Dick Gustafson ’65

Dick Gustafson, founder of Alexandria’s Jefferson High School boys’ hockey program in 1967, was inducted into the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2024. His decades-long coaching career, including 11 years at Jefferson, left a lasting impact on the local hockey community.

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Janice O’Leary ’68

Janice is happily retired after 10 years as an elementary school teacher and 31 years with Northwest Airlines, where she served as a support person and occasional teacher in the reservations department. She remains active as the membership chairperson for the Finnish Genealogy Group of Minnesota. Her hobbies include photography, genealogy, DIY projects, part-time gardening, and meeting friends for lunch.

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James Bkornerud ’60

James A. Bjornerud, a 1960 Bemidji State graduate, passed away on August 19, 2024, just days before his 87th birthday. A 1996 BSU Outstanding Alumnus, he taught at the University of Wisconsin-Stout for 35 years, sharing his passion for woodcraft with students worldwide. He is survived by his wife, Gloria Miller Bjornerud, class of 1959.

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Gail (Hecimovich) Nuncech ’69

Gail (Hecimovich) Nucech, a 1969 Bemidji State graduate, was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame after a 44-year coaching career at Hibbing High, highlighted by 884 volleyball wins and a state championship.

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