Raymond G. Christensen (286)
Grand Master
Raised to the degree of a Master Mason 27 December 1982 at Solomon’s Lodge No. 286 in Moose Lake, Minnesota, I progressed through the line and served as Master in 1987. I then served the Grand Lodge of Minnesota as District Representative for the original District 5, Area Deputy for Northeast Minnesota, and Grand Orator for Grand Master Neetenbeek.
I am a KCCH in the Scottish Rite, have served as Commander of Kadosh, Venerable Master, and in degree work. In the York Rite I am a KYCH and have enjoyed leadership and degree work in the various bodies. I am a Past Potentate of AAD Shrine. I belong to several other Masonic orders and have received the Legion of Honor from the DeMolay.
My Masonic heritage stems from my maternal grandfather and uncles. Though they all lived some distance away the influence they had on my life was terrifically formative.
As in medicine, Masonry is about relationships with and support of each other. My hope is that each mason will have the mentoring necessary to grow and utilize all that the Gentle Craft has to offer.
In my early school years I attended a one room school with two other classmates and graduated from Unity High School, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin in 1962. I graduated from Wisconsin State University-River Falls, with a BS degree in Agriculture in 1966. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI with a medical degree in 1971. I completed my internship at St Mary’s Hospital, Duluth, Minnesota, in 1972. As partners Dr. Gregory Peterson and I established the Gateway Family Health Clinic, Ltd., Moose Lake, Minnesota. We began practice on 10 July 1972, where I continue to practice medicine. In the 1990s I served as Medical Advisor to the Commissioner of Health, and as a rural consultant and advisor to the University of Minnesota Medical School Outreach Department. In 2002 I began work as the Assistant Dean for Rural Health and Associate Professor of Family Medicine for the University of Minnesota Medical School. I have also served as a rural advisor to the Rural Health Research Center.
I have been involved in many professional activities focusing on my mission of access to quality health care for all rural citizens. I have been privileged to serve on multiple boards and committees, as well as in leadership capacities in several professional organizations.
Born 3 April 1944 in Valley City, North Dakota, I spent the first 18 months of life with my mother and maternal grandfather while my dad served in the Army. My grandfather was a Mason raised in Orrstown, Pennsylvania. He and many of his sons were devout masons in Leal, North Dakota. His request of my parents for the time we lived with him was that one day I would have the opportunity to be made a Mason. We then moved to Wisconsin, and I grew up on a small dairy farm with five younger siblings. I have two daughters, a stepdaughter, and one grand son. I have completed 13 marathons and countless other races, as well as several bike races. Joan and I enjoy walking now. I became a Mason at age 39 and have found a deep peace in the multiple aspects of the craft.
Thomas C. Jackson
Grand Master
A Freemason since 1996, MWB Tom Jackson is an active member of his local lodge, Lake Harriet #277, having served as Master in 2001. Since that time he has served as a Trustee of Lake Harriet's Lodge Company, responsible for finance, tenant relations, and equity projects. Jackson led the effort to install an automatic adjustment - COLA- into the dues structure, allowing the lodge to meet the annual burden of inflation head on.
MWB Tom Jackson is an officer of the progressive line of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, AF&AM, currently serving as Grand Master of masons in Minnesota. He supports an excellent team of volunteer officers as the leader of Minnesota's lodge revitalization effort.
MWB Tom Jackson is a 32° KCCH Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Minneapolis Valley of the Southern Jurisdiction, having participated as a degree actor in both the 10th and 14th degrees and has served as a line officer of that Valley's Lodge of Perfection. He is a Royal Arch Mason of St. John's Chapter #9 of Minneapolis, a Shriner, wearing the fez as a Noble of Zuhrah Temple of Minneapolis, and is a member of Lake Harriet Chapter #202 of the OES.
Cooperation and mutual support between lodges is a key concern for this year, explains Jackson, whose stated challenge to the lodges that received Gold Level recognition at the April 2008 Annual Communication was to expand on that success by helping other lodges, building their base of volunteers, deploying them to support neighboring lodges and where possible, to establish another new lodge. On the short list of topics for speeches are the four letters inscribed on Jackson’s pin this year, Q, standing for Quality and Pride in Our Work, R, standing for Relevency to the Community, E, standing for Engagement of Members, and S, standing for Solvency and Self-Supporting Financial Management. These four discussion points form the basis of tactical advice to lodge leaders that help direct lodges in how to improve their overall programming.
Professionally, MWB Tom Jackson is a founding partner of Bella Audio, Inc., a manufacturer of precision audio equipment for yachts, high-end home installations and commercial space, and is an independent manufacturers' rep as Principal of Pro-Active Marketing. Prior to that he worked at Best Buy Co., Inc. with an eighteen year tenure as a senior project and business development manager. His consultative firm, IdeaBuilder, serves fraternal organizations nationwide in the development of Solvency and Viability Review Tools, fitted for each jurisdiction.
MWB Tom Jackson is married, and he and his wife Amey have three children. The family resides in Minneapolis, MN. They garden, they cook, she maintains a shop on eBay, and he follows politics, watches sci-fi and works on computers -- in his spare time.
Thomas G. McCarthy (209)
Senior Grand Warden
Tom McCarthy lives in Winthrop with his wife, Patty. They have two daughters and one son, all grown, and four grandchildren. Tom’s son and one of his sons-in-law are also Masons.
Tom has been a District Court Judge for the First Judicial District for over 19 years. Before that, he practiced law in Winthrop and served as the Sibley County Attorney.
Tom was raised in Sibley Lodge 30 years ago. He is a member of York Rite, Scottish Rite, Eastern Star and Shrine. He has served on the Masonic Cancer Center Fund board of directors.
John L. Cook, Jr. (263)
Junior Grand Warden
R.W.B. John L. Cook, Jr., was raised at Tusler-Summit Lodge # 263, where he served as Worshipful Master in 1999. Following this, John has served in numerous roles as a Grand Lodge volunteer and officer. Most of his work has been with the Metro East Area, as both District Representative and Area Deputy. John is a member of the St. Paul Valley of the Scottish Rite, as well as the Carmel chapter of the Eastern Star. He has a great love for degree work, and was a participant on one of the first degree teams for the One Day Class.
Prior to its merger with MMC, John served as a board member and treasurer for the Minnesota Masonic Foundation Board. As a Grand Lodge committee volunteer, John served on the Leadership Committee which designed the Master’s notebook. He chaired the State Fair Kids ID program at the implementation of the current high-traffic design. Previously, he served on the Jurisprudence Committee.
John was elected at the 2007 Annual Communication to serve as Junior Grand Warden. On behalf of the Corporate Board he is the liaison to the Area Deputies and District Representatives.
In August of last year Bro. Cook ‘retired’ from Ford Motor Credit after 35 years. Unwilling to fish full time, though the thought was tempting, John took a new position as the Customer Service Manager for Medstat Systems. John has a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University Ithaca, NY. He is divorced, with a daughter and an 8 month old granddaughter. John fought for his Country in the U.S. Army and is a Viet Nam veteran.
Thomas E. Hendrickson (2)
Senior Grand Deacon
Tom Hendrickson is a police officer with the Minneapolis Police Department. He has been a cop for 28 years. When Sgt. Roman of the Richfield Police Department came to Tom’s kindergarten class, he knew he wanted to be a policeman. Tom said, “I wanted a job where I could help people in a time of need.”
Tom got involved in DeMolay, Camelot Chapter, because of his younger sister. “My sister was in Job’s Daughters and had a lot of great friends. I was invited to a few functions. I realized that her friends were fun and were of good character. I knew I had to join. I got a lot out of DeMolay. It was a great youth leadership organization.”
Tom signed his petition to the Blue Lodge after high school graduation, just before he enlisted in the Army. When asked why Tom wanted to join Freemasonry, he said, “Besides having a crush on the Zuhrah Shrine Potentate’s daughter and hoping someday to be a Shriner in the motorcycle corps, I wanted to continue to be involved in a fraternity. I wanted to be a Mason, like those men I knew and grew up with.”
In the Army, Tom was a military policeman. “I enjoyed the Army, and I am very proud that I served.” Upon returning home from the Army, he went to college and started his career in law enforcement.
Tom is Past Master and Hiram Award recipient of Cataract Lodge No. 2. He is also a member of the Minneapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite, Order of the Easter Star, Amaranth. Last year, Tom finally found time beyond Blue Lodge and joined the Zuhrah Shrine. He joined the Legion of Honor and the Legion of Honor Degree Team, and he is having a blast. Tom just turned in his petition to join the York Rite.
When he isn’t involved in Masonry or his family, he enjoys shooting and raising money for the Special Olympics. Tom gets physically involved in the fundraising. Two years ago, he took part in the Polar Bear Plunge, where in January he jumped into White Bear Lake – twice!! After he jumped in the first time, he realized he forgot his camera, so he ran and got it, got back in line, and jumped in again. He’s working on another big fundraising project.
When asked to describe his involvement in the Grand Lodge line, he says: “It’s like I’m living a dream. Every day I deal with issues and matters that affect Minnesota Masonry. I love my contacts with all of my brothers in the craft, and I love to immerse myself in all of the special projects that I am assigned to, such as Masonic youth (Job’s Daughters and DeMolay), Operation KidsID, the Minnesota Masonic Historical Society & Museum. This is truly my chance to give back and help make improvements for Masonry for the future. I am truly honored and humbled to be a part of it.”
Tom strongly believes that Masonry is a way of life.
Brian Beermann (191)
Junior Grand Deacon
Brian Beermann is a member of Mizpah lodge #191 in South Saint Paul. He is presently LEO and served as Master in 1997. He has been a Rainbow Dad, and was elected to receive the Grand Cross of Color for Rainbow Girls. He is a member of the St. Paul Valley of the Scottish Rite, serving as Commander of Kadosh and Wise Master of Rose Croix, and receiving the title of 33rd degree Inspector General Honorary. He has recently joined the RAM chapter #1 in St Paul. He is a proud member of Osman Shrine, where he serves as ritual director for the Ceremonial Team.
David E. Olson (344)
Senior Grand Steward
Dave has been an active Mason since 1976, when he was raised in Minnehaha Lodge No. 165. He served as Master of Minnehaha Lodge in 1981. He is presently the Junior Warden of Forest Lake Lodge No. 344. Dave has been a member of the Board of Custodians since 1989. He’s also member of the Minneapolis Scottish Rite and the Legion of Honor unit of Zuhrah Shrine. Dave has been active in Scouting and his church. He is retired from the military where he served in the Air Force Reserve for thirty years. He and his wife Marilynne are the parents of two adult sons.
James A. Christensen (349)
Junior Grand Steward
Dual Member Biwabik Lodge #293 and Lake Superior Lodge #349
Raised March 1979 Biwabik Lodge #293
Master Biwabik Lodge #293 (1985)
Dist. #4 President (Masters, Wardens, & Secretaries club) 1983-1985
Dist. #4 Dist. Rep. (1987-1990)
Master Lake Superior Lodge #349 (2004)
NE Area Deputy Grand Master (2005-2007)
Appointed Junior Grand Steward (April 2007)
Jedson J. Hejda (264)
Grand Tyler
Virginia Lodge No. 264:
EA on November 17, 1971
FC on February 22, 1972
MM on April 8, 1972
Wo. Master: 1978 & 1993
Grand Lodge:
District Rep.: 1986 & 87
Grand Standard Bearer: 1988 & 89
Grand Tyler: 1990 through 2007
Appendant bodies: DeMolay, DeMolay Legion of Honor, Eastern Star,
Royal Arch, Council, Commandery, Scottish Rite, AAD Shrine, Red Cross
of Constantine, Iron Range Masonic Club
Kenneth C. White (258-125)
Grand Chaplain
Ken was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. His wife is Christine and they have a daughter, Andrea, and a son, Steven who is also a member of Montgomery Lodge No. 258. Ken is employed by Parker Hannifin-Quick Coupling Division as the credit manager.
He was raised in Montgomery Lodge No. 258 on November 11, 1971 where he served as the Master of the lodge in 1987 and currently serves the lodge as secretary. Ken served as District Representative No. 33 from 2002 until his appointment as the Metro East Area Deputy in October 2005. He is a founding charter member of the Minnesota Motorcycle Club International Chapter 24 and serves as a trustee. Ken is also a dual member with Winslow Lewis Lodge No. 125 in Osseo, Minneosta.
He enjoys motorcycle trips, hunting and fishing, and traveling with his wife.
Edward R. Halpaus (273)
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Married to Sharon in 1965 they are the parents of 3 grown daughters, and have 8 grandchildren.
Ed retired from the Financial Services Business, with 32 years of service. He ran his own financial Services Agency in his home town 16 years then accepted a position in Sales Management. His responsibilities were to recruit, hire and train Financial Services Representatives; he semi-retired in 1992. Ed and Sharon then moved back to their hometown where they currently reside.
Masonic information:
Received his Masonic degrees in Mora Lodge No. 223 A.F. & A.M. receiving his 3rd degree in September 1977
Life Member Mora Lodge No. 223 A.F.& A.M., serving as Master in 1981 & 1994 serving as Secretary from 1995 to 2001.
Recipient, “Grand Lodge Hiram Award” in 1996 from Mora Lodge No. 223 A.F. & A.M.
Life Member Helios Lodge No. 273 A.F. & A.M., serving as Master in 2003.
Life Member Minneapolis Valley of the Scottish Rite.
Life Member of the Philalethes Society
Life Member Scottish Rite Research Society.
Member of the Southern California Research Lodge.
Grand Representative of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the state of Connecticut to the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, near Minnesota.
Grand Representative of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of the state of Wisconsin to the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, near Minnesota.
1999 appointed a Monitor of the First Degree.
2000 appointed Monitor of the Second Degree.
2001 appointed Monitor of the Third Degree.
Became Monitor of the First Grade 2001
Grand Lodge District Representative, District No. 8, 1997 – 2001.
Awarded "Grand Lodge District Representative of the Year” for 2001.
Grand Lodge Area Deputy, Northeast Minnesota October 2001 – April 2003.
Recipient of “The Duane E. Anderson Award for Excellence in Masonic Education” April 2003
Appointed Grand Lodge Education Officer for the first time in 2003.
Writes “Masonic Matters” a Masonic Education and Information e-publication monthly.
Writes T.F.S., (3, 5,& 7,) as a Lodge Education piece for all Minnesota Lodges twice each month.
Writes a Column for the Philalethes Magazine called Masonic Musings.
Contributor of Masonic information and education articles for various Masonic magazines and periodicals.
Elected to membership in "The Masonic Brotherhood of The Blue Forget-Me-Not" - 2003.
Retired as correspondent for the American Mason magazine contributing a column called “I Didn’t Know That!”
Brent L. Metcalf (263)
Grand Treasurer
Brent is a life long resident of Minnesota. Both he and his wife Janel are CPA’s and graduates from the University of Minnesota and have lived in Woodbury, Minnesota since 1987. After over 16 years of practice in public accounting, Brent joined the management team of Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services, which is located in Ellsworth, Wisconsin. He is their Vice-President of Finance and Administration.
Brent was initiated, passed and raised as a member of Tusler-Summit Lodger No. 263 at the first One Day to Masonry class in 1998 and has since joined the Scottish Rite, the Shrine and the York Rite. He has taken on many leadership roles in these organization. In 2004 he was Master of Tusler-Summit Lodge. In 2005 he was appointed the St. Paul Valley of the Scottish Rite’s Assistant Personal Representative for the Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Jerry B. Oliver. Brent is also the Chairman of the St. Paul Valley’s investment committee and a progressive line officer in the Lodge of Perfection and the Council of Kadosh. In 2003 he received the Scottish Rite honor of becoming a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. In 2005 he was President of the East Metro Masters and Wardens. Also in 2005 he completed the Masonic Light program. In 2007 he was elected as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.
Besides Masonry, Brent’s hobbies include fishing, reading and Taekwondo.
Douglas J. Campbell (2)
Grand Secretary
Douglas J. Campbell has been a Mason since 1980 when he joined Richfield Lodge No. 334. Enjoying the Masonic ritual, he became an officer of the lodge almost immediately after taking his Master Mason Degree. He served Richfield Lodge as Master in 1988. By the time Doug was installed as Master of the lodge he was already a monitor on two of the three degrees and took the last monitor exam shortly after being installed.
As a Past Master, Doug was installed as a member of the Board of Custodians in 1989 by then Grand Master Ward Sonsteby. He served the Board of Custodians as the Chairman of the Board for a few years before being elected to the Grand Treasurer position in 1993. He held that position until 1997 when he was elected Grand Secretary. Doug is now in his 21st year as a member of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and is serving his 12th Grand Master as the Grand Secretary. He has also served the Minnesota Masonic Foundation as a Board member and its President.
Doug serves as the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of Michigan near the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and is a member of most of the appendant bodies found in Minnesota. He is a Past Master of the Minneapolis Consistory, where he was elected an Inspector General Honorary of the 33rd degree in the Scottish Rite in 2002.
Doug¹s membership in Richfield Lodge No. 334 terminated when the lodge merged with Century Lodge No. 338 and Cataract Lodge No. 2 in 1999. He has served as the secretary of Cataract Lodge since 2000.
Doug resides in Minneapolis with his wife Patty. They have two adult children, Alyssa, who lives in Washington, DC and son David who resides in Minneapolis. David joined Cataract Lodge No. 2 shortly after graduating from college. In his time away from work Doug enjoys family, friends, reading and travel in roughly that order.
Bruce L. Sherman (5)
Grand Marshal
Bruce currently lives in Oakdale with his wife Gail. Bruce and Gail have six sons all grown and six grandchildren. Bruce is a native of California coming to Minnesota in 1980 after discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps. A Senior System Analysts in Information Technologies by trade, Bruce currently works for the State of Minnesota.
Bruce was raised in Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5 in 2001 and served as its Master in 2005. Currently Bruce is the Secretary in Ancient Landmark Lodge No. 5. Bruce was also appointed Executive Secretary of the St. Paul Valley Scottish Rite in 2006 and serves in that position today. Bruce was appointed to the Grand Lodge as Grand Chaplin by MWB Steven R. Johnson in 2006 and served as the chairman of the Grand Lodge Web Site Committee. Bruce is currently serving as Grand Marshal and continues as the chairman of the Grand Lodge Web Site Committee. Bruce is also the current Master of Educational Lodge 1002.
In his spare time Bruce enjoys woodworking and gardening. Bruce has published a book on his experiences in Masonry through his first five years titled “A Masters Journal” and has been published in several Masonic publications.
Duane N. Booker (286)
Grand Standard Bearer
I joined the Navy in May 1944 and served in the Pacific theatre. I was discharged at the Brooklyn Navy Yards in 1946. I joined the Marine Corps Reserves in 1948 and was called to active duty in 1950. I made the Inchon Landing in September 1950 and received a medical discharge in 1951.
I was raised a Master Mason in 1986 by my son Michael, in Solomon's Lodge No. 286 in Moose Lake. I was Master of the lodge in 1990.
Frank Romanoski (286)
Grand Pursuivant
Frank Romanoski graduated from Willow River High School in 1948. He served in the US Army for two years during the Korean War.
Frank worked on road construction as an Equipment Operator, from 1952 until 1968, when he joined the Carlton County Highway Department, retiring as a Supervisor in 1992.
He was raised as a Master Mason in Solomon's Lodge, #286, in 1994, and has twice served as it's Worshipful Master.
Since 1986, Frank has also belonged to the Scottish Rite and York Rite Bodies of Duluth and to Aad Shrine in Hermantown.
Robert C. Hanson (286)
Grand Sword Bearer
WB. Robert C. Hanson is a 1961 graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served 28 years as a Naval Aviator before retiring in Minnesota. After receiving his Education Degree at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, he taught in the Public School System for 10 years, retiring again in 1996.
A third generation Mason, he was raised in Montgomery Lodge No. 258 in 1958 and has been a member of Solomon's Lodge No. 286 in Moose Lake since 1988, serving three terms as Master. He is also a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Duluth.
He lives in 70 acres of woods near Barnum Minnesota, with his wife Nancy. They have two children and three grand-children.
Stephen A. Johnson (100)
Grand Orator