Luverne’s Jeff Hartquist was named president of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association at the group’s recent annual convention
Hartquist said he was “proud and humbled” to be selected for the role.
“Our funeral home has been a member of the association even before our family purchased the funeral home in January 2004,” Hartquist said.
“We have been the only funeral home in Luverne and Rock County to be a part of the association since 2009.”
In his acceptance speech, Hartquist talked about the fact that as funeral directors, “to whom much is given, much is expected.”
It’s a responsibility Hartquist said he takes to heart.
“We enter the lives of families at such an intimate moment,” he said.
“Sometimes we know the deceased and their family and sometimes we are just strangers. To walk with them in their journey through death, to educate them, help them create a ceremony that is reflective of their loved one's life, help them conduct that ceremony and be there for them after is very much an honor that we funeral directors are called to be a part of. I sincerely look at what I do as ministry, not work.”
Hartquist said he also spoke about the critical role of funeral directors, quoting Sir William Ewart Gladstone who said, "Show me the manner in which a nation cares for its dead and I will measure with mathematical exactness the tender mercies of its people, their respect for the laws of the land, and their loyalty to high ideals."
Hartquist was installed by his father, Randy Hartquist, on May 24 during the convention at the Treasure Island Resort and Convention Center near Red Wing.