Keith Emerson, Bev Bales inducted into Hall of Fame

From the Barnesville Record Review:

Five Barnesville High School (BHS) alumni and one long-time former school board member were inducted into the Barnesville School Foundation’s Hall of Honor earlier this year.

The inductees include two local people – Keith “Kip” Emerson of Osakis and Beverly (Hilgers) Bales of Carlos.

The other inductees were Duane Swenson of Barnesville, Cortney Sylvester of Rosemount and Dean Tonsfeldt of Oxbow, North Dakota.

The Hall of Honor induction coincided with homecoming week at BHS in September.

Created seven years ago, the award recognizes BHS graduates and community members for their outstanding accomplishments. Honorees are nominated to recognize individuals who have made contributions in one or more of the following areas: academics, administration, athletics, arts and community. The honorees also demonstrate honesty, integrity and strength of character.

KEITH EMERSON HONORED

Following his graduation from BHS in 1963, Emerson earned a degree in mathematics from Concordia College, Moorhead, in 1967. He taught and coached at Lake Park for the next three years. In 1970, he began a 27-year teaching/coaching career at Osakis, retiring in 1997.

Now retired from teaching, Emerson still stays connected with the younger generation through substitute teaching and by officiating various sporting events. He has been a referee or umpire at volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball games for the past 21 years.

Emerson is active in the Osakis community. He has been a member of the Osakis City Council since 1999. Presently, he is finishing his second term as mayor.

Emerson also belongs to the Osakis Lions Club, volunteering to organize and help with many of their activities.

Kip married a classmate, Donna Knutson. Together, they have two grown children, Vance and Julie, and four grandchildren.

Although Emerson has not lived in the community for a while, he said Barnesville remains a very special place for him.

BEV BALES HONORED

Bev Bales is a 1955 graduate of BHS. After completing a second year secretarial course at North Dakota College of Science in Wahpeton (formerly Wahpeton State School of Science), Bales began employment at the IBM Corporation in Des Moines, Iowa, as an executive secretary and dispatcher. Later, Bales became the first woman instructor in IBM’s field engineering division. She won numerous awards at IBM, including being one of three employees nationwide to win four IBM Service Awards for excellence in job performance and customer service.

In 1973, Bales and her husband purchased and managed a business near Alexandria until 1994 when Bill passed away. She continued to run the business until selling it in 2000.

Whether it is through her church, community or work, Bales is ready, willing and able to assist in causes that benefit people. Her first-hand experience participating in, coordinating and chairing countless fundraisers, events and activities has not gone unnoticed. Her nomination into the 2012 Hall of Honor is the most recent recognition, having been recognized multiple times with numerous awards for her civic and community accomplishments.

Although she has received many awards herself, Bales is fervent to make sure other volunteers are recognized as well. She has been vital in recognizing others and their accomplishments.

Presently, Bales is one of five Douglas County commissioners. She started the “green government” concept for Douglas County, a program that promotes recycling and other energy saving activities. As a result, Douglas County was a first place national winner in the “Change a Light” contest.

Bales’ family members include: daughter, Becky, and her husband, Adam Cramlet, and two grandsons.

Bales said she is appreciative of the education she received at Barnesville and certain it helped mold her future.

Tags: local news, hall of fame, news, honored