2 0 1 1 awa r d w i n n e r s
Alumnus of the Year
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ernard “Bernie” Meyer, a native of Fairmount, N.D., grew up helping on the family farm and graduated from Fairmount High School in 1951. Bernie enrolled at Bernard Meyer NDSSS in 1951 where he lettered in basketball and football. He graduated in 1953 with a Pre-Commerce degree. Following graduation, Bernie enlisted in the Army and was trained as a paratrooper with the 11th Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Ky. In 1955, he was honorably discharged and returned home to marry the love of his life, Ms. Lethe Neubauer, a native of Tyler,
A Family Tradition
bernard meyer
N.D., and a graduate of Wahpeton High School. Bernie and Lethe moved to Miami, Fla., where he pursued a bachelor’s degree at the University of Miami while working night shifts as a parking attendant for the Allright Corporation. Lethe was employed by Delta Airlines. Bernie completed his degree from the University of Miami in Business Administration in just three years.
retirements, Bernie and Lethe lived in Wahpeton, N.D., and in The Woodlands, a community north of Houston. During their time together they had three sons, Bradley (Jenny) of Woodbridge, Va., and their two daughters Elana and Lillian; Steve (Erin) of Rosemount, Minn.; and Joseph (Samantha) of Mariposa, Calif. Lethe passed away in 2007 from cancer.
After graduating, Bernie began his career with the Allright Corporation, which lasted 43-years. He began as a city and state manager for operations in Alabama, served as a regional manager, and then as a corporate division manager. In 1991, Bernie was promoted to the position of president – quite a leap for the former part-time parking attendant!
In addition to being a strong supporter of the Wahpeton community, Bernie has been an active and passionate supporter of NDSCS. He has served on the board of directors of the Letterwinners Club and continues to serve on the Foundation. He is also an active contributor and supporter of the Catbackers Club and Foundation 300 Club. He is a member of the American Legion and the St. John’s Catholic Church. He is a past member of Rotary International, Junior Chamber of Commerce and a former president of the National Parking Association.
During his tenure as president, Bernie worked at the corporate headquarters in Houston, Texas, until he retired in 1999. After their
the sauter Family
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(LPN, ‘82), and their family live in Hazen. Bill works at Basin Electric and Penney is employed at St. Martin’s Catholic Church.
arold and Patty Sauter, of Manfred N.D., and their ten children are being honored with this year’s A Family Tradition award. Harold Sauter was very influential in his family’s education, as he didn’t have the opportunity to attend college himself. The Sauter children began their tradition with six children attending NDSCS and several spouses and their children. The youngest Sauter son passed away at the age of 12 from leukemia. Harold Sauter passed away in October 2010. Patty Sauter commented, “The education my children received at NDSCS was excellent and has been very beneficial in where they are at in their lives today.” Karen Sauter Dahlgren (Legal Secretary, ‘78), of Wahpeton, N.D., began her career at NDSSS in 1977 working in financial aid, alumni and counseling services and is currently working in the Academic Services Center. Her husband, Robin (Plumbing, ‘76), works for the city of Wahpeton. Kathy Sauter’s son, Kevin Peters, is a 2005 graduate from the Business Management program. Kevin is employed with
Dan Sauter (Civil Engineering, ‘83) is employed at the North Dakota State Water Commission and resides in Bismarck. The Sauter Family
Progressive Financial Services in Aberdeen, S.D. Bob Sauter (Agri-business, ‘79, Electrical, ‘93) and his family live in Washburn where Bob is employed at Great River Energy. Mary Sauter Ehni (LPN, ‘80), her husband, Randy (Auto Body, ‘79), and their son, Nathan (Liberal Arts, ‘06), all graduated from NDSCS. Mary works at St. Francis Nursing Home in Breckenridge and Randy is employed at Vision Ford in Wahpeton. Bill Sauter (Electrical, ‘82), his wife, Penney
Julie Sauter Kjellerson and her husband, Mark (Radio & TV Technology, ‘80, Radio Communications, ‘82), both attended NDSCS. Julie took an accounting class during the summer of 1987. Mark is employed at Ellsworth Air Force Base and Julie is a financial consultant for Standard Technology Inc. They reside in Rapid City, S.D. Carol Sauter Selzer’s husband, Steve (Auto Technology, ‘90), does auto mechanic work on the side, while co-owning and operating the Medicine Shoppe in Harvey, N.D., with Carol. ndscsalumni.com
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