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Bernhard Gustav “Ben” Gustafson

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Bernhard Gustav “Ben” Gustafson

Birth	:	8 Sep 1908 Foxholm, Ward County, North Dakota, USA
Death	:	9 Nov 1982 Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Lakeside Cemetery, Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.1707993, -75.5286026
Description	:	Bernhard "Ben" Gustafson was born to Sam and Belle Gustafson on September 8th 1903, in Foxholm, ND.He graduated from Turtle Lake High School in June, 1920, and continued his education at Jamestown College in Jamestown ND, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1926. He served as Superintendent of Schools in several North Dakota communities: Cleveland (1926-28), Steele (1928-30), and Linton (1930-38). In 1938 he began his college teaching career at the State School of Forestry at Bottineau, ND. Two years later, he transferred to the University of North Dakota, where he taught Chemistry. From 1957... Read More	Bernhard "Ben" Gustafson was born to Sam and Belle Gustafson on September 8th 1903, in Foxholm, ND.He graduated from Turtle Lake High School in June, 1920, and continued his education at Jamestown College in Jamestown ND, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1926. He served as Superintendent of Schools in several North Dakota communities: Cleveland (1926-28), Steele (1928-30), and Linton (1930-38). In 1938 he began his college teaching career at the State School of Forestry at Bottineau, ND. Two years later, he transferred to the University of North Dakota, where he taught Chemistry. From 1957 to 1964 he served as Director of the General Extension Division on Continuing Education. During this time period, he was active in establishing branch centers of the University of Williston and Ellendale, ND. In 1969 he resigned as Dean of the Division of Continuing Education and remained active in community and state affairs. After his resignation, he served as Coordinator of Research and Development for the Division of continuing Education and held positions in senior citizens organizations, the American Association of Retired Persons, the Governor's Committee on Aging, North Dakota Council on Extension, North Dakota Economic Development Commission, North Dakota Council on Human Resources, and as a State Senator from Grand Forks. Ben married Ruth Louise Corell on July 18, 198, and they had two children. Ben died on November 9, 1982, in Grand Forks, ND. In May, 1980, the refurbished Phi Delta Theta building on the University of North Dakota Campus was renamed Gustafson Hall in honor of Ben Gustafson. It now houses the Division of Continuing Education. (source Ben. G. Gustafson Papers, UND) He served as Grand Master of Masons for the State of North Dakota from 1959-1960. (Below is the Bio from his Grand Master year.) - It was not merely a friendly gesture between the Dean of Agriculture at the North Dakota Agricultural College and an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of North Dakota, in 1950, which prompted M.'. W.'. Brother Harlow L. Walster (1) of Fargo, to request W.'. Brother Bernhard G. Gustafson (98-i), of Grand Forks, to accept the office of Grand Tyler in his Grand Line. Friends and professional associates for years, the Dean early discovered that here was Masonic leadership which must be utilized, while the bonds of cooperation between two great educational institutions were being strengthened, and how well he succeeded, the year just past has fully demonstrated. That Dean Walster could not live to witness the fulfillment of his premonition, became the keen regret of all who knew and loved him, but the record stands for all to read and who will doubt but that Harlow watched the events transpire and is reading them now, with us? Bernhard G. Gustafson first saw the light of day on September 8, 1903, in the little frontier town of Foxholm, in the beautiful DesLacs River Valley, northwest of Minot, the son of Scandinavian parents, Samuel A. and Clarabelle (Olson) Gustafson. He attended the elementary and secondary schools at Denhoff and Turtle Lake, and entered Jamestown College from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. Later, he received a Master of Science degree from the University of North Dakota. Ben's first job was that of Superintendent of Schools at Cleveland, North Dakota, a small town west of Jamestown, on the new Interstate Highway 94, and he has often pointed out the building which still stands and is in use today, just as then, when he started his career within its walls. From there he went to Steele and then to Linton, southeast of Bismarck, as Superintendent of Schools, and it was in Linton Lodge No. 98 that he became a Master Mason on April 25, 1933, and served as its Worshipful Master in 1937. Thence to the Bottineau School of Forestry, as teacher of Chemistry, and on to the University of North Dakota at Grand Forks, as an instructor of Chemistry, in 1940. He was in industrial work for 3 ½ years during the war, and has served as a Research Consultant to the North Dakota Research Commission, the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Mines and to private industry. His outstanding ability as an organizer and planner for development and expansion caused President George W. Starcher of the University to shift our Grand Master, in the late 50's, to the position of Director of the Extension Division of the University of North Dakota and it is there that he is doing a tremendous piece of work today. We are confident that his achievements in this line of endeavor will be as phenomenal as they sometimes appear fantastic. In the meantime, Brother Gustafson had not neglected the call of Cupid and he early became acquainted with Ruth Louise Corell, a beautiful and talented young lady, who grew up near Jamestown and was educated with him at Jamestown College. They were married at James-town on July 18, 1928, and to them were borne two lovely children, Bernard Gilbert and Lorna Gail. Both are well educated and making names for themselves; "Corky", as he is always known, is married and in the Federal Aviation Agency in Denver; and Lorna has her Professional Status in Dietetics and is in charge of her field in the Grand Forks Clinic. We understand she will be married soon. In Masonry, M.'. W.'. Brother Bernhard G. Gustafson has "gone all the way", as the title implies. He transferred his membership from Linton Lodge No. 98 at Linton, to Tuscan No. 44 at Bottineau, and then to Acacia Lodge No. 4 at Grand Forks on April 24, 1942, and was Master of this lodge in 1947. He took a dual membership in his first lodge, Linton No. 98, on October 8, 1957, and was made a Life Member on April 12, 1960. He is a member of Corinthian Chapter No. 3, R.'.A.'.M.'. at Grand Forks; Rae Council No. 5, R.'. & S.'. M.'. at Grafton; St. Aldemax Commandery No. 3, K.'.T.'. at Grand Forks; Kem Temple A.'.A.'.O.'.N.'.M.'.S.'. at Grand Forks; and St. Felix Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine at Fargo. He became a member of Linton Chapter No. 67, Order of Eastern Star and served as Worthy Patron; and is now a member of Acacia Chapter No. 12 at Grand Forks, having also served as Associate Patron there. It is a remarkable circumstance that his is a strictly Masonic family— and, besides Ben—Ruth is a member of Acacia Chapter No. 12, O.E.S., a Past Matron of her chapter and a Past District Deputy of the Grand Chapter; Bernard was an active DeMolay, is a member of Acacia Lodge No. 4 and was a "Lewis"; and Lorna has been active in Rainbow and has applied for membership in O.E.S. It should be mentioned here that all are members of Plymouth Congregational Church, a part of the Federated Church in Grand Forks, and church and lodge go hand in hand with them. In the Grand Lodge, M.'. W.'. Brother Ben began his career as District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 14, in 1938, and was chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Grand Master's Address and Reports of Other Grand Officers from 1941-1950. He was appointed Grand Tyler in 1950 and progressed through the Grand Line until 1959, when he was elected and installed as Grand Master of Masons in North Dakota, at Minot, on June 17, 1959. One has only to read the within Proceedings of the 71st Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge A.'. F.'. & A.'. M.'. of North Dakota, held at Grand Forks, June 20-22, 1960, to review the remarkable and extensive accomplishments of our Grand Master and we can only briefly note the most outstanding items here. First, one must remember, that as Director of the Extension Division at the State University, he had a full time job which taxed every ounce of his strength and vitality to the very limit of his endurance and his Masonic work could easily have taken the same time and effort. During the year, he held 12 Area District Meetings; he made over 100 lodge visitations, speaking at Anniversary Observances, Past Masters' Nights, Special Meetings and the many other occasions where the Grand Master is expected; he attended the four Quarterly Meetings of the Grand Lodge Committee on Policy and General Purposes; he journeyed to the Banff Conference on Masonic Education, the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Washington Conferences at Washington, D. C., the Grand Lodge Communications of Minnesota, Manitoba, Alberta and South Dakota; he spoke on Membership Problems at the Midwest Shrine Meeting in St. Paul and at the Imperial Shrine Meeting in Denver and addressed 600 Master Masons at the Grand Lodge luncheon in Winnipeg. Only a man of his endurance and determination could have accomplished so much. The final results of his great year came to a triumphant conclusion, when, at his Grand Lodge Communication, the reports of his committees were approved; his educational program was adopted; fifteen amendments, some of them controversial, were approved, and the Grand Lodge of North Dakota looked toward the future, gratified and unafraid. Ben, there was once a man named Paul, who worked very hard for a cause he knew was right and he gained the goal he set out to attain, though it cost him his life. We are not called upon to make the supreme sacrifice in this day and age, but, sometimes we are privileged to do great things at unknown cost to ourselves, and that is what you have accomplished for Masonry. And so, with him, you may know: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (Written by H. S. P. taken from the 1960 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota)

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Bernhard Gustav “Ben” Gustafson's memorial?
Bernhard Gustav “Ben” Gustafson's memorial is located at: Lakeside Cemetery, Dover, Kent County, USA.
When did Bernhard Gustav “Ben” Gustafson death?
Bernhard Gustav “Ben” Gustafson death on 9 Nov 1982 in Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Bernhard Gustav “Ben” Gustafson's memorial?
Latitude: 39.1707993
Longitude: -75.5286026

Family Members:

Spouse

Ruth Louise Corell Gustafson

(1905 - 2000)

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lakeside Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1707993, -75.5286026

2. Whatcoat Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1688995, -75.5250015

3. Holy Cross Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1665400, -75.5322500

4. Wesley Methodist Church Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1564540, -75.5296500

5. Old Presbyterian Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1558189, -75.5266266

6. Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1547737, -75.5212631

7. Sunset Memorial Garden
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1795000, -75.5482000

8. Fork Branch Church Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1937000, -75.5658000

9. Pleasonton Abbey Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2032000, -75.5000000

10. Sharon Hills Memorial Park
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1578000, -75.5853000

11. Wyoming United Methodist Church Memorial Garden
Wyoming, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1264234, -75.5528624

12. Friends Meetinghouse Cemetery
Little Creek, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1755981, -75.4666977

13. Amish Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1549988, -75.5883026

14. Slaughter Family Plot
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1459000, -75.5872000

15. Brinkley Hill Cemetery
Camden, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1186740, -75.5353460

16. Carlisle African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery
Dover, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1565460, -75.5974760

17. Zion AME Cemetery
Camden, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1171000, -75.5509000

18. Camden Friends Meeting House Cemetery
Camden, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1146202, -75.5477524

19. Odd Fellows Cemetery
Camden, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1128000, -75.5337000

20. Whatcoat Methodist Church Cemetery
Camden, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1111298, -75.5456619

21. Immanuel Union Methodist Church Cemetery
Cheswold, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2224998, -75.5772171

22. Star Hill AME Cemetery
Star Hill, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1021000, -75.5359000

23. Roby Methodist Church Cemetery
Leipsic, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2393684, -75.5140076

24. Methodist-Episcopal Church Cemetery
Leipsic, Kent County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2397000, -75.5165000