Join us for our meeting when our speaker will be Joe Cavanaugh of Youth Frontiers.
A young person’s character shapes their destiny and impacts their community. Research shows that students with high social-emotional learning and character skills perform better academically and take responsibility for the culture of their school. Character traits are built and enhanced by experiences throughout our lifetimes.
Part of our mission at Youth Frontiers is to reach kids at critical ages to provide them with dynamic experiences that enhance self-awareness, empathy and connectedness.
A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 16th at 11:00 AM.
1200 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis 55403
Direct memorial donations to the Crockett Award for University Leadership at either the University of North Dakota or North Dakota State University, or the Edina Community Foundation.
The following is reprinted from the InForum Fargo Moorhead and WestFargo Newspaper.
Richard B. (Dick) Crockett approached all facets of his life with curiosity, creativity, and commitment. Born August 5 1944, he died May 9, 2026, in Edina, MN. Dick was the epitome of a well-rounded individual and—first and always—was devoted to family. He married Susan (Suzie) Anderson in 1966, and their 59+ year partnership took them to a variety of places around the country. In each they furthered themselves professionally and personally, while never losing focus on their shared goals and values. Most importantly they raised two sons, Eric and Seth, and took great pleasure watching them pursue their own goals, marry and raise their own families. Nothing gave Dick more pleasure than a pontoon ride with his family on board, helping his six grandchildren to build skills in water sports. Staying open to new ways of building family memories, the Crockett family of 12 journeyed to places in the US, Europe, South America, and Africa.
Educational pursuits took Dick to the University of North Dakota and to Stanford Law School. His professional career was as multidimensional as he was. From founding Crockett and Anderson law firm in Fargo with his good friend Dick Anderson, to being President of the National Association of University Attorneys while working in university law at North Dakota State University and in Syracuse, N.Y., to the position of Executive Director of the Edina (MN) Community Foundation, Dick led with expertise, efficiency, and friendliness.
Dick was a connector. He deeply valued his many friendships and was a master at maintaining relationships. He enjoyed introducing old friends to new friends and to getting people together. His friends spanned his lifetime, and his interest in people never waned. He felt lucky to have grown up in Langdon, N.D., and proudly kept that link to smalltown heritage and agricultural roots.
Dick was a passionate collector of art—woodcuts, pottery, and sculpture—along with antique toys and books, so many books, tallied by his family at over 3000. He even collected Davy Crockett memorabilia.
In 2021 Dick wrote a book for his extended family titled, Parallel Lives. The book is part genealogy and part philosophy, highlighting similar ideals and experiences that spanned generations in both his and Suzie’s families. Dick ended the book with three overarching thoughts: “Seek opportunity through change”; “Serve your community”; “Love and stay close to your family.”
Dick is survived by his wife Suzie, sons Eric (Amy) and Seth (Alyssa); grandchildren Catherine, Nicklas, Emma, Leif, Lily and Fritz; his brother, Doug (Jackie) and Suzie’s brother Eric Anderson (Janalee).
If desired, memorials can be sent to the Crockett Award for University Leadership at either the University of North Dakota or North Dakota State University, or the Edina Community Foundation. A memorial service will be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Thursday, July 16th at 11:00 AM.
WELCOME NEW MEMBER: CJ SMITH
CJ Smith was inducted into Edina Morningside Rotary Club on Tuesday, June 2nd.
CJ has spent most of his life in environments where mistakes are visible.
In football, especially playing in the secondary, when something broke everyone saw it. There was no hiding. Preparation mattered. Assignments mattered. And when it was your responsibility, it was your responsibility. That experience shaped how CJ approaches work.
After football CJ moved into software sales, which gave him a front row seat to how organizations make decisions about technology. He is able to see how tools get added over time, how systems slowly pile up, and how easy it is for no one to clearly own the outcome.
Professionally, CJ spends his time around nonprofit organizations and professional service firms- teams doing important work where reliability, trust, and reputation matter. He has always been drawn to environments where people take ownership, prepare well, and care about doing things the right way. Probably a habit that started on the field and never really left.
CJ's classification is IT Tech Services/Consulting. His sponsor is Brandon Vitale.
For information about Rotary membership, contact Nate Park at parkn01@yahoo.com.
Conscientious. Kind. Determined.
Julie Te Slaa has extensive education and experience in the Minnesota legal community as a paralegal and in the areas of litigation, real estate development, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law. Her experience in contract applications and management of government and non-government agencies brings significant value to Higher Recruitment. She enjoys working with our clients to ensure that their specific needs are met.
Julie volunteers to help veterans and other individuals in need. With passions for music and dancing, she was a member of a Twin Cities singing group of 60 women who provided music therapy for a diverse audience of adults and children in the Twin Cities area.
Living in Shakopee, Minnesota, Julie appreciates being close to family and friends and loves her quality time with them. Her two children and five grandchildren keep life interesting and fun, and she enjoys walking, exercising, reading, and Bible study. Julie’s bucket list includes memory-making adventures, a trip to Paris with her family, and travel to new, world wide destinations.
Tom Gump is Julie's sponsor.
For information about Rotary membership, contact Nate Park.
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