Michael Unhjem

Michael Unhjem, 57, of Fargo, ND, died Monday, September 13, 2010, at his home in Fargo. Michael Bruce “Mike” Unhjem was born August 22, 1953, in Fargo, North Dakota and soon after became the adopted son of Kalmer and Lorelei (Myhra) Unhjem of Crosby, North Dakota. He was raised on the family farm near Crosby and graduated from Crosby High School in 1971. He attended Jamestown College, Jamestown, North Dakota and graduated with a B.A. in History/Political Science in 1975, following which he attended law school at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, graduating with a J.D. in Law in 1978. Mike married the former Mary Burges of Edgeley, North Dakota on June 19, 1976, in Jamestown, where they resided for the next 10 years before moving to Fargo. They had three children, Kaia, David and Kirsten, all of whom Mike loved and cherished deeply, and in whom he took his greatest pride. He particularly enjoyed attending their various school activities and watching them grow and develop into adulthood. Mike practiced law in Jamestown for three years before joining Wells Fargo Bank there for three years as a loan officer, and then did two years of fundraising work for the Anne Carlson School and Jamestown College. In 1986, he went to work for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota in Fargo as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Legal Counsel. In 1991, he became President and CEO of the company and served in that capacity for over 17 years before leaving the company in early 2009. While there, he focused his time and energy on helping the company accomplish its mission, and worked with all of the employees to create a “great place to work” environment. At the time of his death, he was President and CEO of Unhjem & Associates, LLC, a private consulting company. Mike served in many additional capacities related to his position at BCBSND. He was President of Pioneer Mutual Life Insurance Company from 1998 to 2000, and served as Chairman of the Board of Lincoln Mutual Insurance Company for several years, Chairman of the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association from 2000 – 2002, Chairman of TriWest Healthcare Alliance from 2005 to 2009, and on many other Blue Cross and Blue Shield related boards, committees and organizations. Mike had a love of politics that developed at a young age, and that love led him to successfully run for the North Dakota House of Representatives at the age of 21 in 1974, while a Senior at Jamestown College. This election earned him the distinction of being the youngest person ever elected to the North Dakota Legislature, a record that continued to the time of his death. Mike was re-elected five times serving a total of six terms from 1974 to 1986. He served those 12 years as a member of the House Appropriations Committee. Mike also served as Chairman of the Crosby Teen-Age Republicans, the North Dakota College Republicans and the North Dakota Young Republicans. He was co-chairman of the North Dakota Bush for President Committee in 1980, and served in the Reagan administration on the National Advisory Council of the National Institute of Mental Health. In 1988, he was again co-chairman of the North Dakota Bush for President Committee when George H. W. Bush was elected President. President Bush appointed Mike to the National Council on Disability where he served from 1990 to 1993. In 1981, Mike was appointed to the North Dakota Commission on Uniform State Laws and the National Conference on Uniform State Laws. He was elected to Life Membership of the National Conference in 2001 and had recently attended the annual conference meeting in Chicago marking his 29th year of service. Mike was an active volunteer in many business, community, and charitable organizations during his years in Jamestown and Fargo, including both Chambers of Commerce, and the Jamestown and Fargo Kiwanis Clubs. He was active in the United Way of Cass and Clay counties serving as the 1995 Annual Campaign Chair, and serving six years on the Board of Trustees from 2004 – 2010, including a year as Chair of the Board in 2008 – 9. He was most actively involved in the work of the Mental Health Association, now known as Mental Health America. He began as a volunteer in 1977 and in 1980 received the Man of the Year Award for his contribution to the association. He later served as Chairman of the North Dakota Mental Health Association and spent nine years on the National Mental Health Association Board of Directors, serving as Chairman of the Board in 1988. He continued as an advisor to the mental health activities in the Fargo/South Red River Valley area until his death. At the time of his death, he was serving in his 24th year on the Board of Trustees of Jamestown College, and was a member of the Board of the Fargo Moorhead Opera. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Kalmer; his sister, Laurie White; his grandparents; and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by Mary, Fargo, ND; his daughter, Kaia (Chris) Kueffler, Minneapolis, MN; his son, David, Minneapolis; and his daughter, Kirsten, Fargo; his mother, Lorelei Unhjem, Crosby, ND; his brother, Lane (Julie) Unhjem, Crosby, ND; and his half-sisters, Pam (Clark) Soholt, Mayville, ND; and Darla (Jay) Reed, Gackle, ND; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Mental Health Association of North Dakota – 124 8th St. N – Fargo, ND, 58102. Funeral Service: Saturday, September 18, 2010, at 10:00 AM, at First Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND. Visitation: Friday, September 17, 2010, from 5- 7 PM, at First Lutheran Church, with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM, at the church. Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Fargo, ND.