GMWO Board of Directors
Meet the Members of the Board
GMWO’s board members L-R: Rudy Butenas, Terri Zentz, Darrel Forsgren, Joan Ellison, Phletus Williams, Sally Williams, Rick Johnson.
Phletus Williams is the chairperson of the Board of Directors. He has been active for nearly 10 years researching data related to the discovery of glacial Minnesota woman in the Pelican Rapids area and named her Nimuué meaning Lady of the Lake. He enjoys being active on the board and reporting and sharing new findings with the community.
Joan Ellison is secretary of the Glacial Minnesota Woman Organization. She has been interested in Native American history since she first saw the skeleton of Minnesota Woman at the Minnesota History Museum when she was a little girl. Trained as a biochemist, she heads the GMWO science committee in its attempts to learn more about the world in which Minnesota Woman lived and how it has changed over time.
Sally Williams serves as the treasurer of GMWO. She has been researching the discovery and history of Minnesota Woman for more than 10 years and is fascinated by the archaeological event and the glacial era. Her commitment to the organization is to restore the history of the discovery to Minnesota with the hope that people will treat Nimuué with respect and dignity.
Darrel Forsgren A retired farmer who still farms when he isn’t fishing or hunting, Darrel is fascinated by the story of Minnesota Woman. “Whenever I see someone up there at the Minnesota Woman Monument site, I stop and hand them a Glacial Minnesota Woman brochure.”
Rudy Butenas believes that the “Minnesota Woman is a very important part of history in the area, the state of Minnesota” and for “the whole United States.” In his spare time, he enjoys partaking in hunting and fishing.
Rick Johnson feels that Minnesota Woman is an interesting part of our history. Born and raised on a farm near Pelican Rapids, he graduated from Moorhead State College with a major in history. He then went on to teach in Mt. Lake, MN from 1966 until 1977 when he returned to Pelican Rapids to farm with his brothers.
Terri Zentz’s interest in Minnesota Woman started when artist Marcella Rose gave a face and body to the mystery woman. Since then, she has held a deep interest in finding out more about the Lady of the Lake. Terri is retired and currently involved in many volunteer activities, one of her favorites is aiding and assisting our Veterans.