Celebrating Kise Jean: The Face of Kise Commons
Throughout MSUM’s history, there have been an impressive number of professors, staff members, presidents and others who have impacted students’ lives, transforming their experience at MSUM—and their futures—for the better. But amidst them all, few have interacted with students across all disciplines like Kise Jean.
Jean Tweten worked at Kise Commons for 33 years and touched the lives of innumerable students with her kindness, thoughtfulness and excellent memory. She memorized hundreds of students’ names and only needed to see a face before typing in their Dragon ID.
Kise Jean is turning 85 on Jan. 31, and we’d love for you to join us in celebrating! Throughout January, we’ll be collecting birthday greetings, so share your memories and thanks with her by adding your memories to the final section of the alumni contact update form. Remember to include your major and graduation year. If you have photos you’d like to share, please email them with a message to alumni@mnstate.edu.
Read on to learn more about Kise Jean.
The Life of a Legend
While thousands of MSUM alumni and employees recall her friendliness fondly, we wanted to dig a little deeper and ask Jean a few things about her life, her time at MSUM and what some of her favorite memories have been.
Q&A with Kise Jean
When were you born?
January 31, 1935 in the Crookston, Minn., hospital. The electricity happened to go out, so the nurses had to hold candles. Mom told me they showed her the blisters on their fingers afterwards. Because it was an unusual birth for that time (I am a triplet) and we were delivered without electricity, it made national news. Mom and dad got letters from all over the country with suggestions for names, or an offer to adopt one of us because they did not think they could take care of all of us. I was the first born, then Jerome and then Joan. I don’t know if my folks used any of those suggested names or if they chose them themselves. I don’t think they knew we would be triplets but the doctor knew something was different, so they had lots on hand in the delivery room.
What was your maiden name?
Birkeland. I am full-blooded Norwegian. My dad was born in Norway and I got to visit the farm he was born on. He came to the United States when he was 3. My mom was also 100 percent Norwegian, and we got to visit where her family came from, too.
Where did you grow up?
The first few years in Climax, Minn., which is about 17 miles south of Crookston. Since it was such a small school, my sister, brother and I started first grade when we were 5. In third or fourth grade we moved to Crookston.
When we lived in Climax, the railroad track was right across the road. Times were tough, so there would be men riding the rails looking for work. They would often stop by our house and mom would give them food, even though we had little to give. I found out later that the houses that gave food and drink had been marked by the homeless people, so they knew where they could get help.
We were so young and shy that when people would come up to the house we would run inside and hide behind mom. One time a couple of rail riders came up and one said to the other, with a very thick brogue, “Dem must be Svedes. Them have blow (blue) eyes.” It is funny the things that stick in your mind.
What year and where did you graduate high school?
Crookston, Minn., in 1952.
What are a few of your favorite childhood/teenage memories?
Babysitting and spending time with family. We all did a lot of babysitting. Since there were four of us girls, people knew if they called they could depend on one of us being available. I liked to cook, bake, sew, go to movies. I love animals and even had a pet chicken for a while. We were six kids living there and usually a couple of cousins from the country who wanted to go to school in Crookston living with us. Some summers, a few of us would spend time with aunts and uncles in rural North Dakota. I remember spending a bit of time with my grandma and grandpa near Aneta. I remember I was playing with the dog one morning and he accidently bit my eyelid. Grandma said we would go to the doctor when chores were done. We went to town that night and I got my eyelid stitched up.
What did you do after high school?
After graduation I worked as a switchboard operator at the telephone company in Crookston. My sister Joan started working there first and I started shortly after. After I met my husband Russell and moved to Glyndon in 1956, I worked at AT&T in Fargo until we had kids. I was working at AT&T when the 1957 tornado hit Fargo. We all had to stay at our stations and answer phones. It was a very busy day with everyone trying to see if their family and friends were okay. After my last son started school, I went to work at the Glyndon school and helped in the cafeteria.
When did you start working at Moorhead State in Kise?
After working part time in Glyndon, I wanted a full-time job and applied at MSU. It was in 1977. I loved working there. I was so lucky to work 25 of my 33 years with my sister Joan. She lived near Glyndon, too, so we would ride together.
What are some of your favorite memories from working in Kise?
One holiday season, one of the foreign students seemed very sad. I told her to stop by after she ate and I gave her a teddy bear I brought in to use as a decoration. She said it was the nicest thing anyone ever did for her. I was glad to make her feel better. I am sure she was very homesick. I always felt bad for the kids who you could tell were loners and maybe a little bit homesick or sad, so I tried to be extra nice to them.
I loved to decorate for every holiday. It was so much fun to spruce the place up and spread a little holiday spirit. I started painting Christmas scenes on the windows. I would stay after work to paint, one time until 3 a.m.!
Did you eat in Kise? If so, what was your favorite dish they made there?
I always ate one meal there. My favorite was mashed potatoes and gravy.
Why did you like your job?
The kids and decorating for holidays. I liked that I was always busy. I liked the people I worked with. There was always something that needed to be done, whether it was clearing tables or straightening up the coffee and cereal areas. I was never bored. I wish I still worked there today! In the earlier years I decorated a lot of cakes. Once I even decorated one for President Dille.
Why do you have Dragon Pride?
Because I loved my job and the kids so much. For years, if I was out traveling and saw a car with a Moorhead State sticker on it, I would write a little note and leave it on their car. Usually I would just put, “Hi from Kise Jean.”
If you could tell students
one thing, what would it be?
Thank you.
What has been your greatest accomplishment in life, so far?
My family. I was married to Russ for over 60 years. I have five children, three of whom are married. I have four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren with one more coming in January. I have been blessed!