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Dan & Jean Feist · Inducted in 2019
Along with his professional accomplishments, Dan Feist was also involved in many community and business organizations, but the center of life for he and Jean revolved around their faith, and that kept them heavily involved as members of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and as parents at Bishop Ryan, where Dan spent 14 years on the school’s Board of Directors, earning the Bishop Ryan “R” Award for his service.
Jean says that Dan would be very pleased and honored to be counted among the Bishop Ryan Hall of Fame family, and she credits their wonderful family and success to Jesus Christ, the head of their home, saying, “He always has been and always will be."
Duane & Roberta Johnson · Inducted in 2020
When Duane recognized that his heart was in teaching, the road led to Minot and Bishop Ryan in 1973. Teaching physical education and life science and coaching three sports, he and Roberta fell in love with the Bishop Ryan family, and their original five-year plan happily stretched a little longer than expected. Roberta joined the faculty in 1992, teaching English and speech classes, and later directing the drama department.
In 2006, Duane ended his 42-year teaching career, (33 as a Lion) and after 19 years, Roberta closed her own chapter of teaching at Bishop Ryan in 2011. In true family form, they list two big high points in their careers as teaching together on the faculty and teaching while their daughters were students at Bishop Ryan, and their memories are filled with the students they were privileged to work with. It’s said that teachers touch lives, but it is also true that students touch teachers’ lives, and for the Johnsons, it’s exciting to visit with former students and find out what directions their lives have taken.
Ed & Betty Schall · Inducted in 2020
Raised in North Dakota and California, Ed worked many job and served in the U.S. Marine Corp before joining his father in the construction business in Minot. Betty was born in Lansford, spending her youth on the family farm and at St. Agnes' in Kenmare. After graduating, Betty moved to Minot to work for a local dentist.
Ed and Betty met while he was home from the Marine Corps, and they married. While Ed was building businesses, Betty with taking care of their growing family of five children, all Bishop Ryan graduates, and it was during those years that Ed and Betty got involved with cheering on the Lions and helping out with events like the annual Carnival. The friendships forged during those times led to treasured memories like shooting hoops in the gym on weekends and joining other members of the “KC Mafia” at the Knights of Columbus Club after sporting events. Keeping God at the center of their family was the biggest part of their decision in choosing Bishop Ryan, and Ed and Betty’s generosity was a foundation for establishing the St. Andrews Call Scholarship in 2018, helping many new families join the Lion Pride.
For Ed and Betty, the gift is just a legacy of what’s been important in their lives. To them, the reward of being able to assist families attending Bishop Ryan comes in sharing the value of Catholic education done well.
Pat & Sandy Butz · Inducted in 2021
A Bishop Ryan graduate, Pat attended the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota. After 50 years of service to his family-owned business, Magic City Beverage, he traded in his keys to the delivery truck to give retirement a try.
Pat's Lion Pride was reignited during a visit to the school when thirty of the sweetest and smiliest Little Lions preschoolers passed by on their way to lunch, some holding hands, their little voices filled with the joy of being surrounded by friends and love. It was in that moment that Pat wanted to suuport these kids and this mission. Soon after, Pat and Sandy were adopted into the Voorhies family who were stationed in Minot on a United States Air Force assignment and whose children were attending Bishop Ryan. Pat and Sandy became “superfans” for Ethlyn, Luke and William, cheering them on at games and celebrating milestones, and the rest, as they say, is history.
We are grateful to Pat and Sandy for their dedication to encouraging inspired minds, faithful hearts, and lives of virtue.
Michael & Kathleen Gaddie · Inducted in 2022
For Michael and Kathleen Gaddie, Catholic education is a family tradition. Growing up as part of families filled with Catholic school graduates, both Mike and Kathy were surrounded with the traditions and blessings of Catholic education and the appreciation for the work that ensures the continued opportunity for future generations.
After marrying and starting a family, their move to Minot also brought them into the world of automotive sales and service at the dealership that Kathy’s father, Jim Ryan, owned. The success of the dealership bearing the Ryan Chevrolet name has grown to include the Minot additions of Ryan Honda, Ryan Buick/GMC/Cadillac, Ryan Nissan, and Ideal Auto ND, and Ryan Motors in Williston under the umbrella of Ryan Family Dealerships. Along with the demands of business management and their time dedicated to encouraging community and leadership initiative projects, Mike and Kathy made time to take part on various committees that shaped the Catholic schools of Minot. Mike served on the school board at Little Flower and would later offer guidance as part of the Finance Committee at Bishop Ryan, and Kathy has shared her expertise as part of the Bishop Ryan Foundation Board of Directors.
We are grateful to Mike and Kathy for their support of Catholic education in Minot. Their indelible friendship and counsel continue to offer encouragement for the future of Bishop Ryan Catholic School.