Craig Caspers

The NDSCS Alumni Foundation is honored to name Craig Caspers as the 2019 Alumnus of the Year.  Craig is a native of Wahpeton, ND and is the fourth of six sons of the Robert and Bernice Caspers family.  He attended St. John’s Elementary School, graduated from Wahpeton High School and was an all-conference football player.  Craig and his brothers often worked for their father at the local Caspers Furniture Store in Wahpeton. Craig attended NDSSS and received an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in 1973.  Craig played two years for the Wildcat Football team and was inducted into the Wildcat Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Craig married Susan Berseth on June 7, 1974 and they moved to Aberdeen, SD where he earned his B.S. in Business Administration at Northern State College in 1977 and played football for the Wolves. He worked at a bank in Aberdeen until he was asked by his father to return home to work in the family furniture business.

After working ten years at Caspers Furniture, Craig returned to college to obtain his Mortuary Science Degree at the University of Minnesota. In 1987, he began working and managing Vertin-Munson Funeral Home in Wahpeton. In 2013, the funeral business in Wahpeton and Breckenridge merged and Craig became co-owner of the new enterprise. Craig has worked in the funeral services business for thirty years.  He is semi-retired, enjoys spending time with his family at the lake and golfing.  He is a respected businessman and has excellent rapport with people in the community.  

Craig has served his state and local community as a volunteer, board member, and officer in several organizations that include: North Dakota Retail Association, National Furniture Association, Wahpeton Chamber of Commerce, Youth Football, Girl’s Junior Olympic Volleyball, Optimist Organization, Downtown Development, and the Community Development Corporation.  Craig served as president of the NDSCS Foundation Board, advisor to the college nursing program, and past president of the Wildcat Letterwinners Board and Catbacker’s Club.  Craig also served as a member of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education for five years and served as vice president of the board for two terms. Craig supports NDSCS with a Scholarship Endowment, is a member of the Heritage Club and Catbacker Club, and donates to DREAMS Auction and other projects undertaken by the Foundation.

Craig lost his wife of 45 years on April 28, 2019.  He currently resides in Wahpeton and at Ottertail Lake in Minnesota.  They have two children: Christopher, and his wife, Jamie, have two sons, Foster and Bauer, and live in Davenport, Iowa.  His daughter Cassie Miller, and her children Halle, Jaeger and Jameson reside in Wahpeton.