50th anniversary of plane crash acknowledged

by April Scheinoha Reporter Mayor Brian Holmer has signed an acknowledgment of the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that killed the Thief River Falls police chief, two Thief River Falls City Council members and the pilot. Police Chief Roy L. Pederson, council members William Froiland and Arthur Rambeck, and pilot Marvin Hausman were killed Jan. 28, 1974, in the charter plane crash about two miles northwest of Winger. The four men had been on one of two planes traveling to Owatonna and Waseca to tour law enforcement facilities. The other plane carried Pennington County Sheriff Charles Richards, Pennington County Board Chairperson Otto Stenberg, Pennington County Commissioner Edgar Naplin and pilot Wayne Martin. At the time, the city and county were planning to construct the Law Enforcement Center. The LEC lobby features a plaque memorializing Froiland, Pederson and Rambeck. Pederson, 35, had been police chief for four months and had served on the police department for 10 years. His widow, Yvonne, was on hand Tuesday, Feb. 6 as Holmer acknowledged the anniversary. Froiland, 71, and Rambeck, 77, had just been elected to their third terms on the council. Froiland had previously served two terms on the school board and two terms as the Pennington County register of deeds. Before his retirement, Rambeck had been the Pennington County sheriff for 22 years. Hausman, 22, Eagle Bend, was the pilot. The acknowledgment noted, “The mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Thief River Falls continue to extend their deepest sympathy to the families of the city officials and pilot who lost their lives in this tragic accident.” It further noted Froiland, Pederson and Rambeck “performed their civic duties freely, ably, continously and unselfishly. Their contributions to the community will not be forgotten.”