John R. Pfund

John Rosslu Pfund was born July 15, 1917, in Ada, the son of Ray D. and Edna Jane Pfund. He grew up in Ada attending Ada schools, graduating with the Class of 1935. He then went on to the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where he graduated in 1940 with a BBA degree from the School of Business Administration. Shortly after graduation from the University, Mr. Pfund entered World War II military service in the Army Air Corps. He had nearly three and a half years of overseas duty in India, across North Africa, and in Italy, where he was when the war ended in Europe. After the end of World War II, Pfund returned to Ada to join his father who was publisher of the Norman County Index. The paper has been in the family since 1882 and is still operated by John's son, Ross. On January 19, 1946, John Pfund and Leona Olson were united in marriage at the Ada Congregational Church. To this marriage two daughters and two sons were born.

Over the years, Mr. Pfund was active in the state and national newspaper organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Newspaper Association for a number of years and was its President in 1973. During Pfund's year as President of the 400-member state newspaper group, every paper in the state was visited. This was a first for a president and his board. Pfund was also on the Midwest Board of Directors of American Newspaper Representatives, the advertising agency owned and operated by the weekly newspapers of the United States. He served a six-year term with that group. During his tenure as publisher of the Index, the newspaper won countless state and national awards in General Excellence and Typography and Designing categories. Pfund retired gradually from the day-to-day operations of the Index and for many years wrote only his column "Johnny On The Spot." He and his wife spent much of each year at their home on Tulaby Lake on the western edge of Itasca State Park. Pfund was active in his community. He served two terms on the Ada City Council and two terms as Mayor of the City of Ada. He was a Life Member of the Ada American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was active in the Ada Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and numerous other civic organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of First State Bank and Rural American Bank, Pfund had been a member of the Board of Directors of the Norman County Fair Association and had served as its President for several years. He was also the Voice of Ada for many years on the KROX Radio (Crookston) Northwest Roundup of News. Pfund was a member of the Congregational Church of Ada, which later with the Ada Methodist Church, became Faith United Church of Ada. He had been active in its affairs for many years.

Pfund is survived by his wife, Lee, and four children — Mia Jane (Blaine) Backberg, Cottage Grove, Minnesota; Ross David (Pat), Ada; Beth Luise (Paul) Muehlberg, Henning, Minnesota; and John Cole (Rona), Fargo, North Dakota. There are nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Margaret Alida Pfund, in 1975.
He passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Bridges Care Community, Ada.

A public visitation will be held on Thursday, July 29, from 5:00-7:00 p.m., at Faith United Church.

A private family service will be held on Friday, July 30, at Faith United Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Bridges Medical Foundation for their ongoing fundraising for a silent call system.

Arrangements with Fredrikson Funeral Home
Ada, Minnesota (218-784-4600)