Dr. Joseph Hegstad

passed away at the Mayo

Clinic Hospital, Scotts-

dale, AZ on May 20, 2017.

He was born 2/16/1937 to

the parents of Bjarne and

Mabel Hegstad and raised

in the Mayville/Hatton

area. Joseph married Jac-

quelyn A. Johnson on Au-

gust 20,1966. They cele-

brated 50 years of mar-

riage on August 20, 2016.

After graduating from

college with a degree in

music, Joseph was select-

ed to become a baritone

soloist with the Singing

Sergeants of the U.S. Air

Force Band located in

Washington, D.C. He sang

with this elite group of

singers which often per-

formed throughout the

U.S., extensively in and

around the D.C. area, in-

cluding functions at the

White House, and toured

abroad as well. To sing a

solo on the stage of Carne-

gie Hall in New York

proved to be one of the

highlights while singing

with this outstanding

group of musicians. Later

Hegstad went on to earn

advanced degrees in

music in Colorado and

graduated with a PhD in

Musical Arts Vocal Perfor-mance from the Conserva-tory of Music at the

University of

Missouri-Kansas City. Dr.

Hegstad joined the music

staff at Minot State

University in 1970. Dur-

ing his tenure Hegstad be-

came chairman of the

Division of Music, while

also directing the MSU

Concert Choir, Vagabond

Male chorus, and the Jazz

Madrigal Singers. With

the N.D. Board of Higher

Education, he established

the Master of Music De-

gree at MSU. Participating

in the International music

scene Dr. Hegstad entered

into college choral com-

petitions, resulting in five

major European MSU

concert choir tours, per-

forming in the major cities

of Europe.

While at MSU Hegstad

became a regular guest

conductor of Choral

Music Festivals not only

in N.D., but regional as

well, and often was

sought out as a judge at

Music Festivals. Trained

as a classical singer, musi-

cal theater aficionado, and

jazz singer, Joseph, per-

formed regularly at local

and regional events

throughout his life.

While at MSU, Hegstad

founded the prestigious

Heritage Singers, a

semi-professional singing

group consisting of local

singers, MSU graduates,

several former private stu-

dents of “Dr. Joe,” a nick-

name fostered by MSU

students, and singers from

the local region of Minot.

This group, for several

years, acted as the ND

Governor’s Chorus, and

toured in the U.S. and Eu-

rope.

Dr. Hegstad was instru-

mental in establishing

other musical groups in

Minot, such as the Minot

Children’s Choir (through

MSU summer programs

for young people)

Women’s Voices of Note

and the Schumann Club

Choral Choir (organized

for a special club event)

which later became the

Minot Chamber Chorale.

Always proud of his

Scandinavian roots, Dr.

Hegstad was instrumental

in the founding of the

well-known Scandinavian

festival known as the

Norsk Hostfest. In the first

two years, he & his musi-

cal groups provided much

of the musical entertain-

ment and he maintained a

“Performer’s Stage” pres-

ence each year. For many

years, he also served as

emcee for the popular

America/Scandinavian

Banquet of the Hostfest

and was emcee for several

stage shows. Joseph also

developed a narrative and

music for a musical

presentation, “Anders Tellefson; Norwegian/ American Immigrant,” for the International Sons of Norway convention held in Minot, ND. With his wife, Jackie, he served on the first Board of Directors for the Scandinavian Heritage

Association and provided

music for special

ceremonies & events.

For the past 15 plus

years, Joseph and Jackie

have resided in Scotts-

dale, AZ. Dr. Hegstad

operated a private voice

studio, “Studio Voce'”

providing singing lessons

for both children and

adults. Hegstad, active in

the Rotary Club of Scotts-

dale, served as the club

president from 2010-2011.

Each year he organized

the annual Scottsdale Ro-

tary Club’s Christmas par-

ty and also continued his

career of solo singing in

and around Scottsdale.

Dr. Hegstad is survived

by: his best friend and

wife, Jacquelyn (Jackie),

two sisters, Carol Domier,

Portland, ND, Ardis (Don)

Zimney, West Fargo, ND,

and numerous nephews

and nieces and grand

nephews and nieces,

brother-in-law, Art Grove

and sister-in-law, Claire

Johnson both of Grand

Forks, ND.

He was preceded in

death by: his parents and

a sister, Brenda (Dale)

Enger.

Services: Visitation will

be from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday,

May 30, at Amundson

Funeral Home in Grand

Forks, N.D. Visitation will

continue from 1-2 p.m.

followed by the funeral at

2 p.m. Wednesday, May

31, at Calvary Lutheran

Church in Grand Forks.

Burial will be in Memorial

Park Cemetery in Grand

Forks.

Arrangements by

Amundson Funeral

Home.