Bio: Bjerke, Duane M. (Life Summary – 1963)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Bjerke, Fauser

----Source: Greenwood Gleaner (Greenwood, Clark Co., Wis.) 07 Nov 1963

(Written by Janet Fauser)

A colorful new face has appeared in our community this year. It is the one of the new Superintendent of Schools, Duane M. Bjerke. Each morning the students of the Greenwod Community Schools are greeted by this friendly man.

The Bjerkes have lived in Greenwood since July. Their household consists of Duane and his wife, Mildred, and their three children, Peter age 11, Steven age 19, and Kristin Ann Age 8. They moved to Greenwood from Belgium, Wisconsin.

Previous to live in Belgium, they lived in Rosario, Argentina, where Mr. Bjerke was employed by the U.S. Information Agency. He served as the director of a bi-national center, an overseas program of the United States Information Agency. Two major programs in which he was involve consisted of the following: 1. Providing English Instruction to the natives of Argentina. They had about 3,000 students that were enrolled in their center. 2. Providing information about the United States and its people to the people of Argentina. This was done through various types of lectures, movies, displays, and radio programs, and newspaper publicity.

In addition to the two above programs, a library of American books, newspapers, magazines, and photograph records were provided for the people of Argentina.

The Bjerke children attended a private Methodist School, where they were instructed in the Spanish tongue. The curriculum was that of Argentina. The Bjerke children thing of their stay in Argentina as a pleasant, enjoyable experience.

Duane Bjerke was born in Thief River Falls, Minn. He graduated from Warren High School in Warren, Minn., and later attended Concordia College in Morehead, Minn., where he received a B.A. degree. At the time of graduation he became a professional Boy Scout executive, and spent 2 years in Billings, Montana in that capacity. He left pro-scouting and served as a training instructor in the Industrial relatives department with U.S. Steel in Utah. He later received his Master's degree in education, in School Administration from the University of North Dakota, and he has done post-graduate work at the University of Wisconsin. He also spent 4 years of his life as the Superintendent at Elmwood, Wisconsin, and he also served in tat capacity in Ontario, Wis., and North Dakota. He also served as a high school principal in Minnesota.

The Bjerkes are well pleased with our community and hope to become a part of it. I definitely feel that a man of such varied experience will be a definite benefit to our town. Welcome, Mr. Bjerke and family!