Katherine Burgum Classic
Katherine “K” Kilbourne was born in a small Kansas town in 1915, but she grew up in Fargo, where the family moved when she was seven years old.
Katherine attended Horace Mann School in Fargo, and while there, began her life-long love of sports and the role they play in shaping a person’s life. She participated in many a ball game with her brothers and friends in the old “4th Street Gang” – a group that included the NDSU stalwarts, C. Warner Litten and his wife Betty. Because K. was the youngest in her family, her older brothers made her play in the outfield, where she developed an unusually strong throwing arm. When K. was in third grade, Horace Mann had competitions for the all-city elementary track team. At the event, K. won the softball throw for her grade and went on to the all-city competition. There she encountered opposition from city officials who said she couldn’t compete because she was a girl.
After the boys had all thrown, and ribbons were awarded, her principal intervened, making it clear that she was the representative for Horace Mann. K. was then allowed to throw. Her distance put her in third place, and ribbons were redistributed accordingly. That experience stuck with her and led to a lifelong interest in allowing women to participate on an equal basis.
Katherine attended Fargo Central High School and graduated in 1933. After graduation, she enrolled at North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC), now North Dakota State University, beginning a passion for the school that lasted her whole lifetime. She was very active in college, editing the Bison yearbook, serving as president of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, holding memberships in Senior Staff as commissioner of finance, Phi Upsilon Omicron, Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and being chosen as an outstanding senior in her class, graduating in 1937 with majors in home economics, education, foods and nutrition, and a minor in journalism.
Katherine married Joseph Burgum from Arthur, N.D., on April 8, 1944. Joe and Katherine had been “college sweethearts” at NDAC, where they worked together on the college yearbook. After Joe’s service in WWII, the couple moved back to Arthur, where Joe joined the family grain business. Son Bradley was born in 1952, daughter Barbara in 1953, and another son, Douglas in 1956. All three children are graduates of North Dakota State.
While Katherine was active on dozens of regional boards and committees, and heavily involved in Republican politics at all levels, NDSU was never far from her heart. She was active in Alumni Association and served as a member of the Alumni Board. She was a member of the Cass-Clay Alumni and Former Students Association and served as vice-president in 1960. She was a member the Gamma Phi Beta House Board and president of the House Corporation Board. In 1964 she was inducted into Mortar Board. She was also a founding member of the NDSU Development Foundation, as well as its president. In 1971 she received the Alumni Achievement Award.
After her husband Joe’s untimely death in 1971, Katherine began to explore the job market. Already on the search committee for a new Dean for NDSU’s College of Home Economics, she had seen several candidates come and go when she was approached to take the job herself.
After reluctantly accepting the position of “acting Dean” in 1972, Katherine charged ahead, making a sorely needed addition to the College’s physical plant her number one priority. She was soon made full-time Dean, and leveraging her astute political expertise and extensive personal contacts, she successfully lobbied the North Dakota Legislature for funding, and against all odds, ground was broken for the new addition in 1974. In 1998, the facility was renovated and renamed the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Family Life Center.
While Katherine retired as Dean in 1980, she hardly retired from service. Governor Allen Olson named her to the State Social Service Board, and Governor George Sinner appointed her to a number of important state boards and committees. In 1989, Katherine was elected the Republican Presidential Elector and voted the North Dakota ballot in the National Electoral College for President George H.W. Bush. Katherine served on Boards of Directors for the Arthur Farmers Elevator, Western States Life Insurance Company, the NDSU Development Foundation, the St. Luke’s Foundation, Red River Zoological Society, and Great Plains Software. She has received hundreds of honors and awards at the college, local, state and national level. These include an honorary doctorate from NDSU and the Greater North Dakota Award from the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce.
Katherine was a living testament to what is now known as “The Greatest Generation." Her selfless dedication to her family and friends, her tireless sense of duty and service, her loyalty, wisdom, courage and unfailing good humor continues to serve as a role model for young and old alike.
The “Katherine Burgum Classic” was the North Dakota State University athletic department's gift for her 90th birthday, recognizing her dedication and commitment to young women on campus, the Fargo-Moorhead community and the region.
Katherine Burgum Classic Results
*MVP awards were discontinued after the 2014-15 season.
Katherine attended Horace Mann School in Fargo, and while there, began her life-long love of sports and the role they play in shaping a person’s life. She participated in many a ball game with her brothers and friends in the old “4th Street Gang” – a group that included the NDSU stalwarts, C. Warner Litten and his wife Betty. Because K. was the youngest in her family, her older brothers made her play in the outfield, where she developed an unusually strong throwing arm. When K. was in third grade, Horace Mann had competitions for the all-city elementary track team. At the event, K. won the softball throw for her grade and went on to the all-city competition. There she encountered opposition from city officials who said she couldn’t compete because she was a girl.
After the boys had all thrown, and ribbons were awarded, her principal intervened, making it clear that she was the representative for Horace Mann. K. was then allowed to throw. Her distance put her in third place, and ribbons were redistributed accordingly. That experience stuck with her and led to a lifelong interest in allowing women to participate on an equal basis.
Katherine attended Fargo Central High School and graduated in 1933. After graduation, she enrolled at North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC), now North Dakota State University, beginning a passion for the school that lasted her whole lifetime. She was very active in college, editing the Bison yearbook, serving as president of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, holding memberships in Senior Staff as commissioner of finance, Phi Upsilon Omicron, Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, and being chosen as an outstanding senior in her class, graduating in 1937 with majors in home economics, education, foods and nutrition, and a minor in journalism.
Katherine married Joseph Burgum from Arthur, N.D., on April 8, 1944. Joe and Katherine had been “college sweethearts” at NDAC, where they worked together on the college yearbook. After Joe’s service in WWII, the couple moved back to Arthur, where Joe joined the family grain business. Son Bradley was born in 1952, daughter Barbara in 1953, and another son, Douglas in 1956. All three children are graduates of North Dakota State.
While Katherine was active on dozens of regional boards and committees, and heavily involved in Republican politics at all levels, NDSU was never far from her heart. She was active in Alumni Association and served as a member of the Alumni Board. She was a member of the Cass-Clay Alumni and Former Students Association and served as vice-president in 1960. She was a member the Gamma Phi Beta House Board and president of the House Corporation Board. In 1964 she was inducted into Mortar Board. She was also a founding member of the NDSU Development Foundation, as well as its president. In 1971 she received the Alumni Achievement Award.
After her husband Joe’s untimely death in 1971, Katherine began to explore the job market. Already on the search committee for a new Dean for NDSU’s College of Home Economics, she had seen several candidates come and go when she was approached to take the job herself.
After reluctantly accepting the position of “acting Dean” in 1972, Katherine charged ahead, making a sorely needed addition to the College’s physical plant her number one priority. She was soon made full-time Dean, and leveraging her astute political expertise and extensive personal contacts, she successfully lobbied the North Dakota Legislature for funding, and against all odds, ground was broken for the new addition in 1974. In 1998, the facility was renovated and renamed the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Family Life Center.
While Katherine retired as Dean in 1980, she hardly retired from service. Governor Allen Olson named her to the State Social Service Board, and Governor George Sinner appointed her to a number of important state boards and committees. In 1989, Katherine was elected the Republican Presidential Elector and voted the North Dakota ballot in the National Electoral College for President George H.W. Bush. Katherine served on Boards of Directors for the Arthur Farmers Elevator, Western States Life Insurance Company, the NDSU Development Foundation, the St. Luke’s Foundation, Red River Zoological Society, and Great Plains Software. She has received hundreds of honors and awards at the college, local, state and national level. These include an honorary doctorate from NDSU and the Greater North Dakota Award from the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce.
Katherine was a living testament to what is now known as “The Greatest Generation." Her selfless dedication to her family and friends, her tireless sense of duty and service, her loyalty, wisdom, courage and unfailing good humor continues to serve as a role model for young and old alike.
The “Katherine Burgum Classic” was the North Dakota State University athletic department's gift for her 90th birthday, recognizing her dedication and commitment to young women on campus, the Fargo-Moorhead community and the region.
Katherine Burgum Classic Results
| Year | Opponent | Result | North Dakota State MVP | Opponent MVP |
| 2006 | Minnesota | W, 62-48 | Lisa Bue | Ashley Ellis-Milan |
| 2007 | Montana State | W, 82-58 | Lisa Bue | Nubia Garcia |
| 2009 | Western Illinois | W, 52-46 | Whitney Trecker | Katy Clark |
| 2010 | IPFW | W, 64-52 | Katie Birkel | Sydney Weinert |
| 2011 | Oakland | L, 48-60 | Abby Plucker | Bethany Watterworth |
| 2012 | South Dakota State | L, 52-88 | Danielle Muri | Ashley Eide |
| 2013 | Omaha | W, 63-62 | Dani DeGagne | Paige Frauendorfer |
| 2014 | South Dakota State | L, 53-73 | Brooke LeMar | Kerri Young |
| 2015 | South Dakota | L, 79-83 | Liz Keena | Nicole Seekamp |
| 2016 | Western Illinois | L, 82-94 |
*MVP awards were discontinued after the 2014-15 season.
