Dakota College at Bottineau – Foundation

What We Do

Endowments

Alumni and friends of the college interested in establishing other restricted trusts are encouraged to contact the Foundation Office for additional information.

Interested in contributing or creating an endowment?

Need more information or have questions?

Please reach out to Leslie Stevens, Foundation Director at 701-228-5613

Email Leslie

Current List of Endowments

Dr. Aarhus was a Professor of Life Sciences at DCB from 1968 to 1996; he passed away from kidney disease in 2003. In conjunction with the college’s centennial celebration in 2007, Greg & Susan Knudson provided funding to establish this endowment in memory of Dr. Aarhus.

In November of 2006, the Peace Garden Officers Association, consisting of Bottineau, Rolette, Pierce, McHenry, Renville, and Towner Counties, established a scholarship endowment fund for students enrolling in the wildlife program at DCB in memory of Craig Bauer. At the time of his death in September 2006, Craig was part of a multiple agency task force which included the counties listed.

In May of 1997, the Olive Tait Benson Scholarship Enhancement Fund was created by family and friends in honor of Olive’s 95th birthday. Olive was a lifelong supporter of the College until her death at the age of 102 in 2005. A separate Olive Tait Benson Scholarship Endowment Fund was established by her family in March 2009

In 1986, at the College’s 80th Anniversary Celebration, Paul Brecht was honored with a “Golden Service” Alumni Award in recognition of his achievements in the field of horticulture and his service to his community. Both Paul and his wife Jane believed strongly in giving back to their community and they gave generously of their time, talents, and funds for the benefit of others. Helping young students have an opportunity to get a college education was of special importance to them. And, as a result, they chose to endow the original Floriculture Scholarship at Dakota College.

The Fund was originally established on June 20th, 1986, with an initial contribution of $2,000. Over the years, many friends and family members have continued to donate to the Fund. Upon the death of both Paul (in 2007) and Jane (in 2014), their daughters requested that the Fund be renamed in their honor as the Paul & Jane Brecht Scholarship Fund.

The Malcolm & Annie Memorial Scholarship was established on March 20th, 2014, by Angus Campbell in memory of his parents, Malcolm & Annie. The scholarship is restricted to students in the agriculture field from Bottineau, McHenry, Renville, & Rolette Counties with parentage from a farming family.

In September of 1987, the Dunseith Betterment Club reached its $2,500 pledge and established this endowment fund. They raised the necessary money through profits received from their community’s Bingo Barn and have continued to add to the scholarship fund.

The Fix Family Scholarship Fund was established in November 2002 by Kenny & Darci Fix in memory of Emanuel & Luella Fix, both of whom stressed the importance of higher education and also in memory of Darrol Vad and Paul Ohnstad who believed in the necessity of a college in Bottineau.

John Slater and Tracey Hall established this scholarship in January 2012 after Judy passed away. Judy was always giving of herself. She was a loving mother to her daughter. She went to college from 1986-1988 while raising her daughter, graduating with a degree in Medical Technology. Judy’s love and respect for her mother moved them to name this scholarship in both their names. Bertha was a lifelong resident of Bottineau. She attended Minot State and received her teaching degree. She spread her joy through education until 1950 when she decided to stay home and raise her 11 children. Bertha couldn’t resist her passion for taking care of people, and in 1971 she returned to Bottineau Public Schools as a cook.

Dwight Lang, NDSF Class of ’64, established the Lang Science and Engineering Scholarship Endowment Fund in December 2005. Dwight received his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering Degree from UND and worked for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in their corporate engineering department located in Akron, OH. There he was involved as project engineer with various maintenance and facility additions from the synthetic materials plant to the renowned Firestone County Club. Other assignments included a tire plant in Joliette, Quebec, for Firestone of Canada and the Dayton Tire Plant in Oklahoma City. Dwight accepted employment with Hardaway Construction in Nashville, TN, before starting his own construction company, DAL-DEC-CO (Dwight A. Lang, Design, Engineering and Construction Company) doing commercial and industrial type projects. After he received his Professional Engineer’s license, Dwight had to limit general contracting operations to favorite and preferred clients. Dwight later became the vice President of WASCO, Inc. and General Manager of the Cumberland Stone Works Division, which he found both challenging and enjoyable.

In December 2007, Major Mensvil N. Larson, Ret., established the Verdellis L. Larson Scholarship Endowment Fund in memory of his wife. Verdy was born in Rolette and was raised on the family farm near Thorne. She married Mensvil Norman Larson and became a career army wife and mother of four daughters before returning to ND. She opened her store, Larson’s Casuals, in 1971. In 1988, she became the evening chef at the College, where she worked until 1994. Verdy loved the college and its students. When she saw students struggle with being away from home, she always gave them special care. Verdy had a special affinity for the nursing students because one of her dreams had been to become a nurse. It was amended on the 23rd of July, 2014, to the Mensvil (Norman) & Verdellis (Verdy) Larson Scholarship Endowment Fund.

In March of 1986, Howard A. Moum established the Howard Moum Scholarship Fund. Moum graduated from the North Dakota School of Forestry in 1938. His commitment to the scholarship fund is, in part, based on his belief that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in higher education and that scholarships can assist students in realizing their goals.

The Everett and Gladys Solper Scholarship Endowment Fund was established in January 2007 in memory of Gladys. The scholarship is restricted to students enrolled in agricultural related fields or education. Gladys was born and raised on a farm in the Turtle Mountains near Bottineau. An extremely intelligent and talented young woman, she was determined to attend and graduate high school despite the difficult times of the era. During her high school years, she lived with her aunt and uncle in Souris. After graduating from Souris High School, she taught school, during which time she met and married Everett. Gladys loved the outdoors, music, dancing, sewing, and working as a partner on their farm/ranch operation. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary,and very proud of her family members who served their country in the Armed Forces. She dedicated much of her time and talents to serving our military veterans and their families. Gladys believed in the importance of education and stressed the importance of education. Everett was born and raised in the Souris area prior to his family moving to a farm in the Turtle Mountains near Bottineau. He played sports for Bottineau High school, graduating in absentia due to enlisting in the United States Marine Corps during WWII. He trained at Camp Pendleton, CA, as one of Mike “Red” Edison’s legendary “Raiders,” with his battalion taking the name “The Wake Island Avengers.” Everett served in the Marine Corps from November 10, 1942to November 25, 1945, serving in the Pacific Theatre Guadalcanal, New Britain, New Guinea, Peleliu, and Okinawa – receiving various medals, a commendation, and the Purple Heart. Everett continues to operate their farm/ranch enterprise. Everett was killed in a farm accident in September of 2012. They had three children.

In 2008, the Carl Sundin Endowment was established by the Foundation Board with funds donated by his estate. Mr. Sundin was the uncle of Governor Allen Olson and has lived in St. John, Westhope, and Bottineau areas. Carl was also a life-long supporter and active participant in NDSU-Bottineau College events.

On July 5th, 2006, the Gregory K. Swanson Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund was created in honor and memory of Gregory Konrad Swanson. The fund was established by his parents Glenn and Bedvi Swanson; his sisters and brothers, Barbara L. & Clifton H. Lee, Joette L. Pfau, Marc K. Swanson, and Scott M. and Kristine (Oster) Swanson; his nieces Kristinn (Lee) & Mark Hiatt and their children Brooke and Jacob, Jayme L. Pfau, Mesa Ann Swanson; and his nephews Travis S & Amanda Lee, Justin M. & Veronica Swanson, and Jack K. Swanson. Greg was born in Bottineau, ND, on October 9, 1953, and passed away February 20th, 2004. He graduated from Bottineau High School in 1971 and enlisted in the U.S. Army (serving in Germany), and was honorably discharged September 10th, 1975. He enrolled at NDSU-Bottineau, class of 1977. Greg was an ardent farmer, reader, student, builder, conservationist and sportsman who enjoyed fishing, hunting, and helping others. Scholarships are designated for wildlife and science, to alternate annually. In June 2009, the Glenn Swanson Family established an endowment in memory of their wife, mother, and grandmother Bedvi who passed away in May 2009. She attended the School of Forestry prior to her marriage to Glenn and then worked at home raising and caring for their five children. It was amended on December 31st, 2013, to combine the two scholarship funds.

In January 2007, an endowment funded from the estate of Faye (Mrs. Carter) Troyer was established in memory of their only son Thomas who died at age 28. Troyers owned and operated the Dakota Trailer Court, A & W Drive-In, and the Botno Theater. They were active in the Bottineau community for many decades.

In January 2006, the Leonard and Estelle Vandal Scholarship Fund was established by family members to provide assistance to students enrolling at Dakota College at Bottineau in the field of education.