Northwest Minnesota Foundation ~ Developing Community Assets ~ Serving 12 Counties
Arthur I. Snustad: Big Heart in a Small Town
Winter 2013 ~ Number 62 ~
This is a quarterly publication of Northwest Minnesota Foundation
Lisa Peterson, Development Officer In rural northwestern Minnesota communities, we have a fair share of hard working, yet generous people who live quietly, with little interest in luxury or a place in the spotlight. You could say they are the anti-celebrities of America. Some of these folks shine as the brightest stars when their years of thrift and determination come into the light. Arthur Ingram Snustad was one of these people. This exceptional man was born in Rindahl, Minnesota in 1921. He has truly made a lasting impact with a gift to the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, planned and executed through a revocable trust. Art cared deeply about education. He believed it to be the key to a full and successful life. That’s why he Arthur I. Snustad set up the Arthur I. and Jane B. Snustad Education Fund at NMF to be funded when his life ended. The fund, valued at nearly $2 million, will provide Snustad Education Scholarships to students who have graduated from the Win-E-Mac school district. In addition, the fund will help the school district through Snustad Education Grants. Art grew up in Winger, MN and attended the Winger school. He graduated from McIntosh High School in 1939. He entered the U.S. Army on September 20, 1944, serving in southern Korea and the Philippines
at the end of World War II as a part of troop deactivation. He earned the Bronze Star for Exemplary Conduct in Combat. Some of Art’s motivation to enlist was to benefit from the G.I Bill, which would help pay for his college tuition. He had already met Jane Webster, the love of his life, but wanted to wait to marry until after he safely returned from active duty, so that she would not suffer becoming a widow. Art and Jane were united in marriage in 1947 on Jane’s family farm in Beltrami, MN, and lived near Winger until 1951, when they moved to Minneapolis. Art attended the University of Minnesota Program of Mortuary Science, graduating Jane B. Snustad with honors in 1952. He was very proud of his accomplishment. In part, Art was determined to improve his education because Jane was a teacher when they met. She had inspired him to go further in life. In fact, he gave her credit for making him a better person. Art’s granddaughter DeAnn Givens said, “Grandpa loved to talk about his days at the University of Minnesota. He grew up in the Great Depression and had to work for everything he needed when just a kid. His first job was on a potato farm in Winger. He knew he (Continued on page 4)
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invests resources, facilitates collaboration and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.
NORTHWEST MINNESOTA FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert J. Hager, Chair Pete Haddeland, Vice Chair Faye Auchenpaugh, Secretary Judy Roy, Treasurer Jody Horntvedt Jon Quistgaard Leah Pigatti Jon Linnell Tom Anderson Cathy Forgit Kristin Eggerling Edie Ramstad