Funeral Celebrants Make a Difference · Being the “boss” gives you many opportunities to guide, motivate and mentor. However, as an employee doing your job day in and day out,

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

BULLETIN PUBLISHED MONTHLY FOR THE MINNESOTA FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.

MFDA BulletinMinnesota Funeral Directors Association7046 East Fish Lake Road Maple Grove, MN 55311

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Certified Funeral Celebrants play an important role in the future of funeral service. Doug Manning and Glenda Stansbury of Insight Books (www.insightbooks.com) are offering an MFDA pre-convention training for Certified Funeral Celebrants, May 17-19th. This is an excellent opportunity to improve your service to families. I’d like to share with you our funeral celebrant journey.

A defining moment in our path to funeral celebrant services was in the late 1990’s. I had arranged a service for a man who had lived in the nursing home for several years. A local pastor called to say that he had called on Joe in the nursing home and would like to officiate his funeral. The family did not know a pastor so they consented. BIG MISTAKE on my part! Preacher Gary went on for more than an hour about the evils of sin and the hope for salvation, barely mentioning the deceased name. Joe,

Funeral Celebrants Make a DifferenceBy Tim Hoff

SUMMONS

State

County

District Court

Judicial District

Employee, Plaintiff,

vs.

Your Company, Defendant.

Court File Number: 1234567890

Case Type: Negligence

Summons

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO THE BUSINESS OWNER.

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has alleged that she was harassed in the

workplace. Pl aintiff's Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw these

They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it

may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons.

2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You

must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer

within 20** days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of

your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at:

___________________________________.

3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response

to the Plaintiff's Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with

each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything

asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN

RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS

SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to

tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff

everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the

complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for

the relief requested in the complaint.

Every employer, no matter what size, has to deal with human resource issues, regulations, and employment law changes. Contact your local marketing representative to learn how you can gain complimentary, unlimited access to independent employment law attorneys who provide state-specific legal advice on your employment-related questions.

Visit www.federatedinsurance.com to find a representative near you.

Who’s Keeping You Out of Court?

*Not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT. © 2014 Federated Mutual Insurance Company

www.mnfuneral.org 3

Minnesota Funeral Director’s Association In This IssueFrom the Director ...................................... 4From the President .................................... 5Funeral Celebrants Make a Difference .....................................Cover, 6It’s Tough Saying Goodbye to Man’s Best Friend ................................................. 7Frigid Fun & Frolic .................................... 8Funeral First Call App for iPad ................. 92014 MFDA Convention .......................... 10Kelco Celebrates 75 Years ........................ 11Legislative Notes ...................................... 12How Do You Create Value? ...................... 13Why Appreciation Matters So Much ....... 14Bravo Budweiser ....................................... 15Classifieds ................................................. 17In Memoriam ............................................ 18MFDA Corporate Members ..................... 19

CalendarMarch 4-6, 2014 NDFA Advocacy Conference Washington, D.C.

May 19-21, 2014 MFDA ConventionEarle Brown Heritage Center Brooklyn Center, MN

President Michael Dahl Anderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Montevideo, MN [email protected]

Treasurer Michael Cudmore Cease Funeral Home Bagley, MN [email protected]

Secretary Shawn Kirby Kolden Funeral Service LeSueur, MN [email protected]

Past President Roger Bengtson (retired) Harvey Anderson Funeral Home Willmar, MN [email protected]

The MFDA Bulletin is published monthly for MDFA members. Copyright ©2013 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 [email protected], fax or mail to the fax number or address listed above, along with the desired run time of your ad.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF AND OTHER CONTACTS

Ashley Hoff (District 1) Hoff Funeral and Cremations Service St. Charles, MN [email protected]

Shawn Kirby (District 2) Koledn Funeral Service Le Sueur, MN [email protected]

Jeff Hartquist (District 3) Hartquist Funeral Home Luverne, MN [email protected]

Michael Dahl (District 4) Anderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Montevideo, MN [email protected]

Raymond Bartlett (District 5) Johnson-Haglund Funeral Home Litchfield, MN [email protected]

Open (District 6)

Open (District 7)

Doug R Dingmann, CFSP (District 8) Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Homes, St. Cloud, MN [email protected]

Steve Sheets, CFSP (District 9) Schoeneberger Funeral Home Perham MN [email protected]

Dan Dahl (District 10) Dahl Funeral Home East Grand Forks, MN [email protected]

Chris Jacobson (District 11) Atkins Northland Funeral Home Cloquet, MN [email protected]

POLICY BOARD REPRESENTATIVE

Leif Larsen Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN [email protected]

PAST PRESIDENT REP

Norman Larsen Green-Larsen Mortuary International Falls, MN [email protected]

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Darlyne Erickson, CAE 763-416-0124 952-451-8950 (cell) [email protected]

DISTRICT DIRECTORS

7046 East Fish Lake RoadMaple Grove, MN 55311p: (763) 416-0124 f: (763) 545-9499e: [email protected] www.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

• 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

I recently made the decision to sign up for a Leadership Academy sponsored by MSAE (Midwest Society of Association Executives), which is the association to which I belong. Yes, it is the association of associations (or more commonly known as alphabet soup). MSAE includes associations relating to agriculture, building trades, insurance, health, education, energy, funeral service….you get the picture. This organization has been a great benefit to my growth as an association management professional and has been the guidepost to everything I have done in my career.

Leadership is something I’ve never really thought much about, because until the last few years, I have never had employees to “lead”. However, after the first day of my “academy” experience, I’ve had to re-think the definition of leadership. Over the past 24 years I have worked with many volunteer boards of client associations who have trusted my knowledge and experience in the field to guide them in making appropriate choices for their particular organization.

Webster’s dictionary has many definitions of leadership. However, according to the Thesaurus it also means, management, control, guidance, headship, direction and governance. Pretty strong language, wouldn’t you agree? Especially “headship”…never heard of that one before. I would like to suggest that the following qualities apply…according to my instructor/leader Chad Weinstein President of Ethical Leaders in Action, LLC. (http://www.ethinact.com)

• Service is the desire and ability to work with others toward a worthy purpose.

• Competence is command of relevant knowledge and skills.

• Creativity enables us to build, to improve and to solve problems

• Clarity helps us to see and share what is truly important.

• Courage is the capacity to do what is right in the face of obstacles.

Whether or not you are a firm owner, an employee or a salesperson for a funeral service supply organization, you all have the opportunity to lead in your interactions with others. Being the “boss” gives you many opportunities to guide,

motivate and mentor. However, as an employee doing your job day in and day out, you too have opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life by leading them to the right decision in end of life care that will benefit a family. I’m going to bet you use all of the qualities listed above when working with a family coming to you for assistance.

Another “a-ha” moment came to me when I thought about the “leaders” I experienced in the three Outward Bound courses I took in my late 20’s, early 30’s. Don’t ask me what I was thinking, but I can only claim young ignorance. Outward Bound is designed to push a person to their limits, physically, mentally and emotionally. I obviously didn’t read the fine print and just thought it would be fun. The leader/guides assigned to a group of 15 or 20 “bounders” really didn’t lead at all. They stepped back and let everyone take turns making mistakes as we attempted to guide our teammates through a roaring rapids, up a hill, or through the woods. Results were always interesting, and those who weren’t leading had to trust that the person in charge would get us to safety. I don’t know that I came out as a seasoned leader, but I did learn to take risks and that was by far the most important lesson of my life. Leaders take risks!

Finally, I would like to add Appreciation! I included an article this month that I had saved previously. “Why Appreciation Matters so Much”, by Tony Schwartz, President and CEO of The Energy Project. My mom, may she rest in peace, always reminded me to say thank you! She knew the value of appreciation, and it was amazing the things that she got people to do for her by just expressing gratitude. A trait I am trying to emulate every day.

So in closing, thank you for doing what you on a daily basis for the families you serve. Thank you for renewing your memberships in MFDA…for those who have already done so. Thank you to those who are getting ready to renew their memberships. Subtle aren’t I? It’s an honor to represent you!

Executive Director’s Report

Darlyne EricksonMFDA Executive Director

4 MFDA Bulletin • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

www.mnfuneral.org 5

FROM THE PRESIDENT

The temperature is above 0 today, as is the wind chill – ‘tis been a long time since we’ve seen that. I guess it’s time for the this old bear to come out of hibernation and get an article written!

Things are always happening at this time of year for MFDA. As you’ve read elsewhere, we have a lot of concerns and are battling with the mandatory internet price list issue. We believe it is bad legislation put forth with underlying motives. Please contact your representatives and ask for their support in defeating the legislation.

For information, check out the talking points put out by MFDA. The Health Department is also proposing a small change in 149A dealing with the prep room issue, resulting from the lawsuit. We have been and will be working with them and following the course of the legislation.

If you haven’t contributed to our PAC fund, please consider doing it soon. It is issues like the internet price list requirement that makes it so important to have entree to strategic legislators so that our interests can be heard.

A task force is being formed to update 149A for the 2015 session. This group will be meeting every other month and will dissect the law. MFDA has several representatives that will be serving on this task force and we will be involved in the process. If you have any particular issues you would like addressed, please either contact myself or the office and express your concerns.

MFDA will have a fairly large contingent going to Washington DC for the Advocacy Summit in early March. We will be spending time visiting about issues in funeral service and visiting with MN’s representatives in congress the issues. It is a way that our profession in Minnesota can be represented on the National legislative stage.

Darlyne and I, as well as the Mortuary Science Unit at the Health Department, have been meeting with a group planning a Mass Fatality Management Workshop in Arden Hills on March 20th. They are planning to bring together all the different groups that would be involved in a Mass Fatality event in the Metro area and have each group explain to the whole what their involvement and expertise would be. Hopefully it will open up levels of communication

The View from HereBy Mike Dahl

and interaction between involved groups. We will have time in the program to explain our role as well.

Make sure that if your local counties or regions have Workshops or training exercises, you get involved. When dealing with human remains, you are the experts in your communities and should have a seat at the table.

If you haven’t sent in your dues, please consider doing so as soon as possible. We need every firm to be a member of the unified team as we promote the values of funeral service and defend the attacks against our profession and our licenses.

Finally, remember the dates of May 20 - 21st which is our state convention.. Your Convention Committee is hard at work putting together a convention that will include an exciting array of social events, speakers and educational sessions. Mark it down on your calendars and plan to be there!

Mike Dahl MFDA Board President


Funeral Celebrants Make a Difference continued from page 1

the deceased, was not a religious man, but his funeral had just become a religious event. The pastor actually included an altar call. “Raise your hand if you would like to be saved, and I will save you”. If that is a person’s faith tradition they may find comfort in an altar call at a funeral. Most in our service area do not.

Following the funeral, three different people came up to me to state their displeasure. The last person said with some anger, “Why did YOU get him for Joe’s funeral!?”

A short while later a series of articles began to appear in Dodge Magazine on this concept the author discovered in New Zealand, where funerals where conducted by celebrants and not clergy. They offered a meaningful Healing Tribute that met the family’s needs. The author, Doug Manning, explained how church attendance in New Zealand was down, but funeral attendance was high. Why? Because the celebrant services where meaningful, highly personalized events that told the story of the deceased life.

Doug’s push could not have hit at a more needful moment. We were seeing increased dissatisfaction with funerals and needed someone to teach us a better way.

We sent two of our staff to one of the early celebrant trainings. They came home excited and went on to doing a very good job of improving the value of services by creating healing tributes for the non-churched that we served. For many years we viewed celebrant services only as an option for the un-churched, with little or no effect on traditional services. That changed for us in February of 2012. My wife, Jenny, and I attended celebrant training.

Since training, Jenny has become our main celebrant and truly has the gift of putting her heart and soul into each and every service to make it a truly meaningful healing tribute. The response by families has been nothing short of amazing. As a funeral director I serve as celebrant with families that I know well or when she is not available. More often I’ll serve as the master of ceremonies, welcoming attendees, making announcements and introducing the funeral celebrant or pastor.

We are in the process of training all of our staff. In March of 2013, our funeral director daughter and mortuary science student son trained with Doug and his daughter, Glenda. In July we sent funeral director, Brittany Horton, to ICCFA University in Memphis. She could not wait to share what she learned with her co-workers and to work with her first celebrant family and was on the way to becoming an even better funeral director.

Since Jenny and I trained last year we are taking a much bigger role in all services at the funeral home. Celebrant training helped us to better understand our role in all funeral services. We, as funeral directors, typically usher attendees in to the funeral then disappear, leaving the delivery of meaningful content entirely up to the clergy. We outsource the healing. We have to take charge of the healing. If we are going to create meaningful healing tributes, then we must take responsibility for it.

For us celebrant training of staff is an important part of controlling content. Currently 3 of our 5 funeral directors are celebrants, plus my wife, Jenny and our former pre-planning counselor. It is our goal to have all five of our directors certified within a year. Most of our directors will rarely serve in the role of celebrant. But, they make our service delivery significantly better in many other ways.

1. They have increased involvement in services by emceeing not only for celebrant services, but other in house funerals. This helps inform the public as to what is happening as well as taking them from the office in to a more visible role.

2. They become believers. Funeral Arrangers will advocate for celebrant services, once they become an increased part of meaningful healing tributes.

3. Funeral directors who are celebrants are better funeral arrangers. They better understand the importance of a more meaningful line of questioning with families in arrangements.

As I mentioned earlier, we sent a young funeral director, Brittany Horton, to ICCFA University in July, where she attended the college of 21st Century Funeral Service. After returning, her first arrangement was an awakening. “I’m a better funeral director now. I ask better questions and builder a stronger relationship with the family.”

“I just made some pretty tough suicide arrangements. The family wanted direct cremation with no service. I really pushed them to have a service. Gave them the benefits of a gathering time. It resonated with her husband. Now they’re having a visitation and service at their church.

I wouldn’t have normally had the courage to direct them to something they weren’t comfortable talking about, but the brain surgeon analogy that Doug Manning used in Celebrant Training at University really made sense to me.” At the training, Doug spoke about transformations - decisions that may be outside a person’s comfort level but are good for their soul and grief journey. Too often, funeral directors are afraid to suggest

MFDA COVER STORY

www.mnfuneral.org 7

It’s Tough Saying Goodbye to Man’s Best FriendReprinted with permission from James Lileks, Star Tribune Columnist

options that might make the family uncomfortable.

He said “we need to offer families what they NEED, not what they think they might want.” Funeral directors are so afraid to be perceived as car salesmen, we forget we are professionals in death and dying. As Doug said “Would you question a brain surgeon if he said you needed surgery? Probably not, because he is an expert in that field.”

The incredible response we’ve received to celebrant services helps us to realize this is the path we need to travel as funeral professionals. Most every celebrant service we now offer has become a “WOW”!

We needed to find a way for all families to walk away saying “Wow, that was an amazing funeral.”

The response we are receiving from families tells me we are on the right path. This is pretty new stuff to us, this process incorporating funeral celebrant principles in to all services.

But to this point the payback has been through customer satisfaction. In time, I believe, we will see increased revenue through:

• A willingness of families to pay more for meaningful healing tribute services.

• Increased call volume that will come as the only player in the market offering this.

• A lesser number of ‘direct cremation, no services’

I believe Celebrant Training is one of the keys to the future of funeral service. I encourage you to register for the MFDA pre-convention Celebrant Training, May 17-19. For more information contact [email protected].

The label on the can promised real chunks of bison. Who could tell? You could ask the diner who devoured the viscous glop, but dogs aren’t known for their detailed review. Was that a hint of venison I detected, chief? I only mention that because I missed it the first time, but it all came up on the rug a while ago, and I thought, venison.

They say the loss of appetite is a clue they’re done. Not this one. But he couldn’t get to dinner. His withered shanks betrayed him when he rose to dine; even though the bowl was propped up, it taxed him to stand. His big ears still pointed up, but he heard nothing except my whistle. His eyes had clouded over, and he saw only shapes in the dusk.

But who needs eyes when you have a nose, right? There were summer Wednesdays when the sirens blew and he howled along with the great Wolf in the Sky, nostrils flared to catch the scent of the awesome Alpha who sang in the sky. Sometimes I’d howl along with, and he’d give me a peculiar look. This is a dog thing.

True. But together we can do much, no? And so we have.

It’s hard to feel anything but gratitude when your wolfish companion has lived by your side for nearly two decades. Nineteen years or nine, a decade or a half, it doesn’t make it easier when the light slides out. I’m lucky to have this space to memorialize a marvelous mutt, and ask you to do one thing: Let this stand for all the pets we lost this week, because a dog would have to pull seven orphans out of a burning building to get an obit in the paper.

For the cats who passed and left a little toy you find later under a bed, and have to sit down for a while until you get your feet back; for the fish for whom the parents crafted a simple decent funeral rite; for the hamsters who taught little kids about the swiftness of life, and prepared them for their own roles as parents of a newborn by running around in the noisy wheel at 2 a.m. They deserve a space in the paper, but if we had to run evidence of all the heartaches great and small there wouldn’t be a forest standing.

The first dogs were wise. Throw our lot in with these guys, and maybe there’ll be bison for supper. They were right. Buffalo was Jasper’s last meal, and he went out the way he’d lived every day. Not a scrap was left in the bowl.


For more information on how your funeral home can participate in the Children’s Grief Connection Memorial Program, please contact Executive Director Coral Popowitz at 877-226-7632 or [email protected]

Memorial Program Participants

• Abbott Funeral Home• Anderson-TeBeest Funeral Home &

Cremation Services• Anderson Funeral Home• Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home• Benson Funeral Home & Cremation Service • Bruzek Funeral Home• Daniel Funeral Home & Cremation Service• Kinder-Dennis Funeral Home• Prosch-Dennis Funeral Home• Dingmann Funeral Care

• Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Service

• Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel• Emblom-Brenny Funeral Services• Gieseke Funeral Chapel• Green-Larsen Mortuary• Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home• Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service• Iten Funeral Homes• Johnson-Peterson Funeral Homes • Kramer Family Funeral Home

• Lakeview Funeral Home• McNearney Funeral Home• Michaelson Funeral Home• Patton-Schad Funeral &

Cremation Services• Schleicher Funeral Home• Schuller Family Funeral Homes• Sturm Funeral Home• West-Kjos Funeral Home• Wright Funeral Home

CHILDREN’S GRIEF CONNECTION

Frigid Fun & Frolic, Set for March 1, 2014

COME JOIN US IN SUPPORT OF GRIEVING CHILDREN!

Two Events, Do one or both!

This year’s Frigid Fun & Frolic is on Saturday, March 1st. The day kicks off with our Frunge starting at 10 a.m. at Lola’s Lakehouse on Lake Waconia. Tuxedos & Tiara’s will be held at Elsie’s Restaurant and begins at 7 p.m.

Visit childrensgriefconnection.com for more details and to register.

www.mnfuneral.org 9

Location: Embassy Suites, Brooklyn Center, MN

$103/night. Room block good through April 17, 2014

Offered by In-Sight Institute...Life Tribute Professionals

TRAINERS: Doug Manning Glenda Stansbury

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: This training is specifically designed for anyone interested in understanding the process of the funeral service and in learning how to personalize and design meaningful funerals or tributes. A successful Celebrant is one who enjoys working with people, has writing and public speaking ability as well as listening and consulting skills. The seminar attracts a wide variety of participants: funeral directors, pre-need and aftercare specialists, hospice professionals, clergy, chaplains, business people, actors, writers and students.

SCHEDULE: Day 1 .......................3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (dinner provided)

Day 2 .......................8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (lunch provided, dinner on your own)

Day 3 ....................8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (continental breakfast provided)

Cost: $800, MFDA Members $750, Students $550

DISCOUNT FOR MULTIPLE STUDENTS

For registration details go to www.insightbooks.com, click on ”Becoming a Celebrant” and search by

location OR email Glenda at [email protected]

Celebrant TrainingMay 17-19, 2014

Funeral Director Creates The Funeral First Call App for iPad

The Funeral First Call app is a quick, effective and organized way to collect first call information on your iPad. While you are on the phone taking the first call, or after all of the information has been received, you can easily save, email or print the information from your iPad.

The Funeral First Call APP is made exclusively for the funeral profession when taking a first call, and created by a Minnesota licensed mortician.

The Funeral First Call app is great for any funeral professional using their iPad to keep organized, and able to easily reference, communicate and share information taken during a first call. Stay Networked and informed with your coworkers, get rid of the pen and paper, and use that iPad for your future First Calls.

“There is no contract or monthly fees. Funeral First Call App is available for purchase on the Apple Store.

Tyler Schwichtenberg graduated from the University of Minnesota MortuaryScience Program in December of 2012. He is a funeral director in West Central MN,on the development committee for Children’s Grief Connection and the Hearts ofHope Camp, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and now a funeral service App developer. Tyler attended the 2013 convention and started thinking of apps for funeral service after attending a break-out entitled 60 Apps in 60 minutes, by James Spellos. He can be reached at [email protected] 507-339-8779.

Join us for education, fun, camaraderie, education, more fun, great food, motivational speakers, education, and an all around good time. Remember we are MOVING FORWARD AND AIMING HIGH! You do not want to miss it.

Speakers to include Certified Celebrants and Life Tribute Professionals - Doug Manning and Glenda Stansbury

Doug Manning – Founder & President of In-Sight Books, Inc. For 30 years Doug has been writing and speaking in the areas of grief and elder care. From his very first book, A Minister Speaks About Funerals, he has carried the message that a funeral is an important and healing time for the grieving family. Doug has written or produced over 40

books and resources and is one of the most respected speakers in the area of grief throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Glenda Stansbury MA, CFSP – Marketing & Development Director of In-Sight Books, Dean of In-Insight Institute. Glenda has worked as an educator, teacher trainer and seminar developer. She is a practicing Celebrant adjunct professor at the University of Central Oklahoma Funeral Department and is a licensed funeral director/

embalmer. At the end of 2012 Doug and Glenda had conducted almost 90 Celebrant trainings for over 1800 participants. They have presented at the NFDA, FSAC, ICCFA & CANA conventions as well as many state funeral director conventions.

Thomas Lynch, Author, Poet and Funeral DirectorThomas Lynch is a funeral director and the author of several books of essays, poems, and short stories. His book The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade won an American Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award. His work has been the subject of two

documentary films, including the Emmy Award-winning The Undertaking (PBS Frontline, 2007). He recently co-authored the Good Funeral with Thomas G. Long.

Jerry Kill was named head coach of the University of Minnesota football program on December 7, 2010. He completed his 20th year of being a head college football coach in 2013 and his overall collegiate head coaching record is 144-94.

Kill’s rebuilding of the Minnesota program is also taking place in the classroom. The Gophers recorded a 994 Academic Progress Rate (APR) for the 2011-12 season, the first under Kill’s leadership. The 994 score is the highest single-season score that the Minnesota football team has ever recorded and only 10 teams have tied or beaten a score of 994 since the NCAA has made single-season scores available

Kill came to Minnesota after spending three seasons on the sidelines at NIU. Kill led the Huskies to three consecutive bowl games during his tenure and also coached NIU to a berth the Mid-American Conference Championship game in 2010. Kill was 23-16 in his three seasons with the Huskies.

We look forward to having Coach Kill as one our keynote speakers during the 124th Annual Convention.


2014 MFDA CONVENTION Mark Your Calendars: May 19-21, 2014

Earle Browne Heritage Convention Center and Embassy Suites, Brooklyn Center, MN

Viewable on both iPhones and Androids!

View vendors, convention schedule, program and speaker information, real-time alerts and image galleries, Convention maps, user surveys and more! Attendees can access the app for 12 months. www.mfda13.com

Mobile Meeting App

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Kelco Celebrates 75 Years!

Minneapolis, MN, January 13, 2014: Kelco Supply Company celebrates a Diamond Anniversary, serving the death care industry for 75 years. Kelco Supply Company was founded in 1939 by Leo Hodroff; originally named L.H. Kellogg Chemical Company. The company went through two corporate transitions until it ultimately ended up back in independent hands in 1990.

This transition back to an independent, privately owned company was smooth, and positioned the company for continued success.

Nira Mesker was a true visionary, and it was a mother/daughter duo for many years, but as the current owner, Alicia Carr continues to bring her mother’s legacy to light in all aspects of the business. The talented and dedicated team of staff members that serves our clients is committed to exceeding your expectations. It has been, and will continue to be the cornerstone of the business.

Kelco Supply Company was founded in 1939 by Mr. Leo Hodroff. Originally named the L.H Kellogg Chemical Company. At the time, he was attending the University of Minnesota, completing a degree in Mortuary Science, as well as working in his family’s funeral home. With Mr. Hodroff’s keen sense of vision, and a $100 bank loan, Kelco began to grow.

In 1971, Amedco, a corporate firm, acquired the company from Mr. Hodroff, and retained ownership until 1986, when they sold to Service Corp International. (SCI) Even though Kelco remained a successful business, it just wasn’t part of SCI’s overall plan for their future, and in 1990 they offered the sale of the company to Nira Mesker, who was the Controller for more than 15 years, and had been with the company since 1971.

Nira was quite an entrepreneur, and decided to take on the challenge of owning her own business. This transition back to a privately owned company was smooth, and positioned the company for continued success at a much faster pace. Nira went right to work with explosive growth over the next several years. During this period, Nira started to groom her children as part of her succession plan. Although, all of Nira’s three children worked in some capacity within the business, her daughter, Alicia Carr was the only one to take an interest to the business and the industry. Working side-by-side, learning all aspects of the business from shipping and receiving, to customer service, to the financial accounting pieces, Alicia enjoyed working for her mother.

So, groomed as she was, Alicia was offered a place in management in 2001 when Nira decided it was her time for retirement. Little did she know that just two years after retirement, Nira would fall ill with cancer and it would take her life in just two short years. Nira lost her battle with cancer in May of 2003.

Determined to continue the legacy of which her mother had started, Alicia bought the company out of her family’s estate in 2004 and took over as the new owner. Kelco continues to be an independently owned, family run business. Alicia is determined to operate as a successful business for her clients, as well as the extremely dedicated and talented employees who work here. The cornerstone of Kelco’s business will always remain the same; we are committed to Service.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office, serving Hennepin, Dakota, and Scott Counties, has updated the cremation form used by funeral homes and physicians to facilitate the cremation process. The new form can be found in the Community Partners and Agencies section at www.hennepin.us/me We would appreciate it if you would use the new form when conducting business with us. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 612-215-6300. Thank you!


Thank you to everyone who responded to our recent legislative alert regarding the bill requiring funeral homes to post price lists on their website. We understand that many of you did reach out to your representatives as several reported that back to our lobbyists.

The recap of the January 29 session is included below. It is now very important that you personally contact your legislator again, or for the first time, and let them know you MFDA’s stand on this requirement. The legislative session begins on February 25th so we have some time. If you are unsure of who to contact, go to http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/ or call the office at 763-416-014 and we’ll help you out.

RECAP….On Wednesday, January 29, the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee had a hearing on HF 1988, the bill requiring funeral homes to post price lists on their website. Roger Bengston and Cathy Lehman-Cato testified on behalf of MFDA and did a great job outlining our concerns about the legislation and stated that MFDA opposes this new mandate. Rep. Carolyn Laine (DFL-Columbia Heights) is the author of the bill and said that it just updates the existing price list law to be consistent with current technology — and that consumers should be able to price comparison shop for funeral services more easily at such a difficult time in their lives. A representative of the MN Consumer Funeral Alliance also spoke in favor of the bill using the same arguments.

Some of the committee members raised very good questions about the need for the bill and talked favorably about their funeral establishments in their communities. However other committee members were very supportive of this new mandate. The Chair, Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL-Rochester) did not indicate her position on the bill but it is now under consideration for inclusion in an omnibus HHS policy bill.

This bill will move forward if legislators don’t hear from local funeral directors about your concerns. They need to understand that people are best served by the personal interaction of working with a funeral director at this difficult time of their lives — or when making pre-arrangements.

Contact your legislators — and let us know what they tell you. The legislative session begins on February 25th so please use this time to make a personal call to your legislators. Talk with them about your concerns with this legislation and let them know you are an important part of your community, serving people at one of the most difficult times in their lives.

NFDA ADVOCACY SUMMIT On the national level, NFDA will be hosting the Annual Advocacy Summit in Washington DC on March 4-6. Board members Mike Dahl, Roger Bengtson, Ashley Hoff, Shawn Kirby, Policy Board Representative Leif Larsen, and Executive Director Darlyne Erickson will be attending, along with funeral directors from 50 other states. It’s a great opportunity for the association’s leadership to connect with others in similar situations and learn from one another.

The single issue that NFDA has asked funeral directors to present to their representatives is to support and enact legislation to update the FTC funeral rule to include all for-profit sellers of funeral and/or final disposition goods and/or services not now covered by the Funeral Rule.

Judy Cook

LEGISLATIVE NOTES

House Health and Human Services Policy Committee Hearing RecapBy Judy Cook, Cook Girard Associates

Judy Cook is with MFDA’s lobbying firm Cook Girard Associates in St. Paul.


How Do You Create Value? By John Harrington, FDLIC Regional Sales Vice President

Willmar

Precast

Company

IN THE HEART OF SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA

Serving the burial vault needs of funeral professionals in:

• Big Stone • Brown• Chippewa • Kandiyohi• Lac qui Parle • Meeker• Nicollet • Pope• Redwood • Renville• Sibley • Stearns• Swift • Yellow Medicine

Call Ron Jasperson at Willmar Precast320-235-8527; Toll Free: 1-800-559-8527

Over the past several months the FDLIC sales force has been looking at value creation. We studied it collectively at our summer sales meeting and in greater detail at our conclave meetings this fall and again during end of year meetings. Our discussions morphed from a concept learned from Anthony Iannarino, blogger and sales expert. Iannarino came up with a way to quantify varying levels of success in sales based on the level of value provided. While achieving high levels of value apply in differing degrees depending on the type of business; they apply in spades to funeral service. These levels of value creation spoke to us not only in our arena, but we felt it could transcend business to business sales and apply to funeral homes and to preneed sales professionals. The premise: When involved in sales, whether trying to work with a funeral home, an at-need family, or trying to encourage a family to prearrange, what we are selling these days is just as much about value as it is anything else. It’s been said, if people do not find value in what we have to offer than we really don’t have anything to offer.

Iannarino outlines four levels of value creation: Level 1; providing products and services. Level 2; offering a quality experience. Level 3; being a problem solver. Level 4; being a trusted advisor. Each level builds upon the previous with the ultimate goal to become a trusted advisor.

In today’s challenging world level 1 value creation is the bare minimum to achieve any level of success; yet in the funeral industry this simply is not enough. Families are more discerning and demanding than ever and they are looking for value in virtually every purchase they make. The real challenge is to ask yourself, “Do we offer a quality experience?” “Am I being a problem solver?” and, “Have I become a trusted advisor?” Moreover, I encourage you to consider what each of these levels of value truly mean to you and your business. For example, I often will ask funeral homes what they do that makes them different or better than their competition (level 2 value). The response I get most often is they offer better service, but when I press them to define how they offer better service some are not able to articulate or quantify differences. When asking yourself the questions above you have to dig deeper to accurately assess the level of value you are bringing to the table. If you’re not content in your overall level of value creation it might be worth considering what you could do to better become a problem solver or maybe even a trusted advisor.

This only skims the surface and there isn’t room in this article for further exploration of value creation, but YOU’RE IN LUCK! FDLIC has been so intrigued and captivated by this topic we have devoted this year’s FOCUS magazine to value creation. In the magazine we challenge you to consider how to move toward a level three or

four value creator and suggest offerings from funeral homes and how they would fit into the value creation strategy. Ultimately, the magazine challenges you to consider how to move toward being a trusted advisor to the families you serve.

Are you intrigued yet? I invite anyone reading this who wants to learn more about value creation to contact me to receive your free copy of our Focus Magazine to learn more. They are hot off the press and available now. Its thought provoking, challenging, informative, and truly worth the read!

I hope you decide to accept the challenge.


I’ve just returned from an offsite with our team at The Energy Project. As we concluded, I asked each person to take a few moments to say what he or she felt most proud of accomplishing over the past year.

After each of their brief recounting, I added some observations about what I appreciated in that person. Before long, others were chiming in. The positive energy was contagious, but it’s not something we can ever take for granted.

Whatever else each of us derives from our work, there may be nothing more precious than the feeling that we truly matter — that we contribute unique value to the whole, and that we’re recognized for it.

The single highest driver of engagement, according to a worldwide study conducted by Towers Watson, is whether or not workers feel their managers are genuinely interested in their wellbeing. Less than 40 percent of workers felt so engaged.

Feeling genuinely appreciated lifts people up. At the most basic level, it makes us feel safe, which is what frees us to do our best work. It’s also energizing. When our value feels at risk, as it so often does, that worry becomes preoccupying, which drains and diverts our energy from creating value.

So why is it that openly praising or expressing appreciation to other people at work can so easily seem awkward, contrived, mawkish and even disingenuous?

The obvious answer is that we’re not fluent in the language of positive emotions in the workplace. We’re so unaccustomed to sharing them that we don’t feel comfortable doing so. Heartfelt appreciation is a muscle we’ve not spent much time building, or felt encouraged to build.

Oddly, we’re often more experienced at expressing negative emotions — reactively and defensively, and often without recognizing their corrosive impact on others until much later, if we do at all.

That’s unfortunate. The impact of negative emotions — and more specifically the feeling of being devalued — is incredibly toxic. As Daniel Goleman has written, “Threats to our standing in the eyes of others are almost as powerful as those to our very survival.”

In one well-known study, workers who felt unfairly criticized by a boss or felt they had a boss who didn’t listen to their concerns had a 30 percent higher rate of coronary disease than those who felt treated fairly and with care.

In the workplace itself, researcher Marcial Losada has found that among high-performing teams, the expression of positive feedback outweighs that of negative feedback by a ratio of 5.6 to 1. By contrast, low-performing teams have a ratio of .36 to 1.

So what are the practical steps you can take, especially as a manager, to use appreciation in the service of building a higher-performing (and more sustainable) team?

1. As the Hippocratic Oath prescribes to physicians, “Above all else, do no harm.” Or perhaps more accurately, do less harm, since it’s unrealistic to do none. The costs of devaluing others are so great that we need to spend far more time thinking than we do now about how to hold people’s value, even in situations where they’ve fallen short and our goal is get them to change their behavior for the better.

2. Practice appreciation by starting with yourself. If you have difficulty openly appreciating others, it’s likely you also find it difficult to appreciate yourself. Take a few moments at the end of the day to ask yourself this simple question: “What can I rightly feel proud of today?” If you are committed to constant self-improvement, you can also ask yourself, “What could I do better tomorrow?” Both questions hold your value.

3. Make it a priority to notice what others are doing right. The more you work at it, the better you’ll get at it, and the more natural it will become for you. For example, start by thinking about what positive qualities, behaviors and contributions you currently take for granted among the members of your team. Then ask yourself, what is it that each of them uniquely brings to the table?

4. Be appreciative. The more specific you can be about what you value — and the more you notice what’s most meaningful to that person — the more positive your impact on that person is likely to be. A handwritten note makes a bigger impression than an email or a passing comment, but better any one of them than nothing at all.

We’re all more vulnerable and needy than we like to imagine. Authentically appreciating others will make you feel better about yourself, and it will also increase the likelihood they’ll invest more in their work, and in you. The human instinct for reciprocity runs deep.

TONY SCHWARTZ Tony Schwartz is the president and CEO of The Energy Project and the author of Be Excellent at Anything. Become a fan of The Energy Project on Facebook and connect with Tony at Twitter.com/TonySchwartz and Twitter.com/Energy_Project.

Tony Schawartz

Why Appreciation Matters So MuchBy Tony Schwartz, President and CEO of The Energy Project


IMPORTANTCONTACTS

MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

www.health.state.mn.us

COMPLIANCE MONITORING DIVISION

Darcy Miner, Director [email protected]

MORTUARY SCIENCE SECTION

www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/mortsci/mortsci.htm

Mortician Investigators Marguerite Slonine, 651-201-3847 [email protected]

Erika Fulgern, (651) 201-3848 [email protected]

Carlena Weiland, (651) 201-3828 [email protected]

OFFICE OF VITAL RECORDS

Heidi Granlund Acting State Registrar Phone: (651) 201-5987

[email protected] www.health.state.mn.us/divs/chs/

osr/deathreg/index.html

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Program of Mortuary Science [email protected]

Michael LuBrant, Ph.D. Director [email protected]

Phone: (612) 624-3980 Fax: (612) 626-4163

Anatomy Bequest Program [email protected]

Angie McArthur Phone: (612) 625-1111 Fax: (612) 665-1688

Bravo BudweiserBy Jerry J. Brown

Little did I know that years after I left the Hazelden Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center, I would be cheering for the world’s largest BEER BREWER.

If you happened to see the heart-warming Budweiser Super Bowl commercial featuring the famous Clydesdales and an adorable golden retriever puppy, you might understand why.

To me, this ad transcended every commercial I have seen in many years, especially given the intense advertising and marketing that occurs during the NFL season.

This year, the cost of a national television commercial has reached the astounding pinnacle of four million dollars for a matter of seconds to showcase products and services. I often wonder, how does one measure the return-on-investments of this magnitude?

But who am I to even make a guess? What is perplexing, however, is when I watch an ad that features kaleidoscopic break-dancing, balloons, floating confetti, super-imposed calisthenics, grinning faces, ear splitting orchestration and screeching dialogue that makes it difficult to decipher, I wonder, “Where’s the beef?” What are they selling?

Somewhere in the chaos and cacophony of the commercial there may be glimpses of the stuff that’s for sale.

The current Budweiser puppy/horse ad never mentions or targets beer other than brief footage of the Clydesdale team and wagon (driver and dog included). The warmth and profound appeal say it all.

When the ad agencies realize that sometimes subtle referencing of our nation’s core values tied to a product will long be remembered and recalled by the world’s audience and at that point, they have scored an important achievement.

Grass roots beauty like a puppy and a horse nose–to-nose touches the heart of everyone.

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

photo: Horsechannel.com


Rates per month. Bi-monthly issues starting 2014 (6 issues per year).

7046 East Fish Lake Road, Maple Grove, MN 55311 Phone: (763) 416-0124 | Fax: (763) 545-9499 Email: [email protected] | www.mnfuneral.org

STYLE SIZE B&W COLOR

Classified 50 words or less $50 $100 N/A N/A

Business Card (3-1/2 w x 2-1/4 h) $75 $150 $100 $200 (horizontal)

1/4 page (3-1/2 w x 4-3/4 h) $125 $250 $150 $300

1/2 Page (7-1/2 w x 4-3/4 h) $200 $350 $250 $400

Full Page (7-1/2 w x 10 h) $350 $700 $400 $800

MFDA Allied Members

MFDA Allied Members

Non-Members Non-Members

MFDA BULLETIN 2014 ADVERTISING RATES

Find us online at brown-wilbert.com

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


Licensed Funeral Director/Funeral Director Intern Opportunities

Well established funeral home for sale in Sebeka, MN. Privately owned and operated, this 6,500 square foot funeral home was built in 2000 with class, warmth and everything you need to operate an esteemed funeral home. It includes a 150 seat chapel that may be divided for two services, a foyer, coffee/meeting room, a casket/urn room, anti room, an embalming room, and garage located with all amenities of country living. Excellent business opportunity! Call: 218-639-9540

Employment Opportunity: St. Cloud family owned funeral home is looking for a dedicated funeral service intern or newly licensee to become a professional member of its staff. This entry level position will share on-call duties with other funeral directors. It will involve all aspects of funeral service. We offer a friendly working environment with the opportunity for personal growth. Wages include a salary guarantee with hourly overtime. Excellent health, dental, life, profit sharing, paid vacation and sick leave. Please send resume to: Paul Daniel, Daniel Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1222, St. Cloud, MN. 56302.

Vertin Family Funeral Homes is looking for dedicated professional licensees to join their organization. We currently have openings in Minnesota, North Dakota and Wyoming.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package as well as a flexible schedule allowing for balance between work and life If you are interested in exploring the opportunities, please email your cover letter and resume to the below address, or call to visit confidentially. For more information about Vertin Family Funeral Homes, please visit our website at www.vertin.com.

Melissa Volk Vertin Family Funeral Homes Phone: 701-640-5500 Email: [email protected]

Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels is a family-owned and operat-ed funeral business in the Twin Cities with 16 locations that serve the Twin-Cities Metro Area. We have an immediate opening for an experi-enced licensed funeral director. We provide a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits including medical, dental, profit sharing, paid-time-off, and a fair work & on-call schedule. We value compas-sionate customer service and communication skills, and are looking for a qualified director to join the Washburn-McReavy team. Please email resume and references to [email protected]

Mail to: Washburn McReavy, Attn: Bill McReavy, Jr. 2301 Dupont Ave S, Minneapolis MN 55405

CLASSIFIEDS

MFDA MEMBERSHIP Make the decision to be a part of the solution – renew now!


IN MEMORIAM

Michael Craig Gray, 65 of Fergus Falls, MN, formerly of Duluth, passed away on Saturday, January 11, 2014 from natural causes at his residence.

Michael was born on November 4, 1948 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, the son of Gaylor and Gloria (Dahlin) Gray. He was baptized and confirmed at Grace United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls. Michael graduated from Fergus Falls Public High School in 1967. While living in Fergus Falls at a young age Michael lived near the funeral home he cu8rrently worked at and gained an interest and curiosity into the funeral business. It was from this interest that he decided to attend the University of Minnesota and enroll in the Mortuary Science program. Michael graduated and earned his Mortuary Science Degree from the University of Minnesota in 1971.

After graduation he served his internship in Minneapolis and worked for a short time there before accepting a position as a funeral director in Hawley, Minnesota at Vigen Funeral Chapel. Michael then went on to work in Detroit Lakes at West Kjos Funeral Home before moving to Duluth.

On September 6, 1980 he married Judith Rae Fuller at the First United Methodist Church in Duluth. The couple made their home in Duluth where Michael worked at numerous funeral homes. He spent a short time working as a funeral director in Cloquet, Minnesota and Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Michael worked for over 2 years in the Duluth area and was very fond of his years there. He moved back to Fergus Falls in 2006 to help care for his mother due to her failing health and began working for Glinde-Nilson Funeral Homes in Fergus Falls and Larson Funeral Home in Pelican Rapids. Mike provided relief coverage in removals, embalming and working services. He then had the opportunity to secure a full time position as a funeral director at Faith & Hope Funeral Home (Boschert-Norman) in Fergus Falls where he continued to work until his passing. Michael worked in funeral service 43 years and was very proud of his years helping others in their time of need and looked forward to receiving his Minnesota Funeral Directors 50 year badge. Mike currently held a Funeral Directors License in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.

He was a member of the Shriners and Masonic Lodge in Duluth, the Arrowhead Funeral Directors Association and recently the Kiwanis in Fergus Falls. Michael was a past member of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association.

His hobbies included watching movies, racquetball and running in his younger years; also golf which he continued to enjoy. Michael loved eating out especially Mabel Murphy’s in “Fergus Falls. He enjoyed attending Fergus Falls Otters Football and Basketball games and watching the Minnesota Vikings & Twins. Michael Cherished his years as a dog owner in which he had many man’s best friends including his Yorkie, Ashley and his current companion “April” whom he adopted from the Humane Society.

Preceding him in death were his parents Gaylor and Gloria; a baby sister, Jody and his grandparents. He is survived by an aunt, Patricia Barton of Denver, Colorado, former wife, Judy Gray of Duluth, belonged dog, April along with numerous cousins and a host of friends.

Visitation Friday, January 24, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Boschert-Norman Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at Grace United Methodist Church.

Service: 2 p.m. Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Grade United Methodist Church in Fergus Falls. Clergy: Reverend Wesley Gabel.

Interment: Oak Gove Cemetery, Fergus Falls

Arve A. Grimsmo, age 77 of Monticello, MN, passed away on Monday January 20, 2014 at Central Care Health of Monticello. Visitation will be Sunday, January 26, 2014 from 5 PM to 8 PM at Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel, 250 East Broadway, Monticello. There will be a Prayer Service Sunday at 730 PM. Further visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Monday. Funeral services will be Monday, January 27, 2014 at 11 AM at Riverside Church, 20314 County Road 14 NW, Big Lake, MN. Rev. Steve Hammer will officiate. Interment will be at Lakewood Cemetery of Minneapolis. Funeral arrangements are with the Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel of Monticello.

Arve was born on November 3, 1936 in Vinjeora, Norway to Arne and Ingeborg (Sorli) Grimsmo. Growing up in WWII Nazi-occupied Norway, conditions were poor. Arve’s uncle in Minneapolis offered to give him a fresh start in America, and Arve’s father reluctantly agreed it would be for the best. So Arve immigrated to America alone as a 14-year-old and began a new life in the United States. He attended Roosevelt High School, where he learned English quickly, and was allowed to skip a grade, and graduated in 1954. Because of his leadership of the Roosevelt ski team and advanced skiing ability, he was offered a four- year scholarship to Dartmouth College, but his uncle felt it would be better to stay closer to home, and so he attended the University of Minnesota. He met his future bride Jean Peterson, and they were married in 1957. Arve began working along side his father-in-law, Harold Peterson at the funeral home in Monticello. He graduated from the U of M, Mortuary Science Program and joined the family business.

Arve was very active in civic organizations and served as president of the Monticello PTA, Monticello Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, and the Monticello Rotary Club. For over 30 years, he served as the Youth Exchange Officer of Norway for Rotary District 5950/5960, serving Minnesota and Wisconsin. He was also a member of the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Sons of Norway. Arve served on the Monticello City Council for two years, and as Mayor of Monticello from 1978-1988. Arve also served on the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association Board of Directors from 1999-2002.

Arve greatly enjoyed visiting his native Norway, and made several trips to Norway with family and friends. He was also able to lead several tour groups to see his homeland. A highlight was when he was able to take his family back to Norway for Christmas in 1988. His grandchildren were his crowning glory and he invested his life into being the best Papa to them. He was a man of God, who leaves a legacy of faith for this family and friends.

Arve was preceded in death by his parents, Arne and Ingeborg. He is survived by his wife, Jean; daughters Sonja (Roger) Carlson of Monticello, Sarah Kisling of Monticello; grandchildren Meredith Carlson, Joanna (Daved) Lundeen, Ben Kisling, Dan Kisling; sister Edit (Ludvik) Raanes of Norway; nieces Ingrid Raanes and Eli (Kjell Gunnar) Vassdal; and nephew Leif (Jorunn) Raanes.

Roger A. Carlson, Peterson-Grimsmo Chapel


TO MFDA’S 2014 ALLIED MEMBERS

Advance Planning Services, LLP Doug Hanrahan www.advanceps.com

Anubis Specialty Services Carol Fee www.assmn.com

Apollo Casket, LLC Kim Kotila www.apollocasket.com

Artco Casket Company, Inc. Al Whitmer www.artcocasket.com

Answering Service for Directors Jason Bathurst [email protected]

Aurora Casket Company Andi Waterhouse www.auroraadvantage.com

Baines Professional Vehicles John Baines www.4hearse.com

Batesville Lynn Peterson www.batesville.com

Blanski, Peter, Kronlage & Zoch, PA John Edson www.pbkz.com

Blue Dove Software Roger Stroknoff www.bluedovesoftware.com

Brown-Wilbert, Inc. Dave Gavin, Christopher Brown, Andrew Brown, Bruce Bratton, Dan Garrity, Maleia Kavitz,John Schmitt, Jeff Bauer, Jerry Brown www.brown-wilbert.com

Children’s Grief Connection Coral Popowitz www.childrensgriefconnection.com

Cremation & Trade Services, Inc. Paul Maher

Custom Goldsmithing Jake Fuhrman

Dodge Company Greg Bright www.dodgeco.com

Federated Funeral Directors Sharron Cooper www.ffda.com

Federated Insurance Brock Martinez www.fedins.com

Firefly Gift Boxes, LLC Liz Leitch-Sell www.fireflygiftboxes.com

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Association Kari A. Hubbard [email protected]

Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company John Harrington www.funeraldirectorslife.com

Gorder Mortuary Supply James Messer www.gordersupply.com

Homesteaders Life Company Joel Rimstad www.homesteaderslife.com

Johnson Williams Funeral Cars Todd Anderson www.careympls.com

Keith M. Merrick Co., Inc. Kyle Grimes www.keithmerrick.com

Kelco Supply Mike Bjerum www.kelcosupply.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. Gary Langdom www.mds-mn.com

Midwest Medical Examiners office Angie Chalmers www.midwestmedicalexaminer.com

Minnesota Lions Eye Bank Raylene Streed www.mnlionseyebank.org

Northern Design Caskets Scott Haiby www.northerncasket.com

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

Shiva Shade Craig Maltz www.shivashade.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

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

Willmar Precast Company Ron Jasperson

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.

RENEW YOUR SPONSORSHIP TODAY TO STAY LISTED IN THE

UPCOMING ISSUES!SPECIAL THANKS

800‐692‐9515WWW.FUNERALDIRECTORSLIFE.COMESTABLISHED 1981

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Documents

Funeral Celebrants Make a Difference · Being the “boss” gives you many opportunities to guide, motivate and mentor. However, as an employee doing your job day in and day out,