MFDA Bulletin Winter 2015

WINTER 2015

BULLETIN

PUBLISHED QUARTERLY FOR THE MINNESOTA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.

Happy Holidays from MFDA!

As part of the MFDA Winter Board of Directors Meeting in Bloomington on Dec. 2-3, board members and their spouses, MFDA staff, and FDLIC staff went to Build-a-Bear Workshop in the Mall of America to make bears to donate to the camp. At camp, grieving children get to pick out a teddy bear to bring them comfort during the weekend and take home with them. If there are any families that you serve that could use Hearts of Hope family camp, please call 218-372-8420 or visit www.childrensgriefconnection.com.

Change Service Requested Minnesota Funeral Directors Association 7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311

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Death

Minnesota Funeral Directors Association

In This Issue Executive Director’s Report........................................... 4

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF AND OTHER CONTACTS President Shawn Kirby Kolden Funeral Service Le Sueur, MN shawntkirby@yahoo.com

Secretary Ashley Hoff-Czaplewski Hoff Funeral and Cremations Service St. Charles, MN hoff.ashleymarie@gmail.com

Treasurer Jeff Hartquist Hartquist Funeral Home Luverne, MN engebretson@iw.net

Past President Michael Cudmore Cease Funeral Home Bagley, MN michaelwcudmore@yahoo.com

From the President......................................................... 5 Laying Law Enforcement to Rest............................... 6-7 CGC We Remember.......................................................8 Winter 2015 Legislative Update.....................................9 Leadership Academy Meetings.....................................10 HR Question of the Month............................................ 11 Who Discovered America?............................................12 MFDA Book Review.......................................................13 Historical Highlights Part V..................................... 14-15 In Memoriam.............................................................16-17

DISTRICT DIRECTORS

MFDA Allied Members.................................................18

Kelly J. Kelly (District 1) Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes Kasson, MN kjkell0803@yahoo.com

Dan Dahl (District 10) Dahl Funeral Home East Grand Forks, MN dahlfuneralhome@midconetwork.com

Tonya D. Borth (District 2) Schoenbauer Funeral Home Le Center, MN tonya_04@hotmail.com

Chris Jacobson (District 11) Bell Brothers Funeral Home, Duluth, MN chris.jacobson@tlcofduluth.com

Marquis Madison (District 3) Totzke Funeral Home Fulda, MN totzke@mchsi.com Lance Peterson (District 4/5) Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and Cremation Service Willmar, MN lance@petersonbrothers.com Scott Benson (District 6 & 7) Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, Inc. Robbinsdale, MN sbenson@delmore.com Doyle Hofer (District 8) Emblom-Brenny Funeral Service Little Falls, MN doyle@emblombrennyfuneral.com Steve Sheets, CFSP (District 9) Schoeneberger Funeral Home Perham MN sheets.steve@yahoo.com

Classifieds.......................................................................19

2016 Calendar May 23-25, 2016, MFDA 126th Annual Convention Treasure Island Resort & Casino, Red Wing, MN

POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE Leif Larsen

Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN llarsen@greenlarsen.com

PAST PRESIDENT REP Norman Larsen

Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN nlarsen@greenlarsen.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Darlyne Erickson, CAE 763-416-0124 952-451-8950 (cell) info@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 Accomplish This: • 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

7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311 p: (763) 416-0124 f: (763) 545-9499 e: info@mnfuneral.org www.mnfuneral.org

• Advocacy on behalf of consumers and members • 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 ©2015 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.

Classified ads are also available at $50 for up to 75 words. 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 Wrapping Up 2015 I must say that I look forward to December, and not because of the holiday season, although that is second on my list. It’s been a very busy fall, and I feel I can breathe a little bit. District meetings went well in September and I thank all who were able attend. October included a very successful two day accredited insurance class and the NFDA convention which several of us attended. When you walk in and see 6,000 people it does make an impact!

Last week we had our Winter MFDA Board meeting and I am thrilled to say that we had 100% attendance. I am so very appreciative of all of the men and women who have stepped up to serve your association. The districts are well represented and as members, you should be very grateful for their participation. There is always a learning curve for new board members and my suggestion is always to listen, learn, and ask questions and I feel all of the newer board members get that. This bunch is never afraid to ask questions! Feel free to contact your district representative if you have any questions or concerns. The board meets monthly on a conference call, and meets face to face in May, August, and December.

In addition to discussing the business of MFDA, i.e. financials, future planning, etc. at the December meeting, we invite outside speakers that are involved in with our profession.

The area of Mass Fatality Management in Minnesota is being readdressed after being idle for a few years. Fortunately we have not had recent incidents that required activation, however, we know that it is always a possibility. For this reason we invited two individuals who are working on the reorganization.

Chad Ostlund with the MN Department of Health has been hired to reorganize the D-MERT Team, the group of volunteers that would be called into service. Funeral directors make up the majority of this group.

If you are someone who has signed up to volunteer on the Emergency Management website, you will be hearing from the D-MERT group soon.

Shawn Wilson, HCMC Medical Examiner’s Office / ME Consortium. Reported on the status of the Disaster Portable Morgue Unit which is being held at the MSP Airport.

Discussions with Ann Kukowski, acting manager of the MDH Mortuary Science Section and Carlena Weiland, investigator focused on what topics MFDA wants to bring to the table in the next see discussed at the AdHoc committee meetings and clarification of the new education requirements.

Bruce Matza of Innovations in Management gave us an update on the Leadership Academy, which I am pleased to report has had three sessions through the end of this year. An excellent group of “students” and the evaluations are very thoughtful and positive.

The second topic was a presentation on “A Funeral Director’s End of Life Continuum” also presented by Bruce Matza. I cannot recap the full presentation here, but it involves the consideration of expanding the continuum of services that we traditionally think of funeral service. Moving from a vision of owning the death care space to a broader vision of owning the end of life space. We had some very interesting and thoughtful conversations during and following this presentation and this is probably something that we will look at closer going forward.

Executive Director Coral Popowitz of the Children’s Grief Connection (CGC) presented an update on all of the activities going on with the CGC. The organization’s board of directors recently did strategic planning with Bruce Matza. Through this strategic planning an area the CGC will be focusing on is exposure to a greater audience for their fundraising events: the Frunge (held the first Saturday of March at Lola’s Lakehouse in Waconia) and Tuxedos and Tiaras (held the first Saturday in October). For the Frunge on March 5, 2016, the CGC will be working with Hubbard Broadcasting to have radio spots for a month leading up to the Frunge on KS95 in the Twin Cities and have an on-site appearance by their radio personality on the day of the Frunge. The promotions will also include social media exposure through KS95 for the event. The CGC would like to include the relationship of its organization being founded by MFDA in all radio spots and promotions. The MFDA Board agreed to support the CGC Frunge with a donation of $5,300 which will go towards this public relations campaign on KS95.

Finally, membership renewals will be going out this month. The MFDA Board and I want to thank you in advance for supporting YOUR association. Membership is always a choice, and there are funeral homes who make the choice not to join. This is a business decision and I can respect that. However, in doing so they are allowing their fellow funeral directors, and competitors, to make decisions on the future of their occupation. I don’t know that I would want others to make those decisions for me. I encourage you all to be part of the solution in a profession that is changing.

Again, thank you and Happy Holidays!

Darlyne Erickson MFDA Executive Director

4 MFDA Bulletin • WINTER 2015

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Creating Value in Yourself

By Shawn T. Kirby

Wishing all our members, brothers, and sisters in this industry a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year.

2015 has been an exciting year and gone by extremely quickly. I have been blessed this year with a very pleasant and smooth road serving as your president of our association. I attribute much of the success this year to our Executive Director Darlyne Erickson and an outstanding board of directors. I am delighted to welcome four new board members this year and for the first time in years, we have a complete board represented by every district with a full executive board, (my life couldn’t be any easier). I attribute much of the success of the association to the leadership programs and strategic planning Bruce Matza has brought to our association.

December 1-December 3 our board of directors assembled in Bloomington and laid out some direction and a plan for the 2016 year. Of course, we are very excited about our 2016 State Convention at Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Red Wing, MN on May 23-25. We feel we have a great line up of speakers, programs, and entertainment for all members. Please be sure to keep our dates in mind and attend, we look forward to seeing you in May. We also invited the Minnesota Department of Health and University of Minnesota Department of Mortuary Science to our winter board meeting. It was nice to hear what is going on in these departments and renew our relationships with these entities. Our concerns were shared and our questions were addressed and of course, we heard updates from

them which we bring to you.

No doubt we are in the giving season, so I feel it is important to mention the wonderful relationship our association has had with the Children’s Grief Connection. What a wonderful resource for us all to have. Please keep them in your hearts this holiday season.

If you know of a family that could use their love and compassion, please contact them.

Of course, if you feel you can help them out, go to www.childrensgriefconection. com and offer your support. Lastly, thank you to Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company for their years of support to our association. FDLIC has helped make a lot of our programs possible.

Looking forward to the 2016 season with all of you, God bless.

www.mnfuneral.org 5

What Happens When A Law Enforcement Officer Is Killed In Your Community?

“We never thought it would happen in our town” is something that is heard after an in-line-of-duty death involving a law enforcement officer. It should be happening in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, but not Aitkin, Lake City or Mendota Heights…right? Unfortunately, these tragic incidents do occur and no community is immune to the possibility.

Several funeral directors have faced that reality in the recent past and in the process have learned many valuable lessons.

The purpose of this article is to two-fold. First, to share lessons learned so when the next officer related death occurs the process can run as smoothly as possible for everyone involved… family, both personal and professional, community, funeral professional and clergy.

Secondly, to introduce you to the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association http://www.mnlema.org LEMA is a volunteer organization that has several purposes, but the two that are most relevant to funeral service are 1) support for the survivors of officers killed in the line-of-duty and 2) The LEMA Honor Guard, a unit of active duty law enforcement officers from departments throughout Minnesota. This 36 member unit is trained to provide military honors at funerals for Minnesota peace officers who have died in the line of duty. The LEMA Honor Guard has been trained by the US Army 3d Infantry, The Old Guard, in memorial affairs.

The Honor Guard can carry out various missions including Colors Details, Firing Party, and Casket Details including pall-bearing and ceremonial flag folding.

Oct 18, 2015 at 3:32 PM CST St. Cloud, MN (NNCNOW. com) – an Aitkin County Sheriff’s Deputy and a suspect were killed Sunday morning at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud Minnesota.

According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Aitkin County Sheriff’s Investigator Steven Sandberg, 60, was monitoring the welfare of a suspect, 50-year-old Danny Hammond.

Jerry Thompson of Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home in Aitkin MN received the call. We asked Jerry if he would outline his experiences of the funeral and his interaction with LEMA in an effort to give other funeral directors an idea of what to expect if they were faced with a similar situation.

In regards to LEMA, I really did not know the organization existed.

I am sure that somewhere in my information I had learned about LEMA but it did not stick with me.

After we were notified of the death which occurred on a Sunday, I started to think about the family, the timing and logistics of things for the coming week and how would we deal with the families which we were already serving and would serve that coming week.

On Monday I did make a call to Jim Bradshaw, who I knew had been in these situations before, and is someone whose opinion I respect. I did receive good advice from Jim and also a sincere offer to help in any way he or his staff could. I also had contacted the Aitkin School Superintendent as I thought that we may have to have the service at the school as I knew that this would be a very large service. The superintendent immediately said whatever we needed, just let him know and he would see that it was done.

The first contact I had with the LEMA representatives, Todd Schwanke and Salim Omari, (LEMA Honor Guard Commanders) was on Tuesday. I was contacted by phone and asked if they could get together that day along with the minister and several other key people. The meeting was about an hour to an hour and a half long at which time I was able to ask a lot of questions and they also asked questions so we could be on the same page.

Photos by Lynn Cronquist

The whole process with LEMA was a good one. The planning process was three fold in my mind.

6 MFDA Bulletin • WINTER 2015

•

First and most importantly was serving the family and following through with their wishes.

•

Secondly was serving my community as they were also hurting and grieving.

•

Thirdly was dealing with all of the officers that would be in attendance.

The logistics had started earlier in the day when I had met with the family and we decided that the church was not going to work to accommodate the number of people expected. I originally

thought that the numbers for the funeral might be around 1500 (actual attendees was about 3200). We knew that the only facility in our community that would accommodate that large of a number would be our High School and that was secured. I was amazed at the resources that LEMA brought with them from providing additional chairs at the school, to their technical people who wired the different venues in the school so everyone could see and hear the service. There were 4 venues in the school, the big gym, small gym, auditorium and cafeteria. LEMA’s attention to detail was excellent.

LEMA actually came out with a printout that showed the timing of everything right down to the minute. I did have constant contact with the LEMA representatives throughout the rest of the week as we finetuned all of the details.

I believe that we saw to the needs of the family and community the best we could with the resources which we had available to us and from my seat I would not have changed anything.

The one piece which we missed was when the 1000 plus officers staged at the court house and came in to be seated in procession, a large number of them did not receive memorial folders or orders of

service as they by-passed all of the tables and register books.

In hindsight, I would have arranged for additional ushers.

I was surprised how smoothly everything went given the many moving pieces and how well everyone did their part. I am very impressed with what LEMA brings to the table in these situations.

They are a great asset for the funeral director, as they take some of the responsibilities off of our shoulders. They take care of many of the behind the scene things which we as funeral directors would not have thought of, such as making sure all of the venues were safe, coordinating the safety for any dignitaries which may come, providing law enforcement for ushers, coordinating the traffic flow for the processions and in our situation working with the railroad to stop train traffic for a specific period of time.

I would like to add that being able to do this type of service successfully depends a lot on the staff which you surround yourself with. My staff did an exemplary job. I am also very appreciative of all of my colleagues who offered to help in any way they could. I appreciate the opportunity to share my experience in order to help the next funeral director faced with this situation.

It’s Time to Renew or Join!

2016 MFDA Membership Dues

Why join our community of funeral professional through MFDA? For more than 125 years, MFDA has promoted excellence in funeral service by providing services and education to help your business.

Firm Membership................................................................$420

• Quality continuing education throughout the state of Minnesota - MFDA’s 126th Annual Convention at Treasure Island Casino - District meetings throughout the state in the fall - Pre-need insurance CEU course offered in the fall - Coming 2016: Online CEU courses with discount member prices • MFDA Leadership Academy for young professionals • Promoting the value of funeral service to consumers • Developing future leadership for MFDA • Partnerships: FDLIC, Federated Insurance, Children’s Grief Connection • Reaching out to organizations (hospice, cemeteries, grief educators) • Continuing effective lobbying & advocacy • Benefits: Membership directory, members-only website, Bulletin, members-only emails, and customizable forms and brochures

Branch Membership............................................................ $245 ($14,000 membership cap)

Cases.....................................................................................$7.75 ($14,000 membership cap)

Individual Membership.......................................................$420 Allied Membership..............................................................$350 Emeritus Membership......................................................... $150 MFDA Firm members will be getting their membership packet in the mail. If you need a copy of the membership application please contact our office at 763-416-0124 or visit our website at www.mnfuneral.org to print application. You may also join/renew online by logging into your members only account after Jan 1, 2016. If you need assistance in renewing/joining online, please contact Miki at mtufto@mnfuneral.org or 763-416-0124.

www.mnfuneral.org 7

We Remember

By Coral Popowitz, Executive Director, Children’s Grief Connection

For our family, the memories start the first day of December with World AIDS Day. I remember sweet, spoiled Chris, my son’s best bud. Just barely reaching the age of double digits and his life was cut short by AIDS. Remembering and wondering who he’d be today. Or the huge smile Fola seemed to have on her face every time you looked at her. I miss that smile. The trees planted in their memory grow and bloom and remind me ... of their life.

This image of our Hearts of Hope candles was posted on our Facebook page on Thanksgiving. Over 1,800 people viewed this post. I hope it was comforting. I hope those who were grieving the loss of a loved one or missing a distant relative or had a piece of their heart off serving in the military found a ray of hope in the words and image.

Grieving people, people whose family are far away, people who have little or no family can find the upcoming holiday season to be more of a gauntlet-a challenge, a fight to get to the end. Getting through the gatherings of family and friends, the gift-giving, joyful faces, sweet songs on the radio, laughter and cheers can be nearly unbearable when you are missing a loved one.

Promote your business to funeral directors in the MFDA Bulletin

As soon as there is snow on the ground and carols on the radio I begin remembering the first Christmas after my dad died, it was Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” and Bing Crosby’s “I’ll be Home for Christmas” that sent tears welling up in my eyes. It was putting his ornaments on our tree with our five year old, knowing she would have so few memories of her grandfather.

It has been twenty years since that first Christmas and still I remember, how I felt, how much I still had to say, how much I miss him. That five year old is married now; I know my dad would love her husband so much....

Memories and holidays go together like Santa Claus and cookies, like turkey and gravy, like laughter and tears. We remember and our memories are bittersweet. Full of what ifs and if onlys during this time of year especially.

This image and the words are symbolic for all who attend Hearts of Hope Camp. Once each candle is lit with a shared memory of loved ones we sing this hymn: We remember how we loved you, till your death - and still we celebrate - for you are with us here - we remember - we celebrate - we believe.

We will remember, they are not forgotten.

We will celebrate - life and the joy of traditions and holidays continue.

We will believe - our hope lives on in our memories.

MFDA Bulletin gets you in front of key funeral director decision-makers.

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2016 Advertising Space Reservation Deadlines Spring 2016..............................................................March 1, 2016 Summer 2016............................................................. June 1, 2016 Fall 2016..........................................................September 1, 2016 Winter 2016....................................................November 15, 2016

8 MFDA Bulletin • WINTER 2015

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Legislative Update

By Judy Cook, Cook Girard Associates

The Minnesota legislature is between sessions for a few more months, with the 2016 session starting later than usual on March 8th and lasting 10 weeks. There are three primary issues the legislature will be focusing on in 2016: a tax bill, a transportation bill and a bonding bill. As to be expected, there will be other items, but these issues will take priority in the short session.

Further complicating the upcoming session, the Capitol building will remain closed for the 2016 session. The House will meet in its regular chamber but there will be no running water and the capitol attendance will limited to House members, some staff and a few media members – meaning there will be no public access. The Senate will be meeting in a large hearing room in the new Senate Office Building that will open after the first of the year.

At this point we are not anticipating any specific issues related to mortuary science in the 2016 session. In October, the Department of Health re-started the Mortuary Science Ad Hoc Committee and it will continue to meet throughout 2016. MFDA has one representative on the Ad Hoc Committee and Cook Girard attends all meetings as well. The committee will be producing recommendations to MDH and eventually to Governor Dayton for the 2017 budget. The committee will be looking at a number of issues, including an update of 149A as well as some specific issues such as crematory operator certification, relinquishment forms, possible internship change and other items. Over the next year there will be many discussions and proposals for MFDA to review.

Cook Girard Associates will keep MFDA and its members informed of the discussions and when it will be important for MFDA to take positions on specific issues.

Another issue that resulted from discussions at the District Meetings was concerns with physician-specific issues that funeral directors face with completing a death certificate through the MR&C program. On behalf of MFDA, Cook Girard recently met with lobbyists for the Minnesota Medical Association to address the issue. They were very receptive and appreciated that MFDA approached the MMA directly rather than seek any changes or mandates legislatively. As a result of the meeting, Molly Crawford with the Office of Vital Records at MDH will provide an article for the MMA magazine to remind their members of the importance of timeliness, accurate information and communication with funeral directors, as well as the important uses of the death certificate data. We will continue to work with the MMA on this issue and look forward to hearing about any improvement on this from funeral directors.

We wish all of you a very enjoyable holiday season and look forward to our work with MFDA in 2016.

Willmar Precast Company

IN THE HEART OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA Serving the burial vault needs of funeral professionals in:

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Call Ron Jasperson at Willmar Precast 320-235-8527; Toll Free: 1-800-559-8527

www.mnfuneral.org 9

Historical Highlights of MFDA: Part V Excerpted from MFDA History By former MFDA Executive Director Gary Larsen

As we highlighted in the last issue, MFDA achieved most of its legislative goals in the 1950’s including the single license law; higher welfare rates with counties’ cost participation; sub-registration at the Health Department; a new and stronger trust law; and defeated “ceiling price” legislation.

Preneed insurance sales by life insurance companies was a hot topic as it was thirty years earlier. In 1961, MFDA adopted the MFDA Code of Ethics. Finally, after wrangling among members, the MFDA CODE was adopted by the membership. It included these agreed upon prohibitions on the members: • No price advertising of any sort.

• No pre-arranged plans except on family request, without prompting from funeral firms.

• No insurance tie-ins (Pre-assignments) as this was both illegal and unprofessional practice.

During the 60’s MFDA was successful at the Legislature in getting a specific exclusion for funeral trusts in the state’s O.A.A. (Old Age Assistance) laws, now called MA or Medicaid. That 1961 exclusion was $650 and by the end of the 60’s, that amount raised to $950. (This $750/$200 exclusion lasted until 1982, when the lump sum amount of up to $3000 was excluded.)

Minnesota hosted the NFDA Convention in 1961 after labor strike in Detroit caused a last-minute cancellation. One noted speaker at the NFDA Convention was CBS Newsman Walter Cronkite, who was escorted around

by Keith and Charlotte Nordby of Osseo.

All 47 members of the Class of ’62 at the University Dept. of Mortuary Science under Slater assisted in the ’61 NFDA Convention.

Jessica Mitford’s bombshell book, The American Way of Death, hit the best-seller list in 1963. It led to a wave of anti-funeral public sentiment Mitford’s inflammatory one-sided remarks were to be the basis of itemization talk in Washington, D.C., and several states, including New York and California, but not Minnesota at that time.

Even the state got into Mitford’s anti-funeral act. The University’s Extension Division

10 MFDA Bulletin • WINTER 2015

published a critical “Funeral Facts” a biased view of funeral service costs. With the help of Bob Slater, the University revised its critical booklet.

In part as a reaction to the public controversy spurred by Mitford and the press, MFDA in 1965 put on a series of Clergy Conferences.

More than 600 Clergy attended as guest of their MFDA member funeral directors, and it was deemed a huge success.

Perhaps as a result of media exposes of funeral service, Congress and FTC began to get interested in funeral service. Specifically, anti-trust aspects of the NFDA Code (and, by inference, MFDA Code) were examined by the FTC. Codes’ ban of advertising by members took heavy heat from the FTC. After court battles, the NFDA and State Associations were ordered to delete bans on advertising and other restrictions.

In 1968, under President Arthur E. Johnson of Hopkins, MFDA reluctantly dropped the ban of “misleading commercial advertising” by funeral firms. At the same time, FTC ordered other professions to drop bans on advertising – except for attorneys.

In 1967, at the urging of MFDA, the Health Department added a rule to prohibit serving of food to the public in funeral homes. There was no outcry about this new rule, deemed to be in the interest of public health concerns about leftover food (contamination). The only exception to the no-food rule for public consumption were beverages in single-service containers.

In 1953, MFDA was responsible for passing a law (Chapter 149.11-12) that permitted trusts to be set up at any bank or S&L, with the funeral home as Trustee. By 1953, it was clear that insurance was not enough. Pre-arrangers needed some other way to set aside funds, first of all, safely, for future need. Minnesota followed NFDA model laws at that time. It was call a “100% Pure-Pure” law. This meant that 100% of money set aside would go into the trust and 100% of the interest would accrue to the trust. Moreover, the trust in 1953 could only be revocable. Any money from the trust that the individual wanted, could be taken out of the trust upon demand.

In the 1960s, loopholes were discovered.

Money was not trusted and ultimately lost by the public. Fortunately, MFDA blew the whistle early on the scheme and limited losses. And at the Legislature in 1965, under Legislative Chairman Arnold C. Anderson of Montevideo (to be MFDA President in 1969), the pre-arrangement law was tightened up.

This ensured that money paid for ‘personal property’ connected with funeral/burial items would be trusted 100%.

Itemization cropped up first in New York after Mitford’s book. In 1967, New York passed the first itemization law. This new and feared law required costs be shown by category. Next, itemization spread to California. It was simply a matter of time before itemization came to the Midwest and to Minnesota.

In 1973, just 10 years after the Mitford book, an itemization bill was passed by the legislature. MFDA lobbied against the bill but found in 1974, a year after its passage that the bill actually helped funeral directors. When costs of goods and services were itemized, some “giveaways” now were charged for.

Funeral costs in states with itemization rose proportionately more than non-itemization states, and low-end funerals became rare.

In 1974, first steps were taken to permit morticians to enucleate eyes for corneal research and transplant. AMA had wanted only pathologists, but the demand for eyes and the lack of pathologists to enucleate, lead to the 1975 bill, authored by MFDA Counsel Richard Grayson, to permit morticians’ enucleation upon proper training.

Another bill in the 1975 session, dealing with probate, was successfully modified by MFDA to preserve the priority statues for payment were second only to costs of estate administration.

Death and grief were becoming more popular topics in the mid-‘70s. Civic groups, church and even school programs focused on death. MFDA introduced the “Advocating Understanding” series of tracts and brochures under Presidents Morris A. Nilsen (1971), Dale Shelley (1972) and John Carroll (1973).

1-800-443-2773 MFDA Conventions were fun-filled, often including skits authored by the ChandlerWilbert Vault executive Jerry J. Brown.

He found himself not only writing but also directing some far-fetched fun productions at MFDA Conventions. These were hilarious dramas by a group of thespians called “The MFDA Players”, and included costuming and musical numbers.

1-844-219-9643

Family owned & operated for over 20 years!

In 1974-75 alone, it was estimated that over 100,000 MFDA brochures and other information materials had been distributed.

One popular new item was a brochure titled “Straight Answers about the Funeral”. IT was designed to dispel myths.

A few years earlier, the MFDA Board came up with a strong public policy statement. It was titled for lack of a better term, “As a Matter of Public Confidence…” Essentially, it was a sort of Bill of Rights for families engaging the services of funeral directors.

Some other states even adopted the statement as their Code of Public Ethics. Public groups praised it, and it was widely copied.

MFDA made a brochure of it, and “As a Matter of Public Confidence…” became something to give to families upon making arrangements, an envelope stuff with the funeral bill, or a “Please Take One” item on the brochure rack. This brochure also served to help resolve complaints the family might have by offering simple recourse for grievances against the funeral home.

MFDA Conventions were fun-filled, often including skits authored by the Chandler-Wilbert Vault executive Jerry J. Brown. He found himself not only writing but also directing some far-fetched fun productions at MFDA Conventions. These were hilarious dramas by a group of thespians called “The MFDA Players”, and included costuming and musical numbers.

One such was “Ben Hur Was Actually a He”, at the 1977 Convention, set in 44 B.C. and involving the Italian Morticians’ Society and its manager, “Philleneous Iacovitus.” Casting had Keith Nordby playing Caesar, Dick Estes as young Ben Hur, a wigged Joe Kapala as Cleopatra, Don Dobmeier as fiddling Nero, and Wally Miller as Brutus. Other Jerry Brown spectaculars included “Paul Revere was a Tattletale” and “George Washington Wore Sup-Hose”, featuring Bob Peters as young Georgie Washington.

New • Used • Leasing • Financing

www.4HEARSE.com www.mnfuneral.org 11

MFDA Leadership Academy Has First Two Meetings At Kelco Supply Company

The National Funeral Directors Association Recognizes ASD – Answering Service for Directors with the 2015 NFDA

12 MFDA Bulletin • WINTER 2015

The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) presented ASD – Answering Service for Directors with the 2015 NFDA Innovation Award during the association’s International Convention & Expo, which was held October 18-21 in Indianapolis, IN. The company was recognized for its product MobileFH™.

need for an Internet connection.

Funeral directors often have to enter information about a decedent and his or her family in multiple places. ASD’s MobileFH™ is the first telecommunication solution that enables funeral professionals who rely on mobile phones to control their outgoing Caller ID without the

The other finalists for the NFDA Innovation Award were: Retractable Safety Scalpels – #4 Fitment by Cincinnati Surgical; Pulse Business System Dashboard by FrontRunner Professional; Free-Standing Digital Lobby Directory Sign by Greene Valley Media Co./FuneralScreen; and Tribute Video Direct Delivery by Tukios, Inc.

Established in 2009, the NFDA Innovation Award recognizes and promotes creativity, innovation and excellence among funeral service suppliers and vendors.

Earlier this year, funeral service vendors and suppliers had an opportunity to submit a product or service that became commercially available after January 1, 2014, for consideration in the 2015 NFDA Innovation Award competition. A distinguished panel of funeral directors evaluated the 26 entries and selected five finalists.

For more information about ASD’s MobileFH™ and other products and services entered in the 2015 NFDA Innovation Award competition, visit www.nfda.org/innovationaward.

Q&A with Federated Insurance Question: Can a Drug and Alcohol-free workplace program affect yoru work comp premium?

post-incident drug test can result in denial of the work comp claim. Even when the claim isn’t denied, the knowledge gained will result in a different claim management process. Claimants with a predisposition toward drug use (as indicated by that drug test) require a different claim management process to ensure recovery and prompt return to work.

Answer: In the world of workers compensation, managed care is a vastly misunderstood buzz word. In its simplest form, managed care describes a variety of techniques that, when properly applied, will help you efficiently use your workers compensation dollars.

Testing = Savings A highly effective managed care strategy: the drug-free workplace.

This concept has gained significant traction in recent years. Drug-free workplaces typically use pre-employment, random, or post-incident drug testing. A properly utilized program can be successful for both monitoring and preventing drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace.

A drug-free workplace program can offer benefits over and above its initial intent, such as the potential for direct and indirect savings.

Direct savings come in the form of premium credits. Many states offer work comp discounts for a certified drug-free workplace program. Insurance carriers in other states may have discretionary underwriting credits available to recognize the value of these programs. Either way, this can be a great way to reduce workers compensation premium.

Indirect savings come from simply reducing the negative consequences of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. It certainly makes sense that employees who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol are more likely to experience a workplace injury. But, do you know to what extent? The United States Department of Labor studies show that substance abusers are almost four times more likely to be involved in a workplace accident, and five times more likely to file a workers compensation claim.1 Would You Want to Work with a Drug Abuser?

Utilizing the three drug tests previously noted can have an impact reaching far beyond the direct premium savings.

Pre-employment – provides a means to screen candidates and help with informed hiring decisions.

Random – sends a strong message to employees that you are committed to a drug- and alcohol-free workplace, and may identify employees who are substance abusers.

Post-incident – can be a critical piece of your work comp injury claims management. The mere presence of this type of test should result in fewer claims. In many states, a non-negative,

The End Result You’re not testing to “catch” anyone; in fact, it could be argued that the best testing program is one that catches no one. Effectively controlling your workers compensation exposure with a drug and alcohol program can create a distinct competitive advantage, not to mention the overall positive effect on your business.

U.S. Department of Labor; elaws® Drug-Free Workplace Advisor; How does substance abuse impact the workplace?

1

Accessed September 18, 2015. http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/asp/drugfree/ benefits.htm

MIDWEST MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE Our board certified pathologists provide private postmortem examinations to answer questions families may have regarding the death of their loved one. If we can be of assistance to the families you serve, please contact our office:

MIDWEST MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE 14341 Rhinestone Street NW Ramsey, MN 55303

(763) 323-6400 Normal business hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Weekends and Holidays After business hours, we can be contacted through Anoka County dispatch at (763)427-1212

www.mnfuneral.org 13

Who Really Discovered America?

By Jerry J. Brown

I think it is safe to say that if someone were to ask, “Who discovered America?” the universal answer would be “Why Christopher Columbus, of course!”

Really?

Did an Italian merchant and explorer who were dispatched by the Queen of Spain actually “discover” the Americas before any group or individual had ever set foot on the continent?

NO! Learned paleontologists, archeologists and historical pundits deemed that, contrary to the Europeans and even our high school history books, it was the aboriginal American Indian tribes who discovered and inhabited the Americas five to six thousand years before the expedition of 1492.

Indigenous ‘red people’ were constantly being captured, tortured and used for slave labor. In the decades following Columbus, the Spanish Conquistadors lead by Coronado who were inspired and later duped by exaggerated tales of America’s wealth including treasure troves of diamonds, gold and silver. In addition to underground riches, millions of acres of untouched fertile country were rife with oceans of grassland and fed by the pure, pristine lakes, rivers and steams that criscrossed the continent in every direction.

Tragically, the passage of time and the hordes of European and Eastern migrants who settled in the new lands of America signaled the inevitable end of Indian supremacy and freedom to live their lives in peace, contentment and the humble lifestyles of their origin.

Were I an Eastern Native American privy to American History, I would ask the historians, “Why were the Europeans credited as the first discoverers when the indigenous aboriginal race (Indians) had previously inhabited the continent centuries before Columbus?”

14 MFDA Bulletin • WINTER 2015

During and after the departure of European immigrants back to their original homelands, many American Indians began to pack up and leave New England to relocate in the fabled nirvana of America’s Western Frontier. Prior to the middle 15th century, American Indian tribes were perpetually ‘on foot.’ They walked and ran everywhere and their lives in war and peace had dwindled the land upon which to hunt, fish, and develop. The horse was yet to emerge.

The peaceful and conservative world of aboriginal Americans began to vanished under the gargantuan emergence of the Spanish Conquistadores, French, Canadians, and ultimately the American farmers, capitalists, entrepreneurs and ‘the Cowboys.’ By the year 1615, the departure of the disgruntled Spaniards traveled back to their homelands their horses behind.

Soon the Indians rounded up the horse herds and were finally elevated from ‘foot to horseback.’

Indigenous Indian tribes comprised of Delaware, Salish, Mohawk, Algonquin, Crow, Cree, Ute, Flathead, and hordes of lesser-known Indian groups had inhabited the continent for thousands of years and were the first homo sapiens in America. In the years following Columbus’ controversial ‘first discovery,’ scores of explorers, entrepreneurs, politicians, bankers and monarchies were eager to expand, occupy and profit according to tales of the Western Frontiers’ enormous wealth.

As our continent grew and flourished, the Indians struggled to maintain their role as the “First Americans.” The white man, with his money education, scientific knowledge and ‘manifest destiny’ soon civilized the Americas while the aboriginal people fought to retain their old ways. Documented treaties such as Laramie, Wagon Box, Santé Fe, and Bozeman et al were drafted and before the ink had dried, were soon broken.

Indian people lost their freedom to hunt, fish and fight and that became part of their heritage of the ‘First Americans.’ The Indians were soon forced to live on sparse,

infertile and squalid compounds called ‘Reservations.’

One historic irrefutable fact regarding Indian history still remains: The American Indian tribes have always honored, retained and perpetuated the ancestral culture, spiritual and tribal imperatives of their forefathers which was to honor their dead with grace, dignity and ceremony.

The Indian Wars of the 1800s were fought with a ferocity and catastrophic vengeance second to none in American History. Despite the savagery and hatred of the Indian/ Cavalry conflicts, the fatalities on both sides were treated with honor, ceremony and respect. Where possible, soldiers’ funerals were held with scriptural readings, music and eulogies.

Indian Funerals in most of the tribes were conducted with solemnity while lionizing the deceased’s’ courage followed by singing, dancing and performing eulogies describing the deceased’s courage, tribal pride and loyalty.

To study and absorb the sociology of ninetieth century Indian Tribes would not be complete without the narrative of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce people and his famous ‘surrender speech’ to the beleaguered Nez Perce Tribe in 1877. “To my people who have fought, died, sought refuge in many places and suffered the loss of our sacred land, today, as the sun now sets upon our tribe, I say to you I will fight no more forever.”

Chief Joseph’s eloquent and poignant speech of surrender signaled the beginning of the end of Indian supremacy and freedom to hunt fish and absorb the country of their origin.

The inner need to honor the dead is truly historical, sociological, universal and eternal.

Jerry Brown is a well-known funeral service columnist who once raised buffalo in Ingomar, Montana.

“A Widow’s Guide to Healing” Book Review

By Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez, LLC

IMPORTANT In the weeks after your loss, having a “basic understanding of the legal process” could protect you. Hire a lawyer if you feel as though you can’t deal with probate, wills, and legalities of death. You may also need a list of assets and financial information; again, ask for help or find a financial consultant – but take your time, if you can.

You’ve already passed so many milestones.

The first night without your husband. The first meal without him, the first day, a week, a month, you mark each one and try to move on. Somebody said grief gets easier, but you’d like to know when; the new book, “A Widow’s Guide to Healing” by Kristin Meekhof, LMSW and James Windell, MA might help.

Kristin Meekhof was just thirty-three when her husband, Roy, died of cancer. She remembers going to the bookstore in the days afterward, searching for something that would offer direction, but no one had what she needed.

Because of that, this book was born to offer widows what Meekhof couldn’t find: a “blueprint” for getting through the next day and the first five years.

First of all, the authors say, nobody “thinks clearly after a tremendous loss,” so if you’re feeling foggy, “it’s normal.” Don’t try making decisions you don’t have to make (“For right now, your needs are simple.”) but understand that there are things that will need doing “ASAP.” You may’ve always been independent, but don’t be stoic: ask for and accept help when friends and family offer it. You know they will, so don’t be afraid to take them up on their offer. You’ll need it.

If you’re now a single parent, know how to talk to your children about what’s happened.Your relationships with family may also change, especially those which you’ve had with in-laws and stepchildren. Remember that your loss is theirs, too.

And finally, don’t let anyone pressure you into anything; everyone grieves differently, and there is no timeline. “Grieving is going to be a long process,” say the authors, and you must learn to release regrets and forgive. You will get through this.

Another day, another milestone. Another found object that leads to tears. Another reason to have “A Widow’s Guide to Healing.”

While no one can know how you feel, authors Kristin Meekhof and James Windell offer advice from Meekof’s experiences and from widows who’ve walked the walk. Those inthe-trenches, no-nonsense words of wisdom, I think, are the best of what’s here, which is not to minimize the rest of this helpful book; indeed, there’s no subject untouched and no topic ignored, all in readable chapters that needn’t be finished in order. Meekhof and Windell even include discussions that many books of this type often don’t: old hurts, new relationships, and caregiver’s concerns.

I couldn’t think of one neglected question after reading this book, which may make it the most useful thing a new widow will need.

Have it, in fact, before you need it because “A Widow’s Guide to Healing” could carry you for miles.

CONTACTS MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH www.health.state.mn.us MORTUARY SCIENCE SECTION www.health.state.mn.us/divs/ hpsc/mortsci/mortsci.htm Anne Kukowski, Acting Manager anne.kukowski@state.mn.us Mortician Investigators Marguerite Slonine, 651-201-3847 marguerite.slonine@state.mn.us Erika Fulgern, (651) 201-3848 erika.fulgern@state.mn.us Carlena Weiland, (651) 201-3828 carlena.weiland@state.mn.us Kathryn Danielson, Office Specialist 651-201-3829 kathryn.danielson@state.mn.us OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS Molly Mulcahy Crawford State Registrar Phone: (651) 201-5972 Molly.Crawford@state.mn.us www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/ osr/deathreg/index.html UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA Program of Mortuary Science mortsci@umn.edu Michael LuBrant, Ph.D. Director mpl@umn.edu Phone: (612) 624-3980 Fax: (612) 626-4163 Anatomy Bequest Program bequest@umn.edu Angie McArthur Phone: (612) 625-1111 Fax: (612) 625-1688

www.mnfuneral.org 15

IN MEMORIAM Albin “Jim” Johnson, age 75, of Thief River Falls, MN passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at Sanford Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN surrounded by his loving family.

Albin James Johnson was born August 22, 1940 on the family farm home near Merrill, WI, the son of Frank A. and Erna Eva Ida (Lutzke) Johnson. He attended school at Merrill and graduated from Merrill High School in 1958. Jim furthered his education by attending college at Stevens Point, WI and in 1962 graduated from Mortuary College in San Francisco, CA. In 1965, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT. Jim worked for funeral homes in Merrill, WI, Miles City, MT, Billings, MT and Great Falls, MT. On August 1, 1964, Jim was united in marriage to Carol Kay Norbo at Medicine Lake, MT and to this union four children were born, Eric, Erling, Kelly and Ellen. The couple lived in Billings, MT while Jim finished college. Then the couple moved to Great Falls, MT for a short period of time before they purchased the funeral homes in Parshall and New Town, ND in 1966. Jim truly understood his calling in life; to help others through the death and grieving process. His service touched thousands of people.

In 2002, Jim and Carol sold their funeral homes in North Dakota and moved to St. Hilaire, MN. They continued to be involved with their love of funeral service by assisting their sons at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls, Red Lake Falls and Oklee, MN. Jim loved talking politics, watching FOX News, and visiting with family and friends. His favorite hobbies were shooting his guns, hunting deer, geese, and pheasants. This was a passion he loved to share with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed raising German Shorthair dogs for his bird hunting.

16 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2015

Being raised on a farm in Wisconsin gave Jim a lifetime love of all animals.

For many years he had a team of Percherons, Belgian and Clydesdale horses.

He found and restored a horse drawn hearse which he and his sons have used on many funerals.

Survivors include his loving wife, Carol, St. Hilaire, MN; children: Eric (Kandee) Johnson of Red Lake Falls, MN, Erling (Amy) Johnson of Thief River Falls, MN, Kelly (Todd) Mondry of West Fargo, ND, and Ellen Rummel of West Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Jessie, Emily, Ethan, Jordan, Nolan, Kira, Matthew, Alexa and Zachary; great-granddaughter, Lilly; siblings, David (Gert) Johnson of Wausau, WI and Vera (Estes “Bud”) Yinger of Santa Rosa, CA; sisters-in-law, Arlene Johnson and Susan Johnson; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Hilma (Casey) Schmidt, Ann (Vince) Klimek, Earl (Evelyn).

Visitation was held October 28 at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls with Msgr. Timothy McGee presiding.

Burial was held October 29 at Riverside Cemetery in Fargo, ND. Any memorials given in honor of Dad will be forwarded to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN and Lend A Hand Dakota Medical Foundation in Fargo, ND. Merle Ann Mahn, 84, of Lake City, died Saturday, November 7, 2015, at the Lake City Care Center. She was born July 28, 1931, in Ross Township, in Franklin County Iowa, to Ernest and Ruth (Robinson) Froning. She graduated from Sheffield High School and went on to attend Hamilton Business College. On October 11, 1949, she married Robert Mahn at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. She worked clerical jobs at several places including Farmers Hybrid in Hampton, IA; Kings Gas Co. in Blue

Earth, MN; Lutheran Social Services in Rochester, MN; United Way, Mutual Federal, at real estate offices and at a loan production office, all in Mason City, IA. Robert died in 1974. In 1993, she moved to Lake City, and for many years worked at the Mahn Family Funeral Home until “retiring” in 2010. She was a member of United Methodist Church and had been a part of the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed going out to lunch with her friends and socializing, playing bridge and traveling with her family and taking bus trips. For her 80th birthday she was able to celebrate with all of her family on special trip to Montana. Throughout her life, Merle endured many losses, but her perseverance, strength and caring were a constant.

She is survived by 2 sons, John (Betsy) Mahn of Red Wing and David Mahn of Lake City; 10 grandchildren, Holly (Kelly) Taylor, Eric Mahn, Joe (Mandy) Mahn, Sam (Kristi) Mahn, Liz (Brandon McKoy ) Mahn, Megan (Kurt) Beulke, Elliot, Madeleine, Chrisjon and Sophia Mahn; 2 step-grandchildren, Andrea Cardona and Austin Palda; 5 great-grandchildren, Duane, Stella and Natalie Taylor and Hart and Jaxon Mahn; a brother, Richard Froning of Sheffield, Iowa, nieces, nephews; Jo Siemers and Sue Mahn.

She was preceded in death by her husband and 3 sons, Robert Thomas, Richard Allan and Gene Ainsworth Mahn.

Funeral service was held November 11 at United Methodist Church with Rev. Phillip Schmidt. Burial was at Hillside Cemetery in Sheffield. Visitation was November 10 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Anderson-Peterson Chapel.

Mabel G. Mattson “Sis”, age 84 of Forest Lake former Co-Owner of Mattson Funeral Home, died Saturday, November 7, 2015, while surrounded by her family.

IN MEMORIAM Mabel is preceded in death by her parents, John and Mabel (Amundson) Peterson; brothers, Jack and Wayne Peterson. Mabel is survived by her beloved husband, Neil; daughters, Marya (Mark) Hultgren, Bloomington, MN, DeeAnn (Don) Berger, Wyoming, MN; grandchildren, Nicola (David) Porto, Madison, WI, Candice (Sam) Frenning, Gold Canyon, AZ, Neil Hultgren, St. Paul, MN, Constance (Dakota) Huseth, Junction City, KS; sister, Marian Sinclear, St. Croix Falls, WI; sisters-in-law, Gloria Peterson, Taylors Falls, MN, Joyce Peterson, Amery, WI; nieces and nephews, Jacki, Kerry, Charles, Roger, David, Wayne, Michelle, Danny, Bryce, Denise, Mary, Anne; beloved Betsy; other family and friends.

Funeral Services were held November 13 at Faith Lutheran Church, 886 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Visitation was held November 12 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Interment at Scandinavian Cemetery, Forest Lake.

the local ambulance service and floor covering in Wabasha.

Alice was a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church in Wabasha. She was also very active in her community. She played Mrs. Santa for many years in the Wabasha area.

Laska, Brittany (Ron) Buckman – Pankey, Taylor Buckman, Abbie Buckman, and Laura Buckman; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bucky on February 4, 1989, 3 sisters, Irene Abbey, Ruth Alexander, and Joanne Lee, and one brother Rueben Tverberg.

Alice is survived by two sons, Mark Buckman and Dan (Sheri) Buckman both of Wabasha; two daughters, Ann Marie (Otto) Hemmah of Byron, and Pamela (Julian “Pudge”) Laska of Wabasha; 10 grandchildren, Julie Perrotti, Paul Hemmah, Bradley Hemmah, Karen (Michael) Young, Michael (Melissa) Laska, Brian

Visitation was held December 8 at Faith Lutheran Church in Wabasha. Funeral service was held December 9 at Faith Lutheran Church, 905 Hiawatha Drive in Wabasha with Pastor David Knox and Intern Pastor Joshua Kestner officiating.

Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery in Wabasha.

Brown Wilbert

Inc.

Alice Buckman, 90, of Wabasha, passed away early Saturday morning, December 5, 2015, at St. Elizabeth Health Care Center and Nursing Home in Wabasha.

Alice Jeanette Tverberg was born August 11, 1925, in Dodge County, Minnesota to Louis and Evelina (Hanson) Tverberg. Her early education was in rural Dodge County Schools and she then went on to Hayfield High School graduating in 1943. On November 3, 1944 she married Harold “Bucky” Buckman, Jr. at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester. After their marriage the Buckman’s lived in Rochester, and then they moved to Dodge Center before moving to Wabasha.

Alice and her husband, Harold owned and operated Buckman Funeral Home in Wabasha from 1956 to 1989, it was originally the Buckman – Schierts Funeral Home. They also owned and operated

Amish Barnwood Casket & Rocker

Venetian with Farm Scene Legacy Order Vaults, Caskets, & Urns Online at Brown-Wilbert.com www.mnfuneral.org 17

SPECIAL THANKS TO MFDA’S 2015 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 Guide at www.mnfuneral.org.

Anatomy Bequest Program Jake Anderson, Andrew Ashton, Paul Hill, Angela McArthur, Sarah Paulsen, John Straub, Tamara Voss www.bequest.umn.edu Answering Service for Directors Jason Bathurst www.myASD.com Artco Casket Company, Inc. Al Whitmer, Steve Doscher, Wally Gelecinskyj www.artcocasket.com Asphalt Associates Brad Larson www.asphalt-associates.com Assured Decontamination Services Perry Ebner www.deconservices.com Aurora Casket Company Roger Ruth, Andi Waterhouse, Brent Wermes www.auroraadvantage.com Avalon, Inc. Daniel Seman www.avaloninc.com Baines Professional Vehicles John Baines www.4hearse.com Batesville Nicki Mikolai 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 Contemporary Concepts Ryan Bergan www.contemporaryconcepts.net Cousineau McGuire Michael Sharkey www.cousineaulaw.com Dodge Company Gregg Bright www.dodgeco.com

18 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2015

Doric Dealers of MN Matt Wieser, Todd Weiser www.wieser-doric.com

Messenger Bob Hoaglund www.messengerstationery.com

Federated Insurance Jeff Stephenson www.federatedinsurance.com

Midwest Medical Examiners Office Angie Chalmers www.midwestmedicalexaminer.com

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association Kari A. Hubbard www.forestlawnmn.com Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company John Harrington Scott Tufto www.funeraldirectorslife.com Funeral One Harry Joachim www.funeralone.com Gorder Mortuary Supply James Messer www.gordersupply.com Homesteaders Life Company Steve Byhre www.homesteaderslife.com Keith M. Merrick Co., Inc. Kyle Grimes www.keithmerrick.com Kelco Supply Alicia Carr www.kelcosupply.com Keystone Funeral Home Design Build Russ Karasch www.keystone.db.com Laker Insurance Patrick Zalusky LifeSource Organ and Tissue Donation Mike Burakowski www.life-source.org MAS Communications Mary Reeves www.mascommunications.net Medical Disposal Systems, Inc. Warren Winkelman www.mds-mn.com Memorial Productions Heidi Edwards www.memorialproductions.com

Minnesota Lions Eye Bank Sara McFee www.mnlionseyebank.org Northern Design Caskets Scott Haiby Northwestern Casket Co. David Koll www.nwcasket.com Peterson Law Office Bill Peterson www.petersonlawoffice.com Pinnacle Group Bob Michaelson, Cory Michaelson www.pinnaclegroup4u.com Pluto Legal Cheryl Vos www.plutolegal.com Robert L. Archbold, LLC Robert L. Archbold www.robertlarchbold.com Scene Clean, Inc. Randy Burg www.scenecleanmn.com Shepart Dawson Grover www.shepart.com The Purple Cross Plan Denis Nordlum www.purplecross.com United Heritage Insurance Bob Hanson www.unitedheritage.com University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Michael LuBrant www.mortuaryscience.umn.edu Willmar Precast Company Ron Jasperson

CLASSIFIEDS Licensed Funeral Director/Funeral Director Intern Opportunities Huber Funeral Home is seeking a licensed funeral director/intern, possibly both. Huber Funeral Homes and Cremation Services are located in Excelsior, Mound, and Eden Prairie, MN. We are approximately 18 miles west of the Twin Cities in the Lake Minnetonka area. Live and work in the most sought after area of the Twin Cities, and possibly the entire state for that matter. We are seeking a licensed funeral director who is passionate about funeral service with any level of experience, as well as the possibility of an intern who we will help to become a fully licensed funeral director. These positions offer competitive salary, paid vacation, health insurance, paid license fees, paid continuing education, and several paid community benefits. We are a family owned and operated, full service funeral home business with three locations. One of the locations offers a spacious residence across the street from Lake Minnetonka. The schedule is rotated between the licensed staff and is a very fair work and on-call schedule.

Applicants must have organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, as well as a passion for helping friends and neighbors within the communities we serve. Our West/ South-Western suburban area offers all the excitement, conveniences and accessibility of the Twin Cities, but with the peace of mind and quality of life of a smaller town atmosphere. Please send resume and references via email to: paul@huberfunerals.com or mail to: 520 Second Street, Excelsior, MN. 55331. For additional information you may call, 612-916-9025 Licensed Funeral Director / Intern in Mankato, MN. Mankato Area Funeral Homes are seeking a Licensed Funeral Director / Intern that is passionate about funeral service and desires to be part of a progressive team. Our organization offers competitive compensation, as well as many benefits including employer paid medical insurance, flex plan, flexible schedule, 401K Plan with a 5% employer match, and paid vacation. Mankato is a Micropolitan area with a population exceeding 55,000 and all the conveniences of a larger city with the peace of mind and quality of life in a smaller town. To learn more about our organization and about Mankato, please visit the following websites:www.mankatomor-

tuary.com and www.mankatomn.gov.

If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter to kevinsatre@ yahoo.com.

Licensed Funeral Director / Intern in Crookston, MN. We are seeking that individual who is passionate about serving families in their time of need and desires to be part of a progressive organization in the beautiful city of Crookston, Minnesota. Our organization offers competitive compensation, as well as many benefits including employer paid medical insurance, flex plan, health savings account plan, flexible schedule, 401K Plan with a 5% employer match, and paid vacation. Crookston is the county seat of Polk County, with a population of approximately 7,800, where the banks of the Red Lake River rise, the pulse of the Red River Valley beats, and where life gets a little simpler away from it all. To learn more about our organization and about Crookston, please visit the following websites: www.vertin.com, www.crookston. mn.us and www.stenshoelhouske. com. If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter to don@ vertin.com or simply call to visit confidentially about this opportunity.

Don Kiffmeyer Email: don@vertin.com Office:218-643-5595 Cell: 701-640-9454 For Sale - Funeral Home in NE Minnesota in Cook. Same original owners since inception in 1983. The firm doea an average of 70 calls per year. Solid pre-need and limited competition. Owner is looking to retire. Our area has much to offer.

Call 218-666-5298 or email mlaker@ accessmn.com.

Miller-Carlin Funeral Homes are looking for an intern or licensed individual to join our family owned funeral homes in central Minnesota and become a full-time member of our staff. We would look forward to helping an intern learn all areas of the funeral business and would welcome a fully licensed individual with any level experience. Our funeral homes are located near several lakes, colleges, retail and medical facilities.

We also have many trails for biking in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter. We are less than one hour from the twin cities metro area.

This position will include a portion

of on-call time that is split with other licensed staff. Benefits include a company vehicle, company cell phone, paid continuing education, paid license fees, paid vacation, and more. Competitive pay and benefit information is provided upon request. Please e-mail your resume to Bill@millercarlin.com.

Sturm Funeral Home is seeking a licensed funeral director or intern to serve in one of our locations in Southern Minnesota. Director will be a location manager involved with all aspects of funeral service and will share an on-call schedule with five other directors. Applicant should have experience with excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills and have a passion for helping friends and neighbors within the community. Must have or be able to obtain a MN Morticians License.

We offer a generous full benefit package. Learn more at www.sturmfh.com or contact Jay Van Sickle at 507-794-5221 or e-mail vansickle4@mediacombb.net.

Family owned and operated funeral home, has openings for licensed funeral director, intern, and management positions in Montana and North Dakota. For more information, visit our website at www.stevensonandsons.com. If you are interested or have any questions please call Joe or Todd Stevenson at 406-853-4460 or office number 406-232-4457 or email your resume to stevenson@midrivers.com.

Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes & Cremation Services is seeking a full-time licensed funeral director or intern to add to our current staff.

This person will be involved with the complete duties of a funeral director from the removal to the final disposition. We offer a competitive salary and year-end bonus along with benefits such as full company paid family health and dental insurance, retirement plan, license fees, continuing education costs, vacation, several community paid benefits, and bi-annual clothing allowance. You would be joining a staff of 4 other licensed morticians. The on call schedule and the holiday schedule would be evenly rotated between all the licensed staff. For more information on the

funeral home and how it operates as a “Community owned co-operative” go to www.mvfh.org. For information on the New Ulm community, go to www.newulm.com and request a relocation guide. Please e-mail your cover letter and resume to General Manager, Bruce Savoy, at sbmv@ comcast.net or mail to Bruce Savoy, C/o Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes, P. O. Box 393, New Ulm, MN 56073.

Virginia/Hibbing, Minnesota - Range Funeral Home, cooperatively owned, has an immediate opening for a full-time licensed funeral director or intern to join our team.

Duties include but are not limited to removals, embalming, family arrangements, working funerals and visitations. Applicants must be able to work well on a team as well as independently. Funeral Directors are on a three person rotation. Please send cover letter and current resume to rangefuneralhome@msn.com, ATTN: Bryan or mail to Range Funeral Home, 911 16th St. N. PO Box 4, Virginia, MN 55792, (218) 741-1481.

Mahn Family Funeral Home in Red Wing, Minnesota, a family-owned funeral home, has a position for a full-time Minnesota licensed funeral director or intern. Responsibilities would include all aspects of funeral service. Individual must be a self-motivated person that is able to think independently and work without direct supervision. This position comes with competitive salary based on experience, flexible schedule, paid vacation, retirement plan, health insurance and other benefits. The historic and scenic community of Red Wing, located in Southeastern Minnesota on the Mississippi River, has plenty of year around social, community and recreational activities. Please send resume to todd. ottesonmahnfamilyfuneralhome.com or call 651-388-3343. Inquiries will be kept strictly confidential.

www.mnfuneral.org 19

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20 MFDA Bulletin • FALL 2015