University Letter

UND's faculty and staff newsletter

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In Remembrance

Don Kohns

Remembering Donald P. Kohns

Categories: In Remembrance

Don Kohns

Donald P. Kohns of East Grand Forks, professor emeritus of marketing and a former DECA advisor at UND, died Sunday, December 12, 2021 at the age of 87 at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks. He was raised on a farm in Iowa. After graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in Cherokee, Iowa, he earned a Bachelor […]

Lowell Thompson

Remembering Lowell Thompson

Categories: In Remembrance

Lowell Thompson

Lowell H. Thompson, professor emeritus at the Center for Teaching & Learning (now the College of Education & Human Development), died Dec. 8, 2021. He was 89. Lowell Thompson was born on the Ault farm in Cavalier, N.D., on Oct. 26, 1932, to Homer and Dorothy (Ault) Thompson. Lowell grew up and attended elementary school […]

Remembering Donghwan Kwark

Categories: In Remembrance

The UND community is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Donghwan Kwark last week in Korea. Donghwan was a student in the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences from Korea. Donghwan’s passing is a tragic loss. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and classmates. They are all in our […]

Jutta Platat

Remembering Jutta Platt

Categories: In Remembrance

Jutta Platat

Jutta Kaethe Platt, retired Graduate School admissions counselor, died on Oct. 30, 2021, at her home. She was 94. Jutta was a resident of Colorado Springs, Colo., for 24 years and was formerly a resident of Grand Forks. Jutta was born on May 24, 1927, to Kaethe M. (Moritz) Mueller and Bruno E. Mueller in […]

Remembering Kim Cook

Categories: In Remembrance

The University of North Dakota community is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Kimberly “Kim” Cook on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021. Kim was a student in the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines from Valley City, N.D. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Kim’s family, friends and classmates. They are all in our […]

Yvonne Hanley

Remembering Yvonne Hanley

Categories: In Remembrance

Yvonne Hanley

Yvonne Mary Hanley, retired faculty member in the College of Education & Human Development, passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, in Tempe, Az. She was 76. Yvonne was born on July 13, 1945, in Melrose, Minn., to the late Ethel and Cyril Spies. She was the second oldest of six children […]

Al Palmer

Remembering Al Palmer

Categories: In Remembrance

Al Palmer

It is with regret that we announce the death of Al Palmer, who passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at age 69. Al Palmer worked at UND Aerospace from 1981 to 2016 in a number of roles that included chief of flight simulator training and director of flight operations, retiring as Director of UAS. A […]

Remembering John Hauser

Categories: In Remembrance

The University of North Dakota community is deeply saddened to learn of the death of John Hauser, a student majoring in Commercial Aviation from Chicago, Illinois. We extend our heartfelt condolences to John’s family, friends, classmates, and fraternity brothers. They are all in our thoughts and prayers. The loss of a member of our UND […]

Kim Werner

Remembering Kim Werner

Categories: In Remembrance

Kim Werner

Kimberly Werner, staff member at the International Center, East Grand Forks, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at home. She was 62. Kimberly Jo Sand was born Dec. 3, 1958, in Grand Forksto John Robert and Donna (Fontaine) Sand. Their family moved many places because of her father’s Naval service. They lived in Great […]

Ruth Holweger

Remembering Ruth Holweger

Categories: In Remembrance

Ruth Holweger

Ruth E. Holweger, retired secretary for the economics department, Grand Forks, passed away Oct. 3, 2021, at Valley Senior Living, Woodside Village. She was 86. Ruth Eileen Adams was born on April 22, 1935, to Joseph and Caroline (Leddige) Adams. She was raised on the family farm west of Reynolds and attended rural school. At […]

Susan Stoa

Remembering Susan Stoa

Categories: In Remembrance

Susan Stoa

Susan Carol (Green) Stoa, retired UND Bookstore staff member, passed away on Sept. 28, 2021, at the home of her two sons in Maricopa, Arizona, following a four year battle with ovarian cancer. Susan Carol (Green) Stoa, age 67, was born on December 17, 1953 to J. Carleton and Pauline (Trezona) Green in Cooperstown, NY. […]

K-9 Ben

Remembering K-9 Ben

Categories: In Remembrance

K-9 Ben

K-9 Ben, age 9, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on September 7, 2021, after a short battle with cancer. Ben was born in North Dakota on Feb. 23, 2012. He joined the University of North Dakota Police Department in 2014 as the department’s first K-9 unit after receiving extensive training and certification at […]

Dee Melby

Remembering Deanna Melby

Categories: In Remembrance

Dee Melby

Deanna Marlaine Melby, retired administrative and budget specialist at the School of Graduate studies, Grand Forks, North Dakota, died Aug. 31, 2021, at home following a two year battle with leukemia. She was 74. Deanna “Dee” was born on Nov. 7, 1946, in Fergus Falls, where she was raised, baptized, confirmed and married at the […]

Gail Colwell

Remembering Gail Colwell

Categories: In Remembrance

Gail Colwell

Gail I. Colwell, retired staff member at the Conflict Resolution Center, East Grand Forks, passed away at her home on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021. She was 73. Gail Irene Colwell was born on March 5, 1948 in Grand Forks to Julius and Irene (Brown) Forseide. Gail grew up in East Grand Forks and graduated from […]

Ron Schaefer

Remembering Ron Schaefer

Categories: In Remembrance

Ron Schaefer

Ron Schaefer, professor emeritus of fine arts, died July 20, 2021. He was 82. He was born on June 2, 1939, to Harvey and Lorraine Schaefer in Milwaukee, Wis. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a bachelor’s degree. His two master’s degrees in fine arts were earned at the University of Wisconsin in […]