FALL 2018
BULLETIN
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY FOR MINNESOTA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS
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Change Service Requested Minnesota Funeral Directors Association 7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311
MFDA Bulletin
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Minnesota Funeral Directors Association MFDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Dan Dahl Dahl Funeral Home East Grand Forks, MN dan.dahl@midconetwork.com
Secretary Kelly J. Kelly Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes Kasson, MN kjkell0803@yahoo.com
Treasurer Chris Jacobson Bell Brothers Funeral Home Duluth, MN chris.jacobson@tlcofduluth.com
Past President Ashley Czaplewski Hoff Funeral and Cremations Service St. Charles, MN ashley@hofffuneral.com
DISTRICT DIRECTORS Joe Mahn (District 1) Mahn Family Funeral and Cremation Services, Red Wing, MN jmahn62@hotmail.com Tonya D. Borth (District 2) Kolden Funeral Home Le Sueur, MN tonya_04@hotmail.com Marquis Madison (District 3) Totzke Funeral Home Fulda, MN totzke@mchsi.com
POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE Pat Patton, CFSP Patton-Schad Funeral Home Sauk Centre, MN ppatton@pattonschad.com
Norman Larsen, CFSP
Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN nlarsen@greenlarsen.com
MFDA Calendar May 20-22, 2019 MFDA’s 129th Annual Convention Mayo Civic Center, Rochester
STAFF Darlyne Erickson, CAE Executive Director
Scott Benson (District 6 & 7) Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, Inc. Robbinsdale, MN sbenson@delmore.com
Amy Beckham (Administrative)
Brian Dingmann (District 8) Dingmann Funeral Care Annandale, MN brian@dingmannfuneral.com
Kathy Sheridan (Membership/Convention)
763-416-0124 612-940-8169 (cell) info@mnfuneral.org
amy@mnfuneral.org
Sue Sack (Accounting) sue@mnfuneral.org
kathy@mnfuneral.org
Miki Tufto (Communications/Convention) mtufto@mnfuneral.org
Who We Are: Minnesota Funeral Director’s Association (MFDA) is the statewide resource dedicated to supporting our member’s growth professionally, ethically, and operationally.
What Is Our Mission: Our mission is to enhance and support funeral service excellence through our programs, legislative representation and service to Minnesotans.
How We Accomplish This:
Tim Anderson(District 10) Anderson Funeral Home Twin Valley, MN timanderson@arvig.net Chris Jacobson (District 11) Bell Brothers Funeral Home Duluth, MN chris.jacobson@tlcofduluth.com
Executive Director’s Report............................................... 4 Message From the President............................................. 5 Legislative Update............................................................... 6 2018 Regional District Meeting Follow-Up...................... 8 MFDA Honors 50 Year Licensees....................................... 8 Be Happy at Rochester’s Hotels........................................ 9 A Request from MFDA PAC......................................... 10-11 Group Partners to Fight Opioid Epidemic..................... 12 Allied Member News.................................................... 14-15 U of M Mortuary Science Update.................................... 16 Book Review: “Talking About Death Won’t Kill You”.... 17 Cremation on the Rise....................................................... 18 Cybersecurity and Small Business................................... 19 In Memoriam.................................................................20-21 MFDA’s Career Center...................................................... 22 2018 MFDA Allied Members............................................ 23
PAST PRESIDENT REP
Lance Peterson (District 4/5) Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and Cremation Service Willmar, MN lance@petersonbrothers.com
Andrew Yaggie (District 9) Glende-Nilson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Fegus Falls, MN andrew@glendenilson.com
In This Issue
• Essential and enduring principles that guide our organization’s behaviors and actions
• Advancing the value of funeral service consistent with the changing needs of society • Advocacy on behalf of consumers and members
7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311 p: (763) 416-0124 • f: (763) 416-0124 e: info@mnfuneral.org www.mnfuneral.org
• Visionary leadership trust and confidence in staff and volunteer leadership
• Promotion of integrity; honest and ethical behavior within the funeral industry • Collaboration with others in the interest of consumers and members
• Recognize the importance of education as a vehicle to enhance both public service and public image
The MFDA Bulletin is published quarterly for MDFA members. Copyright ©2018 MFDA Service Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission of the publisher. Advertising opportunities are available by contacting MFDA to request an ad rate sheet. Please e-mail the ad to info@mnfuneral.org, fax or mail to the fax number or address listed above, along with the desired run time of your ad.
www.mnfuneral.org 3
Executive Director’s Report By Darlyne Erickson. CAE
The Three C’s in Life…Choice, Chance, Change You must make the Choice, to take the Chance, if you want anything in life to Change. I’m not exactly certain where I saw this quote, but it must have resonated with me as I have it pinned to my wall! Yes, we decided to take a chance and change up our District/Regional meetings this year. Having completed two of our meetings, southern and northwest, we have seen good to great results. I have always felt that each of our district meetings have a different feel depending on the area and relationship of fellow funeral directors. Everyone does enjoy the networking and camaraderie, even as competitors, you support one another. I think this is probably more so with the out-state firms, just my opinion. At any rate, we will evaluate the results of this change after October and ask you how you felt about the change, whether you attended or not. Clarification on District Dues – We have had some questions from firms who have recently received invoices for district dues. Each district sets their
4 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
own dues structure, anywhere from $35 to $50 per rooftop. This money is set aside for the use of expenses for your District Board Representative, i.e. mileage and hotels in conjunction with MFDA business, and any costs related to the district meetings. Each district has their own P/L and Balance sheet. Do not hesitate to ask us if you have any questions. District Officers – Our bylaws state, “MFDA shall be divided into constituent Districts based on geographical location and population throughout the State of MN as determined by the Board of Directors. Each District shall have its own officers. Each of the geographic areas described above shall elect ad be represented by a member of the Board of Directors.” Thus, the leadership of the association rises up through the districts. I will be the first to say that the district level leadership needs to be kept better apprised of the overall operation of the association throughout the year, and the board has tasked me with that
You must make the Choice, to take the Chance, if you want anything in life to Change.
responsibility. I know this year is a bit different with MFDA taking on the logistics for the district meetings. Again, we will re-evaluate with the input from district leadership by the end of the year. We are currently looking for a board member for District 11 which is technically all of St. Louis County, a lot of land to cover. We are not competing with Arrowhead. Bob Atkins has done a great job of offering education in Proctor twice a year. We simply want a representative in the area to serve on the board and allow those member firms a voice in the association. Let us know if you are interested. Take a minute to read President Dan Dahl’s message. He has recapped a lot of his experiences representing MFDA at a variety of national and local gatherings. It can be an eye-opening experience that many of our board members have when they broaden their horizons and meet professionals from around the country. It is truly a learning experience and one that we as an association encourage. Thank you for listening! I know talking about dues and board involvement is not exactly riveting, but these are topics crucial to the overall operation of our association. Thank you for being a member, and a big thank you to those who have stepped up on the past and will in the future…we need your involvement!
From the President By Dan Dahl, MFDA President
It’s another beautiful fall day up here in northwestern Minnesota. September 7, 2018 and NO SNOW. Sorry, just had to add that. It’s been a real whirlwind since May. First was the Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC. Minnesota representatives attending were Brian Dingmann, Jeff Hartquist, Darlyne Erickson, Tonya Borth, and me. We had the opportunity to speak with representatives of Minnesota from both the house and senate sides of Capitol Hill regarding the BRAVE Act. For those that have never heard of the BRAVE Act it was legislation stating that non-service related deaths are treated equally and to increase death benefits, ensuring Veterans are no longer penalized for where they die. This year the VA and NFDA strongly support this act, and hopefully will increase the chances of passing this important legislation into law. Burial benefits have not kept up with inflation and the cost of funerals and burials. Next was the leadership conference in Ashville, North Carolina attended by
Chris Jacobson, Pat Patton, Kelly Kelly, and me. During those meetings, we had a chance to sit down with our peers from other states and really find out what’s going on in other parts of the US. I found out that all states are having a shortage of labor issues. I also found out that that in most states there is a 50% attrition rate after five years. There were many different reasons brought up on why the 50% drop out rate, but no one really has a hard and fast answer. At least we are not alone in the boat of finding and keeping funeral directors. Most states are accepting a 2-year Mortuary Science degree, we of course are in the minority of states (three I believe) at the 4-year degree, and a majority of states now will allow an apprentice to make removals, just as long as they have passed the requirements of that particular state and working for a licensed funeral director. We just completed our District Meetings. We have put a twist on these meetings and have grouped districts into regions. We have also added a chance to be able to have up to 7 hours of continuing education hours to attend. They include 3 Body prep hours, 3 General Ed hours and 1 OSHA credit. It also will be easier
on the MFDA check book as costs will be less due to fewer hotels, travel expenses, etc. Hope to see you there. MFDA and the Department of Health have now started dialogue on a regular basis to help bring communication back into play. We are hoping that with this line of communication open, those changes in the rules and regulations can be communicated to MFDA so we have the chance to make those changes before the inspectors come out. If you have any dialogue or concerns you would like us to relay, please contact MFDA Office or myself and we will relay those concerns to them during that phone conference. Last but not least, from October 14-17, a number of us from MFDA represented you at the NFDA International Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. Having attended a number of these conventions, I would highly recommend that everyone attend at least one of these in their funeral directing career. So much information and a chance to broaden your horizons in funeral service. Hope everyone has a safe fall season! Regards, Dan Dahl, 2018-19 MFDA President
MFDA Exhibits at Forensic Science Seminar Last month MFDA connected with attendees at the 35th Annual Forensic Science Seminar on September 27-28 at the DoubleTree Minneapolis West in St Louis Park. This conference was presented by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office and Minnesota Coroners’ and Medical Examiners’ Association. Photo by Miki Tufto
www.mnfuneral.org 5
Legislative Update By Joe Sellwood, Cook Girard Associates
The 2018 legislative session adjourned on time but there is little to show for the three months of legislative work – and in the case of the cremator operator legislation, over two years of work on the issue. For your information, below is an outline of various issues discussed during session and attached is a 2018 general session overview, as well as a summary of tax issues.
Cremator Operator Certification Over the past two years, MFDA members have shown an interest in legislation to require training or certification for those performing cremations. The 2017 version of the cremator operator legislation required certification for anyone performing cremations, regardless of licensure. The 2018 proposal only required certification for unlicensed individuals performing cremations. These individuals are currently permitted to perform cremations and the bill clarified “proper training” within 149a.95 subdivision 3, to require completion of a cremator operator certification program. In addition, it included the option of adding training on cremation practice to the body preparation, care or handling requirements (3 CE Hours) of funeral directors ongoing requirements.
6 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
This year’s version of HF1025 (Kiel Crookston) / Senate companion SF1665 (Weber – Luverne), enjoyed broad support from industry stakeholders, the Department of Health, and key legislators. There was some confusion when inaccurate information was provided by some testifiers in a House hearing on the bill. However, we were able to clear that up quickly, as legislators recognize MFDA as the exclusive representatives of the funeral profession and broader funeral industry in Minnesota. Ultimately, the proposal was included in the Supplemental Budget bill, a massive 990-page bill with spending and policy across all agencies. Representative Joe Schomacker (House HHS Reform Chair), Representative Matt Dean (House HHS Finance Chair), and Senator Michelle Benson (Senate HHS Policy and Finance Chair) all strongly supported the measure and, along with their Conference Committee counterparts from the House and Senate, voted to include the language in the package. The Supplemental Budget bill passed both the House and Senate floors with bipartisan support. Unfortunately, the bill was vetoed by Governor Dayton just days after the session adjourned due to
his opposition to a variety of provisions in the bill. The cremator operator language was not among the provisions cited by the Governor as problematic and the Department of Health had sent a letter to legislators in support of the provision. With strong support among legislators on this issue, we should be able to achieve passage again in the future.
Looking Forward MFDA has strong relationships in place and this year was a step forward in terms of grassroots outreach from MFDA members to legislators. Additionally, our solid working relationship with the Department of Health is important for the industry on issues of interest to MFDA members. There is no doubt this helps to avoid miscommunication and offers opportunities to work together to align our goals for the profession. MFDA will continue to attend the Mortuary Science Ad Hoc Committee and collaborate with stakeholders on future proposals. We must also discuss plans for working with a new Administration, as Governor Dayton is not running for re-election. Once we know the general election candidates following the August 14th primary, we should craft a strategy for outreach to talk about issues of concern to the MFDA.
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2018 MFDA Regional District Meetings Held Over the past three months, MFDA traveled around the state for our Regional District Meetings. This was our first time trying this format and believe they were well received by those in attendance. Photos by Sue Sack
MFDA honors 50 year licensee recipients MFDA was privileged to honor Minnesota licensed funeral directors with their 50 year license award at our May 2018 Convention. 50 Year Award Recipients (L to R): Fred Soman, Gary Carlson, Donna Dvorak (U of M Mort Sci Alumni Association), Thomas Williams, and James Ewald. Photo by Miki Tufto
8 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
Be Happy at Rochester’s Hotels MFDA’s 2019 Annual Convention will be held in Rochester for the first time in its history at the Mayo Civic Center on May 2022, 2019. We will highlight areas of downtown Rochester in our Bulletin issues leading up to next May. The DoubleTree by Hilton in Rochester will be one of our preferred hotels for Convention. Hotels in Rochester, Minnesota – the “#1 Happiest Mid-Sized City in America”– are on a mission to share the community’s happiness with visitors. Warm, welcoming, and experienced, Rochester’s hotel staffs remember birthdays, customize recommendations for things to do and places to go, and make sure alarms are properly set.
guests are informed about where to eat and shop, how to set their alarm clocks to make sure they aren’t late for their business meetings or Mayo Clinic appointments, and how to find the pool, spa and business center. Together, the team of bellmen have accrued 80 years of experience at the DoubleTree.
DoubleTree by Hilton: “Treat regular people like they’re famous”
Winter enjoys the variety of his work and, most importantly, the people. Whether they’re the famous individuals he’s met such as Mayo Civic Center entertainers Kenny Rogers, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, or retired athlete Walter Payton, or regular folks just coming through town for whatever reason, Winter gets to know them by name and “spoils em.”
Bellman Steve Winter has been with the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Rochester for 28 years, since deciding his chosen college track of aircraft mechanic wasn’t the right path for him. Winter’s made a name for himself – not only does he know the names of repeat guests, they remember his name, too.
“Every day is different,” Winter says. “I truly enjoy it. I meet so many neat people--VIP people, and they’re just like me and you. They’re all so neat, and polite, and we spoil them. They keep coming back. And people coming for Mayo Clinic, if I can make them smile, I think I’ve done my job.”
Winter’s motto is to “treat regular people like they’re famous” and famous people like they’re regular people, which they love, he remarks.
The DoubleTree’s complimentary sedan service is a favorite among all regulars, with Winter or other bellmen running guests to their nearby appointments as requested. Winter says he reviews a guest’s Mayo itinerary, figures out which clinic building, door and elevator to drop them at and advises them about the
Meet one of Rochester’s “hotel dream teams” that go the extra mile to make guests smile.
Winter is so passionate about his job, he created a 21-step check-in plan for his fellow bellmen to follow in welcoming guests. They make sure incoming
best walking routes to take once they’re inside. At day’s end Winter or a member of his bellmen gang picks them up. Winter is such a go-to guy that he served on the Destination Medical Center planning committee and is a knowledgeable resource for visitors who want to know what to do in Rochester. Whether they’re looking for recommendations on where to eat, recreate, or shop, Winter steers them in the right direction. “I tell people, ‘Minnesota is one place where you can buy your clothes without tax,” he says, and guests generally appreciate the tip. Guests not only appreciate Winter’s efforts, but also those of everyone, literally, in the city. “I hear this comment all the time – ‘Everywhere I go, everyone is so friendly.’ It’s clean too, that’s another comment people make. And people feel safe here,” Winter says. DoubleTree regular Bruce MacArthur of Chicago confirms. “I love Rochester,” the 69-year-old businessman says. MacArthur says he accidentally found the Doubletree 18 years ago and considers it “the greatest hotel in the world. I call it ‘the Mayo Clinic of hospitality.’” MacArthur notes that “the way people treat you in Rochester” is special. “You don’t get that ‘Minnesota Nice’ nickname for nothing,” he says.
Hotels in Rochester, Minnesota – the “#1 Happiest Mid-Sized City in America”– are on a mission to share the community’s happiness with visitors. www.mnfuneral.org 9
A Request from the MFDA Political Action Committee (PAC)
Dear Funeral Service Professional: The 2018 regular legislative session has concluded and we are now looking towards the November 6th general election where Minnesotans will choose their next Governor and control of the Minnesota House of Representatives. The Minnesota Funeral Directors Association has worked hard to have successful legislative sessions over the past few years, working with key legislators who helped us. They know the importance of their local funeral directors to their communities. The MN Funeral Service PAC wants to ensure we help our key legislative allies and we need your support to do that. Why is it important to contribute to the MN Funeral Service PAC? In the past few years, our industry has faced some challenging public policy issues in Minnesota. We continuously work with the Department of Health to voice our concerns and find compromise on different issues – but after the November election we will have a new Governor and Administration. We also work closely with legislators, educating them about funeral service in Minnesota and they ultimately make the decisions on any changes to the mortuary science law. We have strong legislators in our corner, helping to look out for the funeral industry’s best interests. These legislators hear from funeral directors in their districts and we need to thank them for all their help and consideration of our concerns. It is extremely important that as an industry we support legislators, and candidates for Governor, who understand and support our issues. The MN Funeral Service PAC is a political action committee that helps both DFL and Republican office holders and candidates. The money raised from your contributions is used to support the campaigns of legislators and statewide candidates. Now more than ever we need to have a strong political action committee. We are all in this together! Each of us has a stake in the future of the funeral industry in Minnesota – without the help of our friends in the legislature this session; the outcomes could have been very different. We must be part of the process and get involved. In addition to contributing to the Funeral Service PAC, please take the time to reach out to your local legislators or other candidates for office to introduce yourself and your business. It is critical that policy makers know who you are and what you do for your community. Please make your personal check out today to: MN Funeral Service PAC and return your contribution with the form on page 11. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at 763-416-0124. Help support the MN Funeral Service PAC and candidates that have our industry’s best interests in mind. Thank you for your support. This may be one of the best investments you can make for your future. Sincerely,
Shannon Asmus
Shannon Asmus MFDA Legislative Committee Chair
10 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
A Request from the MFDA Political Action Committee (PAC)
Build PAC – CONTRIBUTION FORM Help build the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association Political Action Committee Payment Method: Personal check made payable to MN Funeral Service PAC
Yes, I would like to support the legislative activities of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association. Name
(Please note: MFDA PAC cannot receive corporate contributions – only individuals may contribute)
Address City
State
Zip
Return form and check to: MFDA PAC 7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311
Name of Employer Phone ( ) Email Contribution Level:
$1,000
$750
$500
$250
$100
Other $_____
2019 MFDA BULLETIN ADVERTISING RATES Bulletin is published quarterly by Minnesota Funeral Directors Association. It mails directly to all MFDA members and is also available online for viewing. This publication features topics relevant to the funeral industry and is a great way to reach Minnesota funeral directors and staff. STYLE
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SPRING 2018 Legislative Update By Judy Cook,Full Cook Girard Associates Page (7-1/2 w x 10 h)
REACH KEY FUNERAL HOME DECIONMAKERS!
Rates per issue. Printed quarterly - winter, spring, summer, fall 7046 East Fish Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311 Phone: (763) 416-0124 | Fax: (763) 416-0124 Email: info@mnfuneral.org | www.mnfuneral.org
www.mnfuneral.org 11
Business group partnering with Health Department to fight opioid epidemic In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic and its impact on Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Minnesota Business Partnership (MBP) today released the Opioid Epidemic Response: Employer Toolkit. Opioid addiction continues to be a major public health problem in Minnesota and other states. In 2017, Minnesota recorded 401 opioid-involved deaths and 694 drug overdose deaths, according to preliminary data. In 2016, there were 395 opioid-involved overdose deaths in Minnesota –a rate of 7.4 deaths per 100,000 people compared to the national rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000. Minnesota’s rate of deaths has risen dramatically since 2000, when it was 1.1 deaths per 100,000 residents. The health department and the Minnesota Business Partnership, representing top executives of Minnesota’s largest employers, developed the toolkit through a collaborative effort after MBP approached MDH earlier this year. “The problem of opioid addiction is a massive and complex public health crisis and to address it properly we need to work together across both the public and private sectors,” said Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm. “We are grateful for the efforts of the Minnesota Business Partnership to help protect Minnesotans from this serious health threat.” “Employers are deeply concerned about the opioid crisis and its impact on the health of employees and the State of Minnesota,” said Andrea Walsh,
President and CEO of HealthPartners and co-chair of the MBP Health Policy Committee. “We need to be proactive in preventing addiction, reducing stigma and supporting treatment. This toolkit is an important first step.” The toolkit includes five concrete actions employers can take in preventing and addressing substance use disorder within a workplace: • Change the conversation around opioid use disorder and reduce stigma • Promote safe use, storage and disposal of controlled substances • Prepare for overdose emergencies with naloxone access and training • Access help for those who are dependent on or addicted to opioids • Support wellness of all employees and be a recovery-friendly workplace The toolkit also has sample social media messages, e-mails and flyers employers can customize and distribute to employees according to each workplace’s needs.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, treatment for substance use disorders is highly effective. However, many people only enter treatment after a crisis. The Opioid Epidemic Response: Employer Toolkit provides employers with a chance to intervene early before a crisis occurs. “The Minnesota Business Partnership members will be utilizing the toolkit to collectively engage more than 400,000 Minnesotans,” said MBP Health Policy cochair and APi Group President and CEO Russ Becker. “Our goal is for businesses and other organizations, and even other states, to use this framework to address the opioid crisis.” Access the Opioid Epidemic Response: Employer Toolkit on the MDH Opioid Dashboard. Visit the Opioid Dashboard www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ healthimprovement/opioid-dashboard/ index.html to learn more about opioid emergency response, lifesaving naloxone, treatment and preventing the demand for drugs.
In 2017, Minnesota recorded 401 opioid-involved deaths and 694 drug overdose deaths, according to preliminary data. 12 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
MFDA Order Form
P: 763.249.0393 Ι E: kaasen@cii4print.com Ι F: 763.249.0394
Brochures
Package Quantity Price Per Tax Per Size Ordered Package Package
Description of Item Straight Answers About the Funeral
50
$25.00
$1.85
Why Pre Arrange and Pre Fund Funeral
50
$25.00
$1.85
When Death Occurs Away From Home Medical Assistance Limits on Funeral Pre-Arrangements
50 50
$25.00 $25.00
$1.85 $1.85
Cremation - A Choice With Many Options
50
$25.00
$1.85
Value of a Funeral One Time Logo Set-Up Fee
50
$25.00 $50.00
$1.85 N/A
1
Forms
Package Quantity Price Per Tax Per Size Ordered Package Package
Description of Item Irrevocable Trust Agreements Statement of Funeral Goods and Services Written Authorization to Embalm Certification of Removal
50 50 50 50
Total
Total
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www.mnfuneral.org 13
Allied Member News Passare releases Digital Whiteboards
Director’s Buddy best new product of 2018? NFDA members say it may be! Director’s Buddy is honored to be named one of the finalists for NFDA’s Members’ Choice Award. Formerly known as the Innovation Award, the Members’ Choice Award program is designed to recognize companies dedicated to advancing funeral service through new and inventive products and services.
Passare, Inc. is proud to announce the release of digital whiteboards which are designed to replace the funeral home’s need for a daily schedule to be posted on a whiteboard. Passare is the funeral profession’s only funeral home collaboration system with integrated case management. Through Passare, funeral directors can connect and communicate with families, other team members, and even other locations throughout the funeral planning process. As part of the software solution, Passare offers a robust cloud-based case management platform with unlimited users, unlimited devices, 24/7 access to customer support, and now, customizable digital dashboards with up-to-the-minute information on every case, available anytime, anywhere. “One of the frustrations that funeral directors have with the whiteboard schedule is that you can’t take it with you,” said Jay Thomas, CEO of Passare. “Most funeral directors have to take a picture of the whiteboard every day, but if anything changes throughout the day, it just becomes a headache for everyone. Passare’s digital whiteboards completely remove the need for a whiteboard. Customized dashboards for every team can be accessed on any device, at any time, which keeps everyone on the same page.” With Passare, funeral home owners can create custom dashboard views for each team, from administrators to funeral directors, to prep room staff. Dashboards can then be shared with each team member according to their roles. “Funeral home owners can set up custom displays for every area of the funeral home based on hundreds of data points within Passare,” said Jay. “This feature will also give those who manage the funeral home more visibility into day to day processes. More and more of the homes we talk to want to be able to monitor their processes and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Passare is the only system in the funeral profession with process monitoring capabilities.” To learn more about Passare’s collaboration software with integrated case management, visit us online at www.passare.com.
14 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
DirectorsBuddy.com, developed by funeral directors, is an online marketplace similar in functionality to Amazon but it is only for funeral homes. The pricing is very competitive, the product mix is all-encompassing and in a single time saving purchase you can buy from several different vendors. Who ever thought you would order your toilet paper in the same transaction that you order a casket from the vendor of your choice? Leveraging volume is nothing new to the funeral profession, but has been out of reach for many small funeral homes. Directorsbuddy.com is able to negotiate pricing on many products due to the volume of purchases within the marketplace, bringing previously unattainable pricing to many funeral homes around the United States. The award-winning entry will be revealed at the Opening General Session on Monday, October 15 in Salt Lake City during the 2018 NFDA International Convention & Expo.
Allied Member News 1-800-443-2773
1-844-219-9643
Family owned & operated for over 20 years!
Kelco Supply Company will be part of the “Worlds’ Greatest!...” Television Series Kelco Supply Company announced today that they have recently been selected to be part of the popular television series “World’s Greatest!...” produced by How2Media of Boynton Beach, FL. “World’s Greatest!...” is a thirty minute show dedicated to highlighting the world’s greatest companies, products, places, and people. Each show is a fast paced tour around the world featuring behind the scenes footage, informative interviews, and exciting visuals. As part of the show, How2Media sent a film crew to spend time at the company’s facilities in Big Lake, Minnesota, just Northwest of Minneapolis, to find out what the story behind the story is about with Kelco Supply Company, and to show the “World’s Greatest!...” viewers why they were selected as the best in their category, and therefore featured on the show. Watch for their upcoming episode to air on September 24, 2018. More information on Kelco’s website and Facebook page will be posted soon. For information about where to watch episode 262 of World’s Greatest, please search for www.worldsgreatesttelevision.com/tv_schedule/ Kelco Supply company is a cremation and funeral supply company that has been providing quality products to funeral professionals since 1939. “Staying true to our commitment of being there for our clients, we never stop searching for the perfect additions to our already exceptional product offering. Our motto is “Like you’re there for your families, we’re there for you”, and we live by this by offering unique and meaningful items at all price points” said Alicia Carr, CEO for Kelco Supply Company. How2Media is a 21st Century television production company. Their award winning programming can be seen on national cable channels and local network affiliates across the country. For more information on How2Media and their show lineup, please visit How2Media.tv.
New • Used • Leasing • Financing
www.4HEARSE.com www.mnfuneral.org 15
U of M Mortuary Science Update By Michael LuBrant, Program Director
Dear Colleagues, My hope is that you enjoyed a pleasant summer with friends and family members. Having survived the late-April snow storm, it is hard to believe that we had so many 90+ degree days this past summer. And now October is here and Fall Semester classes are well underway. We have been keeping very busy over the past few months with several projects and activities here in the program. Probably the most significant project we have been working on is the preparation of a comprehensive Self-Study report for our re-accreditation by the American Board of Funeral Service Education (ABFSE). The ABFSE is the organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for the oversight of the 59 accredited funeral service education programs across the United States. In addition to the preparation of detailed annual reports for the ABFSE, each program must undergo a comprehensive review process every seven years. As part of this review process, the program prepares an extensive selfstudy document, the purpose of which is to assess its compliance with the ABFSE’s accreditation Standards. (For a complete presentation of the Standards, please visit: http://www.abfse.org/docs/ standards.pdf) We are now completing this report, which must be submitted to the ABFSE in advance of the on-campus visit, to take place September 1820th. During the site visit, the program will be reviewed by a team of three people: The team chairperson (who is specially trained in higher education assessment, and who is not a funeral service practitioner); an educator from another ABFSE-accredited program; and a funeral service practitioner. The team will use information presented in the self-study report to evaluate the program’s operating procedures and
policies. The report also serves as a basis for discussions with faculty, students, staff, program administrators, and clinical preceptors about the overall operation of the program. During their visit, the team prepares a comprehensive report of their findings that is presented to the ABFSE’s Committee on Accreditation (COA) for its review. In accordance with U.S. Department of Education policy, the COA is an autonomous committee of the ABFSE; it is made up of several educators, one representative each from NFDA, CANA, NFD&MA, and a member of the public. Based on their review of the program’s self-study document and the site visit team report, members of the COA will decide the program’s reaccreditation status when they gather for the ABFSE Annual Meeting in April, 2019. As you know from previous articles I have written, we continue to work hard for the goal of maintaining our compliance with the accreditation Standards, and are hopeful our accreditation will again be renewed for a period of seven years. I will keep you posted about progress as we move forward with the reaccreditation process. In other news, we are very pleased to welcome Ashley Mishek to the program, in her role as our second Student Services Professional. Ashley will be working alongside our current Student Services Professional, Robyn Meunier, who joined us three years ago. Presently, Robyn is working for the program four days a week. Beginning in October, Robyn and Ashley will each be working for us at 50% time, in a job-share capacity. This arrangement will allow us not only to staff the office five days a week, but will also ensure that two people are trained to do the advisory and administrative tasks required of the position. Many folks might not realize this, but in order to use the various University’s enterprise
management system tools required of this position, the person doing this work must complete over 50 separate training sessions! Having two people trained in our operating systems will help to ensure we always have properly trained staff available to conduct the many important tasks of this position. I would ask that you please extend to Ashley a warm welcome when next you call our office, or meet with her at a program event or gathering. I appreciated visiting with our friends and colleagues during the Fall MFDA District Meetings. At these meetings, I provided a program update report, and answered questions attendees had. If you have not already done so, please “like” us on Facebook (www.facebook. com/ummortsci).
I have uploaded a number of photos I took at both the MFDA convention in May and AFDA meeting in April, in addition to pictures taken at other program events. Facebook is a good way to keep up with program happenings, so please visit us often. Thank you for your continued support of our work in the program of mortuary science at the University of Minnesota. Go Gophers! Sincerely, Michael LuBrant Program Director
Thank you for your continued support of our work in the program of mortuary science at the University of Minnesota. Go Gophers! 16 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
Book Review: “Talking About Death Won’t Kill You.” by Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller By Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez, LLC
Your mother can speak on just about any subject. Family issues, money, old music, new technology, cooking, fashion, she’ll teach you all day. Ask her about one certain topic, though, and her lips are sealed tight but with “Talking About Death Won’t Kill You” by Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller, you can school Mom on a thing or two. One year prior to her second go-around for a PhD program, Kathy Kortes-Miller received a diagnosis of cancer, which altered her life and her career path. Naturally, she was fearful. She said aloud that she didn’t want to die, and her statement was brushed aside. Nobody would even discuss death, she says, and though she obviously lived, she wishes today that someone had taken time to talk to her about her fears and the outcome she might’ve had. “Death education,” as she calls it, should never be ignored. We spend years getting an education, we spend months researching a car or a new home, but we spend very little time learning to die – and that’s unfortunate. Dying, she believes, is actually an important part of living, which is why you should have That Conversation.
“Dying matters,” Kortes-Miller says, and until a few decades ago, that was a given; people were much more comfortable with death and the things attached to it. Death was a social event, as it is today, but it seems now as though we’re afraid to have a discussion about it, lest we invite it. The important thing is, everybody dies sometime so we may as well get comfortable with that. When having That Conversation, gently tease out whatever fears remain, and face them by becoming “death literate.” Talk about “advance care planning” and the legacy you want. Know that family relations are complicated and that a proxy may absolutely be necessary. Write down everything you want health-care providers to know. Don’t be afraid to involve children and don’t use euphemisms. And finally, new technology gives a twist to something as old as life itself. Know how to use it right.
end-of-life matters, and a matter-of-fact passage on what happens when we pass. But this book isn’t only for consumers: physicians and health-care workers are given attention here, too, because KortesMiller indicates a not-always-fulfilled need for That Conversation in hospitals and hospice situations. There are chapters here for parents and for caregivers, for adult children, for CEOs, and for workbuddies. On the latter, Kortes-Miller helps employers to create a better, more compassionate workplace. This book probably isn’t anybody’s idea of a beach read, so grab it and grab opportunities for That Conversation. “Talking About Death Won’t Kill You” and, of course, neither will reading about it.
Dr. Kathy Kortes-Miller Photo by: Jessica L. Wyatt Photography
You don’t have to be elderly to get a lot out of “Talking About Death Won’t Kill You.” You don’t even have to be dying to read this book. MINNESOTA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
Save the date!
Even if you’re hale and in the bloom of life, Dr. Kathy KortesMiller has plenty to teach you, including questions you can ask to dig deep into your own feelings on
“Death education,” as she calls it, should never be ignored. We spend years getting an education, we spend months researching a car or a new home, but we spend very little time learning to die – and that’s unfortunate.
129TH ANNUAL
CONVENTION
May 20-22, 2019 MAYO CIVIC CENTER, ROCHESTER, MN
www.mnfuneral.org 17
Cremation on the Rise: NFDA Predicts the National Cremation Rate Will Climb by a Third Within 20 Years NFDA 2018 Cremation and Burial Report Reveals Rate Will Surpass 80 Percent in 12 States Over the next 18 years, the rate of cremation in the United States is projected to increase by nearly 30 percent according to the 2018 Cremation and Burial Report, released by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). Already having outpaced the rate of burial for three consecutive years, the national cremation rate will reach nearly 80 percent (or 2.80 million cremations per year) by 2035, based on a variety of factors including changing consumer preference, weakening religious prohibitions and environmental concerns. NFDA members may download a copy of the report from the NFDA website at www.bit.ly/CremationReport The report and other exclusive cremation-related resources are available to you at no cost as a benefit of your membership (login required). According to the 2018 report, the 2018 cremation rate is projected to be 53.5 percent and the burial rate is projected to be 40.5 percent. While cremation gains popularity nationwide, burial remains the leading end-of-life choice in several southern states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia. However, by 2035, the rate of cremation in all 50 states will exceed 50 percent, up from only 20 states over that threshold in 2016. Moreover, 12 states – located in the northern area of the country – will far surpass a 50-percent rate of cremation five years before 2035. By 2030, NFDA predicts these 12 states (Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire,
cemetery and 8.6 percent are placed in a columbarium. An additional 19.8 percent of cremated remains are scattered at non-cemetery locations.
Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming) will reach a cremation rate greater than 80 percent, exceeding the anticipated average national rate for 2035. In general, the rate of cremation tends to be higher in large urban areas, as cities often have a more transient population and a higher demand for land and burial plots. Funeral homes have responded by establishing licensed crematories, with approximately 30 percent of funeral homes now operating their own crematories. “As families’ end-of-life preferences evolve, our members are helping them understand the wide range of options available when it comes to honoring the life of a loved one who wishes to be cremated,” says 2017-18 NFDA President Kenneth A. Cahall, CFSP, CCO. “Funeral directors are committed to ensuring every family is able to commemorate the life of their loved one in a personal, meaningful way, regardless of whether they choose cremation or burial.” One choice families may not know they have is having a full funeral service and viewing prior to cremation, an option that 26.9 percent of families chose in 2016. While 39 percent of cremated remains are returned to families, 37.1 percent of remains are buried at a cemetery, 1.6 percent of remains are scattered at a
According to the 2018 NFDA Consumer Awareness and Preferences Study, of the 61 percent of Americans who would choose cremation for themselves, 51.1 percent would prefer to have their remains scattered in a sentimental place. With shifting consumer preferences and ever-expanding options, families may not know where to begin. Created by NFDA, RememberingALife.com serves as a guide to honoring a life well-lived, from planning a tribute to mourning a loved one. The site offers guidance on how to start the planning process, the kinds of decisions consumers will make, and the many options available to make a tribute personal and meaningful. The site highlights information on service options, details about cremation and burial, and prefunding options. If visitors can’t find exactly what they are looking for, they can fill out the “Ask a Funeral Expert” form and an experienced professional will get them the information they need or refer them to a local NFDA-member funeral director for further assistance. About the NFDA 2018 Cremation and Burial Report: The statistical projections contained in the 2018 NFDA Cremation and Burial Report were compiled by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Applied Population Laboratory Department of Community and Environmental Sociology. State-level deaths by method of disposition data were collected from state vital statistics departments or similar state regulatory agencies for the years 2002-16. Other findings presented in the report are from proprietary NFDA research studies, such as the 2018 NFDA Consumer Awareness & Preferences Study.
By 2035, the rate of cremation in all 50 states will exceed 50 percent, up from only 20 states over that threshold in 2016. 18 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
Risk Mangement Corner: Cybersecurity and Small Business By Federated Insurance Tip 4: Change default passwords on your router and other Internet-connected devices. Tip 5: Use a trusted VPN service when using Wi-Fi. Tip 6: Back up your data regularly both to the cloud and to a removable device. Tip 7 Update firmware and software regularly.
It’s nearly impossible these days for businesses to operate without the help of Internet-connected devices, which exposes them to cybercrime. It’s the small- to medium-sized businesses that are especially vulnerable: half are victims of cybercrime and nearly two-thirds of those victims go out of business.1 Hackers increasingly target small businesses because there is a low risk they will be caught and a high probability they will be successful. Maintaining personally identifiable information (PII) on a computer connected to the Internet creates a nearly unavoidable risk. More than likely, names, addresses, and employment information are stored. If PII is acquired by someone without the authority to do so, that may result in a data breach. Banking, credit, and vendor account information is also vulnerable. Even if that valuable information is not stored on an Internet-connected computer, employees who have access to it can be duped into handing it over to criminals. Best Practices and Security Tips Tip 1: Train Employees in Information Technology Security. Training should be offered, especially to those who are responsible for accounts payable, human resources records, and wire transfers. Training for all employees should be reinforced periodically.
Tip 8: Provide firewall security for your Internet connection. Ensure your operating system’s firewall is enabled, especially if have employees working from home. Tip 9: Limit employees’ authority to install software and their access to only necessary information and data. Tip 10: Require employees to update unique passwords every three months. Security professionals used to strive for perfect security, but today they accept that goal as unachievable. Instead, they strive for optimal security by combining best practices with a risk management program that considers purchasing data compromise and cyber coverage through a knowledgeable insurance provider. Cyber Shield® from Federated Insurance is a two-part coverage program designed to help provide essential protection against many of the critical cyber and privacy exposures businesses face. Data Compromise Coverage and Cyber Coverage can help your company recover from intentional or accidental breaches.* Visit federatedinsurance.com for more information or to find your local Federated representative. 1”Small Business, Big threat: Protecting Small Businesses from Cyber Attacks,” Statement for the Record: Dr. Jane LeClair, Chief Operating Officer, National Cybersecurity Institute at Excelsior College Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Small Business, 4/22/15. https://smallbusiness.house.gov/ uploadedfiles/4-22-2015__dr.__leclair__testimony.pdf 2 The leading e-mail authentication protocols are SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance); best practice is to utilize the three protocols together. https://dmarc.org/2016/03/best-practices-for-email-senders/ 3”Cybersecurity for Small Business.” Online at https://www.fcc.gov/general/cybersecurity-small-business * Coverage will be determined solely by the circumstances of the event and the terms of your policy, if approved for issue. This article is not an offer of insurance.
Employees should be instructed to refrain from clicking links or attachments in e-mails, and not to pay an invoice until it’s confirmed that the sender actually sent it. Even if the e-mail appears to be from a trusted source, employees should learn to always copy and paste links or type URLs into a browser to see if the address is valid. Tip 2: Funds Transfers. Put a policy in place to have an inperson or telephone conversation to confirm e-mail requests for funds or personal information. It can greatly reduce the likelihood of fraudulent transfers or information sharing. Tip 3: E-mail Authentication. Phishing can be substantially reduced by verifying that the e-mail originated from the domain it is associated with. If your domain is hosted, it’s worth taking some time to look at how your e-mail is set up to ensure proper authentication schemes are used.2
www.mnfuneral.org 19
IN MEMORIAM Rick S. Deutsch, Minnesota funeral director, 58, of Grand Rapids, MN passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Saturday, July 14, 2018, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Waldo Randall, Minnesota funeral director, of Braham passed away at Ecumen North Branch on Monday, July 23, following an 18-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 90 years old.
Rick was born in 1959 to Robert and Sheila Deutsch in Deer River, MN. He graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1978. On August 18, 1979, Rick was united in marriage to Janet Adams in Deer River, MN. Rick earned his Bachelor of Science degree and graduated from the University of Minnesota-Program of Mortuary Science. He worked as a funeral director in various communities across Minnesota prior to settling back in his hometown where he was most recently employed with Rowe Funeral Home. His greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family.
Waldo, the son of Algot and Selma Randall, was born on April 8, 1928 at the Braham Hospital. The family resided in Henriette and it was there that he attended his first 8 years of school. He graduated high school at Pine City in 1946.
He is preceded in death by his father, Robert “Bob” Deutsch. Rick is survived by his wife, Janet; his children, Rick (Melissa) Deutsch, Becky (Bill) Boucher, Andrea (Brandon) Grugel, and Diana (Matt Kluthe) Deutsch; his mother, Sheila Deutsch; his siblings, Gregg (Michelle) Deutsch, Todd (Kim) Deutsch, and Tami Rakos; 4 grandchildren, Ricky and Robert Deutsch, and Joslinn and Avery Boucher; and many nieces and nephews. A gathering of family and friends was held July 27 at Klockow Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MN. A visitation was held on July 28. Memorial Service at the Grand Rapids Alliance Church, Grand Rapids, MN.
20 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
In 1951 he was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, being discharged in 1953. Later, he was working for the MN State Highway Dept. when he decided to take advantage of the G.I. Bill, to attend the U of M and earn a degree in Mortuary Science. He graduated with an Associate Degree in 1958 and served his apprenticeship at the Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar. Waldo proudly held a funeral director’s license for 50 years. In 1959, he married Dixie Sando and they moved to Rochester where they lived for 6 years. He was employed by the Vine Funeral Home. In September of 1965 Waldo and Dixie moved to Braham, working for the Rock Funeral Home. In 1971 it became the Rock-Randall Funeral Home as the business was purchased from Wally Rock. They raised their 3 children, Heidi, Eric and Jed during these busy years. Waldo enjoyed many outdoor activities such as fishing, hunting, collecting maple syrup, cutting wood, etc. He also enjoyed traveling and could proudly tell you he had been in every state in the union. He also did some foreign traveling and was especially happy to visit the birthplace of his father in Sweden. Waldo had a great sense of humor which many friends can attest to. And he loved to “talk Henriette”. Waldo loved the Braham community and happily served on the boards of Park Manor and Braham Ev. Lutheran Church. He was active with the Braham Commercial Club. An important part of his day was having coffee at the Park Café.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Alvin, and grandson Logan. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dixie; three children, Heidi (Troy) Wilson, Eric (Amy), and Jed (Elisa), 6 grandchildren, Isaiah, Luke, Ben, Axel, Aria, and Tia; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. A Funeral Service was held July 27, 2018 at the Braham Ev. Lutheran Church. Rev. Julie Beck officiated. Music was provided by Ruth Grundyson, Andrea Downing, and Pam Fokken. Casket Bearers were Donald Holmquist, Art Kaunonen, Harold Hagfors, James Staupe, Loren Christensen, and Stanley Nelson. Honorary Casket Bearers were Kenny Evenson, Alver Lindberg, and Neil Warnberg. Interment was in the Rice Lake Cemetery in Braham. Arrangements were by the Rock Ingebrand Funeral Home of Braham. Condolences may be posted at www.aifuneralhome.com Michael A. Lindboe, husband of former MFDA Office Secretary Vesta Lindboe, age 76 of Brooklyn Park, passed away on Aug. 12, 2018. Survived by wife, Vesta; children, Dennis (Jeri), Doug (Shannon), Debra (Jim) Minelli; 9 grandchildren; siblings, Larry (Cyndee), James (Kat). Memorial Service was held August 17 at EvansNordby Funeral Home, 6000 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center with visitation 1 hour prior to the service. If so desired, memorials may be given to the family.
Carolyn Comstock, mother of Roger Ruth of Aurora Casket Company, age 80, of Fontanelle died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018, at Good Samaritan Society in Fontanelle, IA. Funeral services were held Sept. 11 at United Methodist Church in Greenfield with burial following in Greenfield Cemetery. Visitation was held Sept. 10 with family present at Steen Funeral Home, 101 SE Fourth St., in Greenfield. Memorials may be directed to Fontanelle Public Library. Online condolences may be left at www.steenfunerals.com. Carolyn Josephine (Bolton Ruth) Comstock was born November 9, 1937, to William Charles and Clara Josephine (Prewitt) Bolton on a farm north of Fontanelle in Adair County, Iowa. Carolyn rode her pony to country school as a child, and then graduated from Fontanelle High School in 1956. Following high school, Carolyn worked first for the bank in Fontanelle and then for Schildberg Construction after she moved to Greenfield. Later, after she got all the kids into school, she worked at the automotive shop at Schildberg’s, Inc. After the death of her first husband LeRoy (Bud) Ruth, she also worked at G&H Freight and then Zion Treatment Center. She retired in 2010 from Mather Pharmacy, where she worked for approximately 11 years. Carolyn married LeRoy (Bud) Ruth in September 1960. Together they raised five children: Carol Jo, Ryan Lee, Carmen Sue, Roger Dean, and Dee Ann. They lived on Highway 92, across from the high school where they raised their children in a neighborhood full of kids who had to play outside. They enjoyed taking family trips to Yellowstone, Colorado, upstate New York, and Michigan, and camping in a green canvas army tent along rivers and beside out-of-the way ponds. Carolyn also enjoyed singing in the choir at the Methodist Church, playing the piano, attending every single sporting event and show her kids were in, playing cards and going to dances. Bud passed away suddenly in 1983. Carolyn married Paul Comstock on September 15, 1984, at the United
Methodist Church in Greenfield, Iowa. They purchased and renovated a big square farmhouse in rural Greenfield. Nothing was more important to Carolyn than her family. Carolyn and Paul quietly blended two families into one large, noisy family. The Easter and Christmas hams, the Thanksgiving turkeys and the wonderful summer days enjoying the love and laughter of kids, grandkids, and the great-grandchildren delighted Carolyn. Carolyn also enjoyed trips to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. She and Paul spent many hours winding up and down a mountain road, choosing a road less travelled. Whether it was camping with the kids, long weekends boating in the Ozarks or boat trips up and down the Missouri River, Carolyn and Paul enjoyed their adventures together. Sometimes just getting out of town for a day or two was all they needed, but they also loved mowing their 4-acre yard together on their matching lawn tractors. After Paul’s death in 2014, Carolyn made the difficult decision to sell their treasured farmhouse and buy a smaller house in Fontanelle. She quickly learned to love her independence as she renewed friendships from country school days and made new friends as well. Her days were filled with her weekly coffee group, visits with friends, dinners out, and quiet time reading her Kindle and playing solitaire. As always though, her family came first and she always had time for her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and other relatives. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Richard (Dick) and Donald (Don) Bolton, husbands Bud Ruth and Paul Comstock, and step-son Chad Comstock. Carolyn is survived by seven children: Carol Narigon, Dayton, OH, Ryan (Diane) Ruth, Anchorage, AK, Carmen (Craig) Don Carlos, Huxley, IA, Roger Ruth, Minneapolis, MN, Dee Ann Ruth, Fontanelle, IA, Chris (Lori) Comstock, Lenox, IA, and Adam (Mindy) Comstock, Greenfield, IA; 15 grandchildren: Carey (Brent) Ponce, Brandon (Dakota) Narigon, Kaila Ruth, Sophie Narigon, Kalvin (Angela) Ruth, Ashlie (Shawn) Moran, Trevor Wambold, Aaron Comstock, Tanner Wambold, Rick Welsch, Tucker Wambold, Ruth Ann Welsch, Mylee and Chase Comstock; 6 great-grandchildren:
Alexis and Jaxon Ponce, Cassius Narigon, Coraline Holquist, Brody and Brysen Moran and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorials may be directed to the Fontanelle Public Library, Fontanelle, IA. Gregory Dean (Greg) Anderson, of Great Western Insurance, of Burnsville, passed away on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at Fairview University Hospital from complications due to a stroke following his recent heart surgery. He was surrounded by his children and went peacefully. Greg was born in Fillmore County on June 22, 1953, to Amos and Helen (Tolrud) Anderson. He was proud to be a funeral director for the majority of his working career and found satisfaction helping families which was well known as one of his innate qualities. He was funny, caring, enigmatic and true to himself. He never shied away from a good time, but he also worked hard every day to make a difference in the lives of those he loved. His hobbies of gardening, boating, cooking and music are just a few of which he was known for. His storytelling was top notch and he could have even the most stoic people laughing, even if they’d already heard the story a million times. Greg was a long-time member of the Zuhrah Shrine Horsemen and a proud member of The Torske Klubben. He is survived by his kids, Thomas Anderson (Tami), Lindsey Anderson Watson (Wes), John Anderson (Kristina Janu) and Jessica Norem (Tony); grandkids, Garrett, Aurora, Lillian and Ashton. Visitation was held September 27 at Washburn-McReavy Werness Chapel, 2300 West Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington and ½ hr. prior to the funeral service at Lakewood. Funeral Service was held September 28, at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hennepin Ave. So., Minneapolis. Committal service at Crown Hill Cemetery, Preston, MN.
www.mnfuneral.org 21
Announcing MFDA’s CAREER CENTER at www.mnfuneral.org ,
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22 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2018
POWERED BY
SPECIAL THANKS TO MFDA’S 2018 ALLIED MEMBERS
MFDA thanks those individuals who have shown their commitment to MFDA and its members by becoming Allied members. To contact a member, call the MFDA office at 763-416-0124, refer to your MFDA Directory, or visit the online MFDA Buyer’s
Anatomy Bequest Program Jake Anderson, Andrew Ashton, Paul Hill, Angela McArthur, Sarah Paulsen, John Straub, Tamara Voss www.bequest.umn.edu Artco Casket Company, Inc. Al Whitmer, Steve Doscher, Wally Gelecinskyj www.artcocasket.com Asphalt Associates Brad Larson www.asphalt-associates.com Baines Professional Vehicles John Baines www.4hearse.com Batesville Mark Worley www.batesville.com Brown-Wilbert, Inc. Dave Gavin, Christopher Brown, Andrew Brown, Bruce Bratton, Brett Jacobsen, Maleia Kavitz, John Schmitt, Jeff Bauer, Jerry Brown www.brown-wilbert.com Children’s Grief Connection Coral Popowitz www.childrensgriefconnection.com Cousineau, VanBergen, McNeese and Malone Michael Sharkey www.cvmmlaw.com Custom Goldsmithing Inc. First Impressions Fingerprint Jewelry Jake Fuhrman www.jewelrythatmatters.com
Federated Insurance Connor Odykirk www.federatedinsurance.com
MAS Communications Mary Reeves www.mascommunications.net
Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association Kari A. Hubbard www.forestlawnmn.com
Matthews Aurora Casket Roger Ruth, Alexis Smith www.matw.com
Funeral Directors Life John Harrington Scott Tufto www.funeraldirectorslife.com Funeral Home Gifts Karl Weisenbeck www.funeralhomegifts.com Graceful Burial Kelly Moore www.gracefulburial.com Hays Companies Scott Stence www.hayscompanies.com Heritage Bank Dean Steinwand www.heritagebankna.com Homesteaders Life Company Steve Byhre www.homesteaderslife.com Johnson Williams Funeral Car Todd Anderson www.jwfuneralcars.com Keith M. Merrick Co., Inc. Kyle Grimes www.keithmerrick.com Kelco Supply Alicia Carr www.kelcosupply.com
Decorating Den Interiors Gina Wolleat www.gina.decoratingden.com
Keystone Funeral Home Design Build Russ Karasch www.keystone.db.com
Director’s Buddy Brian Denny www.directorsbuddy.com
Laker Insurance Patrick Zalusky
Dodge Company Lincoln Plain www.dodgeco.com Federated Funeral Directors of America Kim Alexander www.federated-funeral.com
LifeSource Organ and Tissue Donation Melinda DeVries www.life-source.org
Messenger Bob Hoaglund www.messengerstationery.com Midwest Medical Examiners Office Angie Chalmers www.midwestmedicalexaminer.com Monumental Sales Dave Dobe www.sunburstmemorials.com Mutual of America Tom Burkhart www.mutualofamerica.com Northwestern Casket Co. David Koll www.nwcasket.com Pekin Life Insurance Company Michelle Vos www.pekininsurance.com Pluto Boes Legal Cheryl Vos www.plutolegal.com Senior Advantage Consultants Julie and Jim Palm www.sradvantageconsultants.com Steinhaus Supply Services Steven Steinhaus United Heritage Insurance Bob Hanson www.unitedheritage.com University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Michael LuBrant www.mortuaryscience.umn.edu Wieser Vault Matt Wieser, Todd Wieser www.wieser-doric.com Willmar Precast Company Ron Jasperson
Lions Gift of Sight (Formerly Minnesota Lions Eye Bank) Sara McFee www.mnlionseyebank.org
www.mnfuneral.org 23
Make a Splash
Families aren’t coloring inside the lines anymore. And neither should we. Did you know that funeral homes around the nation are connecting with families and making a splash on social media? Funeral Directors Life is leading the way in helping funeral homes harness the power of social media to engage with families with low cost lead generation, custom web videos, and tasteful, relevant content management to enhance your presence on social media.
funeral DIreCtors lIfe Endorsed Preneed Provider for MFDA
www.funeraldirectorslife.com | 800-692-9515
To learn more, contact Drew Seale at drew.seale@funeraldirectorslife.com or call (800) 692-9515 ext. 6386.
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