Robert Bruns

Robert Hursey “Bob” Bruns, 88, a resident of Fergus Falls, died Saturday, June 26, 2010, at the Lakeland Hospice House in Fergus Falls. He was born July 28, 1921, in Fargo, ND, the son of John and Ethel Belle (Erickson) Bruns. He was named for his grandfather, Robert Erickson, an emigrant from Stockholm, Sweden, to Argusville, ND. He was baptized at Plymouth Congregational Church, Fargo and grew up in the Horace Mann Elementary School neighborhood. He graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1939. Bob had an artistic bent from childhood on, spending hours drawing favorite cartoon characters. After studying architecture for two years at NDSU, he realized that his calling was to teach. He transferred to Moorhead State Teachers College in 1941, where he designed the “Denny Dragon” mascot and also played basketball. Bob enlisted in the US Navy in 1942, graduated from Northwestern University Midshipman School and began service as Deck Officer and later Captain of the USS LST 451 until 1946. The 451 participated in nine South Pacific landings ending at Okinawa.  LST 451 ship reunions are held annually at Branson. He and his daughter, Lori, took the Honor Flight to Washington DC to see the WWII Veteran’s Memorial. When Bob graduated from Moorhead State in 1947, he began teaching history and coaching at Wheaton High School, Wheaton, MN, where the “Wally Warrior” mascot was designed. In 1950 he was recalled to active duty in the US Naval Reserve and was deployed on LST 601 to the Thule, Greenland Air Force Base. In September 1951, he returned to teaching at Wheaton High School where he met the newest English teacher on the faculty. He and Joyce Brenden were married September 2, 1953 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Rothsay. They are the parents of Lori Jill and Brian. Graduate school at UND and U of M led to the Jr. High Principalship at Wheaton for ten years before accepting the position as Audio-Visual Director of Fergus Falls Public Schools. Bob’s teaching philosophy was built around challenging students and teachers to enjoy learning, to create hands-on projects, to illustrate, dream, and design. He would often teach history using postage stamps, political campaign buttons, etc. He was known for his well-used pack of pens (every color) in his shirt pocket, his yard stick (at Wheaton), and his “alphabet soup” tests. He believed in the value of high school sports and gave enthusiastic support. As AV specialist he demonstrated and taught media classes for teachers at NDSU and MSU. At Fergus Falls he created numerous Otter designs. As a school volunteer he taught elementary students to draw a basic Otter. Bob was honored as Traverse County Teacher of the Year in 1960. Later he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Distinguished Service at Fergus Falls Public Schools. The lifelong interest that Bob had in Boy Scouting began in the troop at Plymouth Congregational Church. In 1937 he attended the first Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington DC. In 1957 he returned to the Jamboree as the Scoutmaster for the Red River Valley contingent. He was Scoutmaster at Wheaton and later Cubmaster at Cleveland School. He received the Silver Beaver as well as the Lamb Award (National Lutheran Committee on Scouting). His community interests include designing the giant Mallard duck at Wheaton and the big Otter at Grotto Park in Fergus Falls. He was a dedicated Noon Kiwanis member and was honored as a George F. Hixon Fellow in 1999. He was a past president of the Wheaton Lions Club and the Fergus Falls Sons of Norway. In retirement he was active in searching for pioneer buildings to be moved to Norway.  He enjoyed Y’s Folks (charter member and logo design), and the Faculty Men’s Friday Coffee and Fishing Trips. He and Joyce joined Hope Lutheran Church, Wheaton, and in 1966 came to Bethlehem Lutheran. He served on the board of the Moorhead State University Alumni Assn. Bob and Joyce enjoyed their family and especially loved their travel trailer camping in all 48 states and many Canadian provinces. Bob charted and always photographed. In their growing-up years, Lori’s and Brian’s favorite expression was “Not another State Capitol, Dad!” Preceding him in death were his parents. Bob is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Fergus Falls, his daughter, Lori Eveland of Fargo, his son, Brian Bruns of Bullhead City, AZ, and his four grandchildren: Nikki (Karl Straub) Bruns, Aaron (Alisha Meier) Eveland, Jenna (Jeffrey Westberg) Eveland, all of Fargo, and Joshua Bruns of Bullhead City. Other survivors are many nieces and nephews. Memorials are preferred to the Noon Kiwanis Youth Projects or the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation. Visitation:  5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Olson Funeral Home with a public prayer service at  6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Service:  11 a.m. Friday, July 2, 2010, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls Clergy:  Reverend Paul Nelson Burial:  Our Savior’s Lutheran Cemetery, Rothsay, MN Arrangements:  Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls.