Share your memories of Roland Dille
In honor of the life of Dr. Roland Dille and the impact he made in the lives of others, please share your memories of Roland by emailing your stories and photos to marketingteam@mnstate.edu. You can share and read stories and donate to the Dille Fund for Excellence by visiting www.mnstate.edu/dille/.
Memories of Roland
Coleen Roller: I am unsure of what year this was, but I think it was shortly after President Dille retired and was traveling with Beth in England. The David Letterman show was featuring stories from England about that time, sometimes with David’s mother doing stories from there. Watching Letterman one night, there were photos of English people or scenery from England with funny comments from Letterman about the photos; one photo was of Roland Dille, when his weight was near the heaviest, he was wearing a jaunty hat and smiling broadly, standing beside Beth. Letterman’s quip was “Here is a guy that has enjoyed too many Fish and Chips!” I knew when Roland and Beth learned that their photo had been on Letterman back in the States, and someone assumed they were from the U.K., they would have a good laugh and enjoy the joke too. Roland was quick to smile, always ready to tell good stories, and willing to laugh at himself. He was a fine man and a quality leader.
Camilla Wilson: Roland Dille spoke at my Magazine Writing class several times before he retired. He brought along a selection of poems he cherished, including many of poets who either taught at MSUM or who came from the region. He used the poems to teach imagery. I still use his poems in many of my classes. Roland Dille brought a distinctive voice to MSUM and to the Fargo-Moorhead community.
Elizabeth Garcia de Guajardo: I graduated from MSUM in 1977 and was away from the university for twenty-two years, returning as a staff member in 2002. After working on campus for three years, I encountered President Dille for the first time since he had shaken my hand at my graduation twenty-five years ago. He walked by me, stopped quickly, and said “Wait please, young lady, aren’t you one of my students?” I knew what he meant by calling me one of his students and confirmed that, in fact, I was one of his students. President Dille told me that he could not remember my name, but he remembered my husband’s name. “Pablo,” he said. President Dille was correct. He asked for my name, and we conversed for a while. I was in awe because President Dille knew that I had graduated under his administration and was very interested in catching up with me. I ran into him a number of times after that, and he always greeted me by saying “hello young lady” even though I am no longer a young lady. Sometimes he would ask me to say hello to Pablo. It was okay with me that he could not quite remember my name but could remember my husband’s name. He had not forgotten that I was one of his students, and that was such an honor to me. I was part of the E-Quality program that President Dille started at Moorhead State College. When I came to MSC/MSUM, it was called the EOMS Program. I was not recruited under the program, but I did receive the support of the New Center/Corrick Center as a Chicana student at MSC/MSUM the very first year of the ‘college within a college’ New Center. I am grateful for the vision that President Dille had to create opportunities for those who might have otherwise not had the opportunity to get a college education and for making that vision a reality for me and others like me. President Dille knew that “Si Se Puede!” A few years ago, a retired farmer from ND and member of our church moved into Eventide Nursing Home to be with his invalid wife. Asking Brother Jude how he was adjusting, he shared that he had made a friend named Roland who was helping him learn how to use the computer. He said Roland was being very patient with him because learning the computer was hard to do at his age. Every once in a while we would ask Brother Jude how the computer lessons were going. He would explain to us how Roland was helping him. One of those times he told us that Roland used to work at the college. I do not know why it came to us, but we asked if, by any chance, Roland’s last name was Dille. Brother Jude confirmed that his friend was Roland Dille and that he was “such a friendly and nice fellow.” He was so surprised when we told him that his friend and computer tutor was President Dille. Brother Jude said he now felt very important because it was a president who was teaching him the computer. President Dille had a servant heart. He cared about people, and he did not let his prestigious academic accomplishments get in the way of him helping others. President Dille valued the life of every person he encountered. I am honored to have graduated under his administration. I want to convey my heartfelt condolences to President Dille’s family.
Daniel L. Fritzell: President Dille gave me hope when I had little. He was a good man. I will miss him.
TrixieAnn Golberg: So many rich memories of one man’s life and his impact on others. I have yet to read a book, attend a lecture or take a course on leadership that taught me more about leadership and the heart of a leader than what I learned through President Dille’s example. He lived life wonderfully and was kind enough to take so many of us along for the journey. Thank you, Dr. Dille.
Adrian Skytland: Thoughts and prayers go out to the family. President Dille was a fabulous man and great leader. Always enjoyed listening to him speak. Thanks for the memories and the Moorhead State University experience.
Rick Sewall: I attended Moorhead State in the early- to mid-nineties and remember President Dille with great respect and fondness. He was so available to all the students. Working at food service, I remember he would always pitch in during finals week for the late night (or midnight) meal held each semester. My thoughts to family and friends.
Shelley Erickson: I graduated in 1982 and for the last few years was in Night Watch. We always stopped by to chat a bit with President Dille as we were doing our rounds. He never failed to be genuinely interested in who we were and how we were doing in school. I too remember the Santa photos! Now that I’ve been at several universities both as a student and instructor, I realize just how exceptional a leader he was. My thoughts are with his family.
Dave O.: Dr. Dille holds a special place in my MSU memories – he spoke of my baby son at my 1989 commencement, whom he had held earlier that day during rehearsal. God bless President Dille!
Colette Eaglehouse: Dr. Dille was a man of great integrity, and dedication to his calling in life. He always had such a kind and joyful spirit, which ignited and inspired those around him to achieve their dreams. He was always game for a round of the alma mater song, and when he came to our dorm as Santa every year, it was always full of fun and great memories. It was a privilege to know him. My thoughts and prayers are with all whose lives he touched, and especially his family. May he rest in peace.
Joel Langenfeld: I was a student in the ’80s, and remember Dr. Dille fondly. His physique and beard lent itself very well to the role of Santa, of course. However, that impish sense of humor was never far below the surface. I will always remember him presiding over the “un”graduation ceremonies. If more of our leaders would have the humility to laugh at the world and their place within it, we’d get along much better. Thank you for sharing a bit of your life with us, Dr Dille.
Jill Holsen: In 1988, Dr. Dille and his Vice President Gerry Haukebo decided to create a study abroad office at MSUM. Gerry had been instrumental in founding the Student Teacher Abroad Program, but also, I believe, Concordia College’s Language Villages. I had recently moved to the U.S. with my husband, David Holsen, who was from Moorhead. He had taught in Copenhagen where I was living. I’m a British national, but my mother was Danish, and I moved to Copenhagen in 1974. I met David there, because he got a job as a teacher at the international school, and we moved back to the US in 1978. I got a job as a short-hand typist on campus and gradually moved through the hierarchy of state positions. I took classes and eventually got a degree. I was a few courses shy of getting my degree, when I heard about the opening of the study abroad office because Roland asked me to apply. Dr. Dille was instrumental in me getting the job as the first study abroad director (I’m positive I was not the committee’s first choice!). But what I really enjoyed was his occasional call when he would say: Jill, I’m reading this British book and it mentions “DIY.” What does that mean (Do-It-Yourself, meaning a hardware store). He and I shared a few British novels, one of which takes place not far from where my hometown is. When I wrote my master’s thesis, Dr. Dille spent many hours with me talking about what was happening on campus during the Vietnam War (my thesis was about a Vietnam Vet and my own husband David who was deemed medically unfit!). I mourn his loss.
Kaiser Haque: President Dille is an inspiration to many. I will always fondly remember the late-night conversations in his office (when as a ‘Campus Night-Watch Rover’ I used to check up on his well-being). Each year, Dr. Dille served Thanksgiving lunches to students who remained on campus during the holidays (and he loved to eat baked turkey skin). He lived by example. The university, the community, the state, and the field of education is a bit better – because of Dr. Roland Dille.
Lauren Brink: I had the pleasure of serving Roland his meals the past few months at the nursing home. He did whatever it took to lend books to the other residents and made sure they received books he was so passionate about. Always a smile on his face and very seldom you wouldn’t find an MSUM Center for the Arts newsletter in his hand. Very impressionable man, even in his final days.
Dille once appeared on Letterman’s show: inforumed.areavoices.com
Dona Warren: What a shame. Roland was outstanding! He was an institution unto himself. He defined the role of college president for me.
Cynthia Miller: I was a Student Advisor, and during orientation, I remember him joking and talking to the parents to ease them into letting their babies go. Truly a kind, caring, funny, brilliant man.
Mark Rice: Nine thousand plus students, sufficient budget and a loyal administration. And a well-respected president nationwide.
Clay Hage: He was the president during my tenure as MSUM Student Senate president 1979-80. He was the power behind our student agenda to promote minority recruitment & retention, and expand child care for older than average 
students with the legislature (see photo). We were affected by foreign policy issues (Afghanistan, Iran) then, too. Students took the opportunity to let VP Walter Mondale of their collective opposition to starting up the draft registration again – which I agreed even as a Navy vet. He grinned, but did not really approve, when I personally handed a protest flyer to Mr. Mondale in a receiving line. Then in late 1979, Iranian students took over the U.S. embassy. At MSUM, many Iranian (and other middle-east) students were the victims of unwarranted threats. He called the dean of humanities, his executive assistant and me into his office to organize a response. At the next senate meeting, we hosted Iranian students who pleaded for understanding as senate leaders pleaded for calm under the glare of the media spotlights. He gave credit to the three of us, but it was his steady and wise influence that created a peaceful environment in the FM area. Lesson learned: a true leader will bring out the best performance of duty without fanfare or bluster. Thanks, Dr. Dille, you educated us outside the classroom, too. God bless his memory.
Tamera ‘Parrish’ Bourne: During my years at MSUM, he was a person always at the library. I would always see him in the early mornings with a smile and a nod.
B.a. Schoen: I used to host “Breakfast with the President” Breakfasts for students only with President Dille. It was a program John Neumaier started and Roland was the last and only faculty guest when he was appointed. We continued it after he was installed. The first one we held, I invited Joe Bernick, our resident Radical. His first question was: “Why did you fire Brian Coyle?” (the anti-war teacher referenced in the Forum article) Roland made the entirely accurate statement that he didn’t ‘fire” Brian, he merely did not re-hire him because of budget concerns. Later, Roland told me privately that was the truth, there was no slot for Coyle and the notoriety didn’t bother him, Roland, a bit. He said he told Coyle he would have a job for him in Winter Quarter but Brian wanted to go back to the Cities, where he had gone to school, so he blew it up.
Cathi Heuchert: I remember him helping to serve the midnight breakfasts during finals. He was a great man!
Rose Bakke: Dr Dille was an amazing person! As a student I remember him as Santa and always having a kind word of encouragement. As an employee, I remember him being a large part of the MSUM community and champion for the arts. My thoughts and prayers go out to Beth and the family.
Sandi Goff Stefferud: I remember President Dille playing Santa Claus. I lived in Holmquist Hall 1983-84. He came to judge our decorations and he looked just like Santa. A very nice man. My sympathies to his family.
David Hasseltine: He was such a good and kind man. He knew I liked movies and said that he “would rather read a bad book than see a bad movie” as he loved the written word.
Laurie Roy: Santa Dille.
Anne Brunton: The first year I taught at MSU, my parents came out to visit me. After showing them the campus, we were eating in the faculty dining room when, out of the blue, Dr. Dille joined us. Mom and Dad were so impressed (and so was I). It was a very nice gesture and really stuck with all of us.
Ludmi Herath: When I was a student, President Rolland Dille gifted me a rare book on “Ceylon.” Awesome president. He will be missed.
Jo-Anne Ebensteiner: Dr. Dille made it possible for me to graduate on time and with my proper GPA at a time when the Admissions & Records office wanted to hold up entering my grades. I graduated in three years, and as such, had to take up 26 credits a quarter, which meant I had to take finals past the week of finals. My senior/third year, I had so many finals, I had to take “incompletes” in classes until I could get all my finals taken. Incompletes are entered as an “F” in the academic record. I completed all my finals in the week after the school term, but the A&R office took no sympathy on me. In fact, they thought I was a slacker for not taking my finals on time without any knowledge of my personal mission to graduate in 3 years flat. I went to Dr. Dille’s office, told him the situation, and he dropped whatever he was doing to immediately march with me into the A&R office, then demanded they make it right and enter my final grades into the system. He stood there until the staff completed the task. Dr. Dille had been my freshman English teacher, and my mother (an alum) had been the Editor of the campus newspaper, so he knew our family well. I was able to graduate Magna Cum Laude on time thanks to the personal commitment and heart of this man. He will always be a legend, and a personal hero for me. Thank you again for sharing this.