| The 2004 Homecoming and All School Reunion wrapped up with the Northern Sons Concert. Rob Casad, Charlie Clikeman, Gary Funk, and Bruce Rampelberg entertained for nearly two hours to a full house of nearly 300 alums, friends, and Northern family and they did not disappoint. It is truly amazing that they have only sung together three times since their graduation, yet the magic was still there. The concert was filled with many wonderful stories that gave the audience a chance to waltz down memory lane and reflect on the many life long relationships that have started at Northern
Dr. Robert F. Casad graduated from Northern Montana College in 1966 with a Bachelor's degree in English. He later went on to earn a MA in English from the University of Utah and then received a PhD
from the University of Washington. Currently, he is Faculty Emeritus at Green River Community College, where he taught for 36 years serving as faculty president and Humanities Division Chair before retiring in 2000. Dr Casad has sung with the Seattle Chorale and the Rainier Chorale. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, playing sports, and learning new crafts. His primary academic interests are communication and the philosophy of science. Rob and his wife Donelyn live in Redmond, Washington. They have five grown children, four grandchildren, and a singing Jack Russell Terrier named Joey. Rob has also worked as a professional writer and program manager for the City of Seattle, Pierce County, and various private companies.
Charlie Clikeman, while at Northern, sang in such musical groups as the Northern Sons, the Northern Singers, and the Havre Choralaires. In 1966, he graduated with a BS in Secondary Education (area science) and in 1968 went to the University of Arizona in Tucson where he completed a MS degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. In 1970, he became the Financial Aid Officer at NMC and later, the Dean of Students in 1973. In 1979, he left Northern to work as a contract computer programmer and returned to Havre in 1983 to start a computer partnership with the Havre Medical Center. In 1985, he moved to Austin, Texas to start a computer software sales company with his brother, Dick and in 1987 he was employed by the Texas Rehabilitation Commission (TRC). Charlie retired in February 2004, as the Director of Planning but after 4 months in retirement, he returned to work for the Division for Rehabilitation Services (the reorganized TRC) as a Program Specialist. He is married to Danette Ray. They just finished their "retirement home" in Georgetown and plan to retire permanently one of these days. His daughter, Stephanie, lives in Havre and his son, Todd, lives in Billings.
Dr. Gary Funk attended NMC from 1963-65 majoring in English, with a minor in music. He received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from The University of Montana in 1968, and in 1975 earned a MS in teaching from Portland State University. He taught choral music at NMC from 1977-79 and then went on to receive his PhD in Musical Arts in 1982 from Arizona State University. As a composer, he has written many pieces for solo voice, jazz choir, men's chorus, mixed chorus and for choir and orchestra, just recently completing the reorchestration of his full length opera "Ruth." Gary is currently in his eighth year as Director of Choral Activities and Director of the Vienna Experience in the Department of Music at The University of Montana. Over the past 35
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years he has conducted hundreds of concerts including over 90 performances in Europe. He has also served as guest conductor and adjudicator in over 20 states As part of his duties at UM, he has also served on numerous committees and is a board member of the International Chorus Festival. After leaving NMC, he Joined a group of
singers at UM called The Big Sky Singers, and has produced a CD. While at NMC, he was a member of the Northern Singers, and met his wife Sylvia Hentschel ('72 alum). Gary and Sylvia have three daughters, Sonya, Natalie, and Angela, and three grandchildren
Bruce Rampelberg, also a '66 Northern grad, earned his bachelors degree in Business Education and Math. Immediately after graduation, he joined the First Bank System as a bank officer serving with them for 25 years, with the last 8 years as President of First Bank in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In 1993 he bought into a small bank and was President of First Western Bank formerly known as American State Bank for 11 years. He merged the bank with a larger institution in 2001 and in 2004 he moved to his current position as Vice President of Business Development for First Western Bancorp. He has been involved in the
Bankers Association in Montana, and North and South Dakota where he recently completed his term as Chairman of the Association. He also serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of a small bible college in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Bruce his wife, Sandee (Sayles), '67 alum, have been married for 39 years. They have two grown sons, who are both married, and two grandchildren. Bruce is active in Jaycees, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs. Rampelberg's hobbies include raising horses, taking packing trips into wilderness areas, and hunting with family and friends.
Northern crowd enjoys the music of the "Northern Sons"
Bruce Rampelberg takes a few moments
to reflect on old times and some of the
many memories of Northern.
For more pictures of anniversary events,
view the slide shows on the
75th Anniversary web site!
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