B.J. Muus

 

Looking forward to his heavenly home, Bernt Julius (B.J.) Muus, 95, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, March 1, 2023, at the home he and his sons built in Grand Marais, Minnesota. B.J. was born October 6, 1927, in Fargo, North Dakota, to Rev. Herman I. and Gladys (Trygstad) Muus. His early years were spent in Minnesota: Comstock, St. James, and Fergus Falls. In 1945 he graduated from Lewis and Clark High School, Spokane, Washington, where his father served as a chaplain at the Lutheran Service Center during WWII.

During his school years, B.J. sang and played the baritone and the violin. His talents were further developed at St. Olaf College, where he played in the orchestra and sang in the St. Olaf Choir and other vocal ensembles, graduating in 1949 with a music major. He met his future wife, Alice Rosain, in the St. Olaf Choir and they were married in Chicago, IL, on August 28, 1948, sharing almost 67 years together until Alice passed away in 2015. They were blessed with six children, enough for a family choir. During his time at St. Olaf, B.J. also enjoyed participating in intramural sports and was on the tennis team.

B.J. attended Luther Seminary in the fall of 1949. While working with a high school youth choir at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, part of his program, B.J. felt called to leave his seminary studies and to get teaching credentials so he could be a high school music teacher. He accomplished this at the MacPhail College of Music in Minneapolis. and got his first teaching job in Chisholm, Minnesota. After two years there, B.J. and family moved to Ottawa, Illinois, where he developed a fine choral program at Ottawa Township High School. He also directed and sang in various church choirs and in a barbershop group. For many years he was a tennis instructor for the Ottawa summer recreation program as well. He also composed music, including some organ pieces and tunes for folk lyrics penned by a fellow teacher. B.J. earned his master’s degree from Northern Illinois University, Dekalb, Illinois, composing a collection of eight choral pieces based on texts from various Psalms for his thesis.

After 26 years teaching in Ottawa, B.J. took an early retirement in 1978 and moved to Grand Marais, Minnesota, with his family, where he directed the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Choir and the Community Choir and Orchestra (later named the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra) for about 30 years. During this time, he also directed the band at Cook County High School for one year, worked as a nursing aide at North Shore Hospital and Care Center for two years, and worked at Hedstrom Lumber Retail Store for 14 years. B.J. was also a 20-year host of “Sounds of the Spirit” radio program on WTIP and received their Broadcaster of the Year award in 2007. In 2010 he was further honored by being inducted into the Ottawa Township High School Hall of Fame, and in 2018 he received the OmniArts Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence for dedication to the arts in Starved Rock Country, Illinois.

A humble person with a strong Christian faith, B.J. was active in the churches he attended and lived out his faith in his daily life. He had a servant heart and loved to help people with their building construction projects. Not only was his creativity displayed in these projects, but also in the paintings and woodcarvings he made. B.J. delighted in the beauty of nature and enjoyed being outside, hiking, canoeing, playing tennis, cross country skiing, and roasting hotdogs with the family on the shore of Lake Superior. Many people were recipients of his friendly wave as he walked his dog along County Road 7 each day. B.J.’s compassionate and loving heart led him to support many mission projects and charitable organizations ministering to people in need of clean water, food, shelter, and medical care both at home and around the world.

B.J. was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his brother Herman A. (Ham) Muus. He is survived by his children: Paul (Bonnie) Muus, Janet (Jim) Ringquist, John (Cindy) Muus, all of Grand Marais; James (Therese) Muus of Siren, WI; Beverly (Robert) Palmer of Lakeville, MN; and Phyllis (Dave) Oldenburg of Ramsey, MN; fifteen grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; and sister-in-law Pearl Muus of Grand Marais. A memorial service will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, on June 17th at 3 p.m.