave her credit for making him a better person. Art’s granddaughter DeAnn Givens said, “Grandpa loved to talk about his days at the University of Minnesota. He grew up in the Great Depression and had to work for everything he needed when just a kid. His first job was on a potato farm in Winger. He knew he (Continued on page 4)
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert J. Hager, Chair Pete Haddeland, Vice Chair Faye Auchenpaugh, Secretary Judy Roy, Treasurer Jody Horntvedt Jon Quistgaard Leah Pigatti Jon Linnell Tom Anderson Cathy Forgit Kristin Eggerling Edie Ramstad
Message from the President
Nancy Vyskocil
We have a lot to be thankful for at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation. Thanks especially to generous donors like you we have had extraordinary gifts to celebrate in 2013.
Seasons Greetings!
The Snustad trust featured in this newsletter is truly exceptional. Two other donors have established significant new scholarship and donor advised funds. And another generous gift came in the form of an annuity, that will pay into an existing fund dedicated to economic development. In addition to monetary donations, I am always appreciative to those who give back to their communities by volunteering their time. What a gift to have such philanthropic people in the northwest corner of Minnesota. As many of you know, our mission includes promoting philanthropy in
the region. I take pride in giving back to our communities. One way I do so is by serving on the board of directors for GiveMN; November 14th marked Give to the Max Day, a state-wide initiative that encourages charitable giving. NMF worked with the Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Resource Connections to localize the statewide initiative this year and we are happy to report it was a success! We paired nonprofits in the Bemidji area with local businesses. During an allotted time on November 14th, donors were able to Give Local, Shop Local. Your support, whether donating or volunteering, is making our region better. Thank you for letting the Northwest Minnesota Foundation be the vehicle that aides in supporting the causes that matter most to you. We will continue to work at giving back to you every day.
New NMF Board Member Edie Ramstad, Ada, was elected to the NMF Board of Directors at the annual meeting in October, 2013. Edie is the owner of Weave Got Maille, a source for wholesale and retail chainmaille jewelry supplies. She is a Goldsmith and creates chainmaille for a variety of purposes, including for use in film and theatre productions. She has owned and operated many retail stores and has helped others to embark as entrepreneurs. Edie moved to Ada when she married to join her husband Glenn on his farm.
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Northwest Minnesota Foundation
The Board of Directors consists of residents who represent all counties in the service area who come from various sectors including business, nonprofit, agriculture, education, tribal government, and other agencies. Members have had a range of occupations, experience and interests.
NMF President Nancy Vyskocil said, “We are excited to have Edie join the board. Edie’s business and creative background will complement our current board makeup.�
Competition Leads to Big Success for IDEA Winners Corey and Sue Westrum were one of the five winning entries in the 2010 IDEA Competition. They own North Star Pest Control and are the creators of the Insect Inferno, which is a new method of pest control that uses heat to efficiently and effectively kill bed bugs without chemicals.
They also found the judge’s comments to be really valuable. Westrum said that it helped to understand the realities of starting a business. “They told us: If you sell one in your first year, you’re doing good, if you sell ten in your first five years, you’re doing great,” he added. “That’s where all the help you receive from the IDEA Competition makes the difference. The tools received from the whole experience are invaluable.” The newest development in their bed bug business is a smaller heat chamber that can be wheeled into a hospital room to insert bedding, suitcases and clothing. The unit plugs into a standard outlet and runs a 30 minute cycle. The company is also researching the process of installing kiosks in airports where people can pay to ‘de-bug’ their bags at baggage claim or inside the gates during a layover.
Since winning the IDEA Competition, the Westrums have partnered exclusively with PCS Heat as their worldwide distributor. More than 20 trailer size units are currently operating throughout the country. Aaron’s Rental Furniture has a stationery unit in New York, and is interested in locating a trailer at each of their distribution centers by spring of 2014.
The sixth year of the competition is now underway. To learn more, go to www.ideacompetition.org.
Local apartment buildings and hotels also contact North Star Pest Control for bed bug eradication. With an influx of requests in that industry alone, North Star Pest Control tripled their business in the past few years. They really helped with the marketing, planning, and trying to get our product out there for people to see so they want to buy it... “The IDEA Competition helped us to realize that building a business isn’t easy,” said Corey Westrum. “As a winner, you get excited because you’ve won something – your product is getting publicity. However, just because you win the IDEA Competition, doesn’t mean that your product will automatically be a household name.” Westrum was enthusiastic about the technical assistance that was provided. “They really helped with the marketing, planning, and trying to get our product out there for people to see so they want to buy it,” Westrum said, “and they helped us to understand just what was involved.”
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Arthur I. Snustad: Big Heart in a Small Town (Continued from page 1)
had to work to go to college and get an education.”
good food and the best deal in town,” added DeAnn.
She added, “He wanted kids from where he grew up to have great schools and a better chance at the opportunity to get to college.”
“Sometimes I felt like the U.S. Mail,” joked Jan, “we made the trip no matter the weather…rain, sleet, or snow! Everybody who worked at McDonald’s knew him, and knew what he would order. They usually had it ready for him by the time he stepped up to the counter, which made him feel very special. Some of the staff would take their break and sit and eat with Art. He was very proper, polite, and well-mannered, but with a great sense of humor.
Art began his career in Brainerd where he took a position at Halvorson Funeral Home. In a few years, they moved to Blackduck, MN with the addition of a son, Stuart who was born in 1952. Art owned and operated the Snustad Funeral Home. He continued to run Halvorson’s accounting office for three years while operating his own mortuary. Jane passed away from cancer in 1967, at age 46. Art never really quit mourning this great loss. He was left alone to raise a 15-year-old son and run the business. Art married LaVerne Hufnagle in 1972, who gave him an extended family of five step-children. Stuart was killed in a car accident at age 39. LaVerne passed away in 2005.
said. “They were married and lived in the farm house, and in an apartment on the second floor of the funeral home. He wanted to retain possession of the things they had together.”
Before retiring in 2006 at age 85, Art was not only the oldest mortician in Minnesota, but in the entire United States. Even though another funeral home with a brand new facility had come into town, many people continued coming to Art in his later years because of his compassion and desire to make sure that the families and their loved ones were given the best in their time of loss. He was known as a perfectionist whose work was incomparable.
Jan Gross of Tenstrike, MN cared for Art in her home for the last seven years of his life. She recollected his love of the lake, boating and waterskiing. “He had a boat with a 120 horsepower motor for waterskiing. Art, Jane and Stuart all waterskied,” Jan said. “The family spent happy times together there when they were young and healthy. He had a motorbike that he claimed to have ridden, and he loved to golf and watch the Minnesota Twins. He also served on the Blackduck Fire Department for nearly 23 years.”
Included in the trust was the family farm land, which has always been rented, a piece of property with two cabins near Blackduck Lake, and the funeral home, all of which Art kept even after retirement. “Because he loved my grandmother Jane so deeply, anything he had with her, he just was reluctant to let go of it.” DeAnn
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Art celebrating his 92nd birthday with his McDonald’s friends.
He was well known for his frugality, which included eating almost every day at McDonald’s in Bemidji. According to Jan, he only missed eating there a handful of times due to illness or their driveway being impassable. “He always said it was
Northwest Minnesota Foundation
“He had his 92nd birthday party at McDonald’s. Employees who had the day off came in to help Art celebrate. All the staff joined in to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and gave him a cake.” All that thrifty living and years of work will make a huge difference for generations to come. Art had the foresight to not only set up scholarships, but to help the school itself with funding that will support education programs, projects and activities. He wanted to encourage, inspire and support student interest in education and help them be prepared for post-secondary education. Randy Bruer, Superintendent of Win-EMac said, “This was a big surprise. With funding from the Snustad Education Fund, our first opportunity will be to recommend that the grant dollars be used to include new curriculum and cutting edge equipment in our shop to inspire students’ interest in construction, welding, small gas engines and machining technology. “The Snustad scholarships will make a huge impact in the lives of students attending the Win-E-Mac School,” Supt. Bruer said. “Arthur came from our rural communities and knew that every young child needs a chance to develop skills to (Continued on page 5)
Win-E-Mac School
prepare themselves for the future of work or post-secondary education. The scholarships will inspire students to extend their education beyond high school and help them plan for post-secondary choices. Win-E-Mac is fortunate to have such a great man graduate from McIntosh high school.” Art fulfilled his desire to create his legacy by naming the Northwest Minnesota Foundation as a beneficiary in a Revocable Living Trust prepared by his attorney. Transferring assets into a trust can seem so final, but a revocable living trust allowed Art to maintain the ability to change or amend it throughout his lifetime. The trust also planned for management of
the property if he became incapacitated. Another advantage was avoiding probate, which can delay the distribution of assets and add to expenses. “Art planned his trust so that two churches and a few people inherited some money,” Jan said. “He was proud to put the rest of his money into the trust for funding for kids. He said ‘Now they will have an easier time than I did going to school’. He was very proud also of the Winger school and loved to hear news from Win-E-Mac.” A celebration and posthumous philanthropy award will be presented to honor Art’s generous legacy at the Win-E-Mac school in the Spring of 2014.
To learn more about a revocable trust or other planned giving tools, visit our website www.nwmf.org. We would be happy to visit with you and your professional advisors to determine the best vehicle to meet your philanthropic goals.
Art on graduation day at the University of Minnesota.
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Meet Your Future Workforce Exhibitor registrations are open for the first annual Northern AdvantEdge Career Expo to be held April 23 at Bemidji State University. Companies in Northwest Minnesota are invited to use the event as an opportunity to attract their future workforce by showcasing career opportunities they offer. The Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) is sponsoring the event along with their partners. “This Expo is just one way we are working to address the prevalent need to retain youth in the region to meet our growing workforce demands,” said Marty Sieve, NMF Vice President for Programs. “I encourage businesses to get involved by exhibiting and highlighting the diverse career opportunities students will find in Northern Minnesota.” The Expo is designed to educate high school students who are beginning to explore career paths about opportunities available with regional employers. In addition to career-specific breakout sessions, students will participate in a business showcase where hands-on exhibits will allow students to experience the type of work they could be performing for companies in the region. The Expo will also address the skills and education necessary to become a future employee in specific careers. Unlike a job fair, which focuses on recruiting employees
immediately, a career expo is an educational opportunity for students. “We believe our regional businesses understand the value of planting the seed with potential employees,” said NMF Communications Specialist Ashley Hull. “We hope any company that expects to see growth, or is planning to fill positions due to retirement and turnover, will seriously consider exhibiting at the career expo as a part of future employee recruitment.” Some of the sectors represented through the business and industry exhibits will include emergency services, social services, healthcare, manufacturing, business, finance, engineering, and information technology, among others. For more information about becoming a sponor, registering a school or exhibitor at the Northern AdvantEdge Career Expo contact Gariveau Workforce Services, (218)791-8592 or email, galenc@nwmf.org
Photos submitted from Northern Valley Career Expo in Grand Forks
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Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Asset Building Grants Grants totaling $300,478 were awarded from September - November 2013 Caring Communities Total: $78,973 Clearwaters Life Center - for Senior Connection NAMI - new initatives in mental health - Northwest area Northwest OIC - Family Financial Services program Northwoods Interfaith - adding tools to our tool box
Community Planning Total: $50,000 Paul Bunyan Park Archeological Investigation - City of Bemidji Headwaters Regional Development Commission - Bemidji HRDC - for Impact 20/20 coordination
Grant Technical Assistance: $2,500 Fertile-Beltrami Public School, Childcare Planning Event - Fertile-Beltrami
Natural Resources Total: $16,800 Middle Snake Tamarac Rivers Watershed - Warren Tallgrass Aspen Parkland Birding Trail and Visitor Center Design Photo by ‘Greater Than MN’
Component Fund Total: $151,855 45 grants awarded Scholarship Award Total: $350 2 grants awarded
Component Fund Grants are now found online at www.nwmf.org under Component Fund menu.
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NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Bemidji, MN 56601 Permit No. 36
201 3rd St. NW Bemidji, MN 56601
Upcoming Nonprofit Excellence Training Opportunities January 2014
Financial Leadership for Executive Directors Offered in both Bemidji and Thief River Falls Sustaining Success - Creating a Legacy for Thrive and ECIs Offered in Bemidji
February 2014
Governing Board Basics Offered in both Bemidji and Thief River Falls
March 2014
Leadership Alumni Event Offered in Bemidji
April 2014
Fundamentals of Development and Planning for Success Offered in both Bemidji and Crookston Financial Consulting for Agencies; Nonprofit Assistance Fund – open office hours Offered in Bemidji
May 19, 20; June 16, 17; August 18, 19; September 15, 16
Performance Management Institute; Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Offered in Bemidji
NMF offers Leadership Growth and Development Scholarships --designed to help build the capacity and service depth of the region’s NPOs and small businesses. For more information, visit our website at www.nwmf.org/leadershipdevelopment or contact Dawn Ganje at dawng@nwmf.org NMF offers Transitions Coaching for Executive Directors and senior management of the area’s nonprofit organizations. For more information visit www.nwmf.org/non-profit-excellence-program or contact Dawn Ganje at dawng@nwmf.org