HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-04-30 Palmer Rockswold Day �9���j�,
PROCLAMATION
PALMER ROCKSWOLD DAY
APRIL 30, 2018
WHEREAS, Palmer Rockswold was born on April 30, 1916, near Litchville, North Dakota. Palmer was the
youngest of the children born to Per&Serianna Rockswold. Palmer's father passed away
when he was six months old and his mother passed away when Palmer was only nine years
old. Palmer was raised by older siblings and aunts and uncles; and
WHEREAS, by the time he was 16 years old, Palmer was working for room and board, going to school and
playing the accordion at barn dances for$2.00 per night; and
WHEREAS, Palmer Rockswold graduated high school and thereafter attended Valley City State Teachers
College in Valley City, North Dakota becoming a rural school teacher where he taught for$60
per month; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure as a school teacher in North Dakota, Palmer met his future wife Myrna.
Palmer went back to college to complete his bachelor's degree and then married Myrna, and
moved to Minnesota where he taught high school history, social studies and conducted
marching bands; and
WHEREAS, Palmer Rockswold went back to college and received his Administrative Degree from the
University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1950 and thereafter served as Superintendent of
Schools for school districts in Gonvick, Henning and Madison Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, Palmer and Myrna raised four sons, two of whom became physicians and two of whom
became secondary and collegiate educators. Myrna passed away in 1980; and
WHEREAS, After retiring in 1976, Palmer wrote a book, Per Immigrant and Pioneer, about his father's
experience emigrating from Norway; and
WHEREAS, Palmer remarried several years after Myrna passed away and Palmer, with his second wife
Betty, moved to Brookdale Senior Living in 2007 where he served four years as Association
President. Palmer and Betty traveled extensively, including 10 times to Norway. Betty passed
away in 2009; and
WHEREAS, At 102 years of age, Palmer Rockswold is revered by his four sons, eight grandchildren and
seven great grandchildren and still enjoys discussing politics, education, the stock market and,
of course, Norway.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, James B. Hovland, Mayor of Edina, do hereby proclaim, pril 30, 2018, as
PALMER ROCKSWOLD DAY
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in the City of Edina, to honor Palmer Rockswold's lifetime of great citizenshion of his 102nd
birthday as a resident of Edina, MN.
Dated this 30`h day of April 2018.
. Hovland, Mayor