Capital remembers former director
Throughout his life, Emil Bergquist defined the Touchstone Energy®
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Emil Bergquist served on the Capital Electric Cooperative board of directors from1979 to 1994. |
value of commitment to community. A former Capital Electric board director from District 2, Emil will be remembered for his desire to serve the public and the many contributions that resulted from his efforts.
A farmer by trade, Emil worked as assessor in Stieber Township for three years and Grass Lake for one year. He then moved to Glenview and became the township assessor. He was also elected president of the school district and served for seven years.
After moving back to Grass Lake, Emil bought a farm and was elected chairman of the school board. He then worked locally for the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) and was elected chairman on the Burleigh County ASCS board. After serving three years for Burleigh County, Emil was hired to be the state recheck on wheat and other crops in central and northwest North Dakota.
Emil served on the Capital Electric Cooperative board of directors from1979 to 1994. Following his final year on the board, he earned the statewide rural leadership award. Emil retired to Wilton, where he served on the Wilton Tree Board, helped complete the Centennial Park and was awarded the hometown hero award.
A local handyman, Emil loved to overhaul cars and tractor engines, and also repaired and fixed hydraulic jacks.
Emil passed away July 11, 2007. His wife, Helen (Johnson) Bergquist, still lives in Wilton and says she enjoys her good neighbors, friends and extensive family including three children: Larry Bergquist of Wing, Bonnie Kueffler of Grenora and Richard Bergquist of Bismarck. Helen is also blessed to have nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, five step-great grandchildren and one step-great-great grandchild.
Dwight Wrangham, chairman of the board for Capital Electric, recently said, “It’s been widely known that if you want to get something done, ask someone who is busy. The reason people are busy is because they get things done.”
Helen certainly agrees that Emil was a busy man. But he always found time to serve his cooperative and “get things done.” Out of the 15 years he served as a board director, she says “he found it exciting and enjoyed it very much.”