This was the home of Earl and Vesta Kerns.
Earl Kerns came to Bemidji in 1939 as director of the band and the orchestra at Bemidji High School. He started the elementary band program his first year at Bemidji and later initiated the summer marching band program. He also taught baton twirling and later initiated classes for baton and majorettes. Mr. Kerns also started the junior high band performing instead of just practicing. In total, Mr. Kerns accompanied the Bemidji High School band to the state basketball tournament 17 times during his high school career. It is estimated that he taught 350 students each year during his 32 years at the high school.
Earl Kerns died at his home Tuesday, Aug. 12, 1975. Mr. Kerns was born on September 5, 1905 at Omemee, ND. He grew up in the Devils Lake, N.Dak. area and played in the original Governor of North Dakota Band. He attended North Dakota State University at Fargo and the South Dakota University at Vermillion, S.Dak. He took his undergraduate degree at the University of North Dakota in 1931 and attended Vandercook School of Music in Chicago. On Aug. 2, 1933 he married Vesta Quarve at Fessenden, N.Dak. He received his Master of Arts degree at the University of Michigan and taught school at Fessenden and Grafton. In the fall of 1939 he came to Bemidji where he was a band director at Bemidji High School until retirement. He was a former Jaycee and Lion in Bemidji. He belonged to the Bemidji Elks, the SAE fraternity at the University of ND and was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Bemidji. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Services we’re held Friday at the First Lutheran Church in Bemidji. Mrs. Thelma Bender was organist, Beth Baker played a trumpet solo and David Naylor played a trombone solo.
Vesta Kerns attended St. Olaf College, Valley City State College and graduated from Bemidji State University. She taught Math & Science for 17 years in Bagley, Mn. Vesta died at Bemidji in 2011. She was a frequent world traveler with Elder Hostel Programs. Despite her diminished eye sight, she knitted hundreds of caps for newborns at the local hospital. Her hobbies also included playing bridge, gardening and pressed flower pictures. She was a member of Chapter CZ, PEO 50 plus years and also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.
The Kerns family included their son, James and a daughter Kristie.