FARGO — Vern Bennett will be remembered for his long service as superintendent of Fargo Public Schools and his lengthy tenure as a Cass County Commissioner.

Several schools were built during the almost three decades he served as Fargo's top school administrator. Bennett Elementary School, built after he retired, was named in his honor.

But former colleagues say his longest-lasting contribution might be his staunch support for the Trollwood Performing Arts School. He gave the innovative educational program crucial financial backing in the early years

Bennett died early Sunday, Sept. 29, at age 86. He had been active in local government and civic affairs, including attending meetings involving county government and the Fargodome until his death.

Dedication to public service, in fact, was a hallmark throughout Bennett’s long career, which began in Fargo in 1971 when he was named superintendent of Fargo Public Schools at the age of 38.

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"I can honestly say that my 28 years as superintendent of Fargo schools and 16 years as Cass County commissioner, every day has been wonderful and awesome," he told The Forum a few weeks ago. "I've really had a wonderful career. I love serving the needs of others."

When he was hired, Bennett said he would take a team approach to running the schools — and former administrative colleagues agreed that he invited input from others before reaching important decisions.

“He was always a good listener,” said Warren Gullickson, who served as principal of Ben Franklin Middle School, retiring in 1999, the same year Bennett stepped down as superintendent. “I think that was his greatest strength.”

Nancy Jordheim, whom Bennett recruited from her role as a high school guidance counselor to a series of administrative posts, agreed that his leadership style was to keep his door open and to invite comments from staff.

Also, she said, Bennett was open to new ideas and kept an eye out for people to promote into administration, an approach that combined being supportive of staff and open to innovation.

“He had both of those qualities as a leader,” Jordheim said. “I guess you could also say that he was charming.”

The Fargo public school system grew significantly during Bennett’s 28-year tenure. New schools included Carl Ben Eielson Middle School, Discovery Middle School and Centennial Elementary School. Bennett Elementary School was named in his honor after he retired in 1999.

It’s often forgotten, however, that early in his career Bennett had to deal with financial decline, said Shirley Johnson, his longtime administrative assistant.

“In a way, that is more challenging” than dealing with growth, she said. “He was committed to not laying off staff. He managed in a very humane way.”

As superintendent, Bennett was always straightforward in his dealings with the school board, evenhandedly laying out the pros and cons of an issue, said Steve Swiontek, executive chairman at Gate City Bank, who served on the school board from 1985 to 1991. Bennett made sure members understood the issues facing the district.

"He took the time and, using his educational background, he taught me about the whole school budget, the culture, expectations," Swiontek said. "He was willing to spend the time to teach you, really."

He added: "I never sensed an 'us vs. them.' He really worked hard to come up with a consensus."

Bennett's ardent support of the Trollwood Performing Arts School enabled it to become established at Trollwood Park in north Fargo; the school and its stage later moved to its current location at Bluestem Center for the Arts in south Moorhead.

Gullickson remembers a walk-around tour of Trollwood Park in the 1970s, when the founders of the performing arts center looked at dilapidated buildings and saw the potential for a new purpose.

“He could stop it or support it,” he said. “And he definitely supported it.” The first year, Gullickson said, people slept in tents to protect lighting and sound equipment because the facility lacked a storage building.

The Trollwood stage was built for its second season, he added, in time for “Wizard of Oz,” the school’s first outdoor production.

"I can tell you singularly, without Dr. Bennett there would not be a Trollwood Performing Arts School or, for that matter, a Bluestem Center for the Arts right now, because that really grew out of Trollwood," said Vicki Chepulis, one of Trollwood's founders and its longtime executive director, now retired.

"It was Vern who kept saying, 'Go for it, go for it,'" she said. "He was a remarkable leader," supportive and nurturing. "Honestly, I've never really had anyone else like that. He was also a mentor."

Bennett's enthusiastic support for the arts was somewhat surprising, given his background in athletics, Chepulis said.

That support extended to all of the arts, Johnson said, including the visual arts, music and the performing arts. He was a recipient in 1985 of the Governors Award for the Arts, bestowed for “outstanding contributions to the arts,” a rare recognition for a school superintendent, Johnson said.

From the start, Bennett was active in the community, including support for the United Way and other causes.

“He was always this community-focused person,” Jordheim said. “He loved Fargo. There was a real sense of commitment. He was trying to be the best for the community.”

After retiring as superintendent, Bennett was elected in 2002 to the Cass County Commission and continued to serve until 2014, when he was barred from seeking another term.

After a hiatus that included an unsuccessful run for Fargo City Commission in 2014, Bennett returned to the Cass County Commission in 2016, serving on the board a total of 15 years.

Darrell Vanyo, who served with Bennett on the county board, said Bennett was a strong supporter of human services programs.

“He always was pushing for more and more help and assistance for the social services,” Vanyo said. “Conscientious in terms of budgeting, but at the same time I think he would err on the side of spending more on people if they were in need.”

Bennett’s survivors include his wife, Betty, whom he married in 1953, and two grown children. He was born July 26, 1933, in Eau Claire, Wis., and earned his doctorate degree from the University of Minnesota.

Before taking the helm of Fargo public schools, Bennett had been a teacher, coach and administrator elsewhere, including superintendent of River Falls, Wis., not far from the Twin Cities, according to Forum archives.