‘Hall of Fame’ Inductees named at Pillager High School

The sixth annual Pillager Hall of Fame Induction Banquet was held Sept. 17, with four new inductees added to the roster. These  included Betty Rohl, Bob Osell, Mike Rudbeck, Paul Swedberg. 

Paul Swedberg

Paul Swedberg came from strong Swedish stock who grew up in and near Pillager in the late 19th Century. From that background came Paul’s appreciation of the three important basics of a good life: home and family, schooling and church.

After graduating from PHS in 1952, Paul began his theological training in Canada, attending Luther College in Regina, the University of Saskatchewan; and Luther Theological Seminary, Saskatoon. Later, he attended one year at Luther Bible Institute in Minneapolis. 

Paul met his wife, Sally, in his hometown of Pillager. Originally from Iowa, Sally was in a girl’s quartet which was touring the Pillager and Brainerd areas in the late 1950s. Paul and Sally married in 1956 and together raised four sons: Dan, Eric, Phillip and Michael. Because of the Swedbergs’ ministerial travels, the boys were born in three different cities and two different countries. Paul and Sally also have six grandchildren, born in a number of different continents, including North America and Africa.

Paul was ordained in 1960, and went on to serve churches in Illinois; Alberta, Canada; and Grand Forks, N.D.  He also received specialized missionary training and in 1966, the family moved to Liberia, where Paul was assigned a “parish” of 21 towns within the rain forest, most of which could be reached only by foot path. 

Paul retired in 1998; and he and Sally moved to Osoyoos, in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, where they do volunteer ministry work in their community. 

Despite Paul’s worldly travels, memories from his formative years in Pillager have stuck and many names and places still remain as reminders of his strong and basic upbringing and the three basics on which he built his life.

 Betty Rohl

Betty has devoted a lifetime to the Pillager School system. In 1938, when she was six years old, Betty’s family moved from the country into Pillager so she could attend “town” school. 

Prior to graduating from Pillager High School in 1951, Betty worked several jobs, including working at a cafe where she met fellow PHS graduate Norm Rohl, whom she would eventually marry. Betty and Norm raised six children together, all of whom graduated from PHS. In addition, five of the Rohls’ grandchildren and four great-grandchildren are PHS graduates.

Betty went on to attend teachers training and later received a teaching degree from Bemidji State University. She taught at country schools for a few years and  upon receiving her teaching certificate and degree was hired by the Pillager School, where she taught for 29 years. In addition to her work at the school, Betty taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years and been an active volunteer in the community.  In 2015, she was named Pillager’s ‘Citizen of the Year.’

Bob Osell

Retired pastor Bob Osell has been dubbed, “A humble servant to all,” by several residents in Pillager. Since moving to Pillager in 1978, Bob has contributed greatly to the First Baptist Church (where he served as pastor for 30 years), to the school and to the entire  community, “ministering” to all, regardless of religious affiliation.

Pastor Bob was born in Little Falls, raised in Duluth and graduated from Proctor High School in 1959. He attended the University of Minnesota Duluth for two years prior to going into the ministry. That was followed by a year traveling with an evangelism team, during which time he met his wife, Darlene.

Bob would eventually go on to study at St. Paul Bible College and Bethel Seminary. He pastored a church in Quamba prior to coming to Pillager.

In addition to serving at the church, Bob and Darlene raised their two children in Pillager, Kristin and Kevin, both of whom were very active in the school. Pastor Bob volunteered in several capacities at the Pillager School over the years, including serving on several committees and task forces; and helping with spelling bees and the Community Emergency Response Team. He is a regular attendee of both fine arts and sports events at Pillager High School, showing his support to students and staff. Pastor Bob is also a past recipient of the ‘Citizen of the Year’ award for Pillager; and the Booster Club’s ‘Huskie Spirit Award.’

Mike Rudbeck

Mike is a native of Pillager and member of the PHS Class of 1966, of which he served as senior class president. With that responsibility, came to request that he plan class reunions every five years. Having been trained by his parents to “live up to your words,” Mike has not missed a reunion since graduating.

That sort of training is responsible for Mike seeing a number of successes in his life. Two of Mike’s interests growing up were snowmobiles and working on the irrigation system on his dad’s farm. Both interests led to successful careers for Mike. 

In 1969, Mike and his six brothers formed the Rudbeck Racing Team and competed in the snowmobile racing circuit in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Montana. Together, they won 159 trophies that season, setting a world record. 

Mike also saw a number of successes with his irrigation dealership, an interest which started when he was a senior in high school.  After graduating, Mike’s irrigation business grew and he eventually moved it to Oakes, N.D., eventually becoming the largest irrigation company in that state.  He was awarded three consecutive Outstanding Sales Achievement Awards for the entire Midwest Region in the 1980s by T-L Manufacturing.

After 15 years of successful business in North Dakota, Mike decided to retire at age 42, moving to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He enjoyed that for five years but became bored and gradually started selling irrigation systems again. Today, Mike has the largest irrigation company in northern Idaho. 

Although he struggles with some health issues today, Mike continues to work and enjoys it. “It’s hard to keep a good man down,” Mike says.