Kruse Music Fund lives on

(Photo by Randy Cauthron) Paul Jepson and Denise Reit of the Spencer School District's music department show 1968 Spencer graduate Peter Kruse a digital console that was made possible in part from the Kruse Music Fund. Kruse, from Spokane, Wash., presented a check for $9,744.34 to the music department on behalf of a fund established by his parents. [Order this photo]

Marvin and Lucille Kruse of Spencer were music boosters who didn't want the support of music programs to end after their children graduated from Spencer High School.

And today, their wishes of are heard through the new bass guitar and the music room's advanced digital equipment.

The couple established the Kruse Music Fund in 1998 by donating appreciated stocks to the Spencer Community School Foundation. The late Marvin Kruse was a founding partner at the engineering firm Kruse, Cate & Nelson.

"There were some other issues that he noticed that weren't really being addressed," Peter Kruse said of his father. "He felt that, by establishing the foundation, with the Kruse Music Fund, he could ensure there was some additional help to the music program in total. Not just the high school instrumental or vocal, he wanted it to be for the whole community."

Over the past 10 years, the Kruse Music Fund has donated $49,344. The 2008-09 award, a $9,744 donation, was presented in person by Peter Kruse, who is an engineer and land surveyor in his own right. He operates out of Spokane, Wash.

Dave Woodcock serves as treasurer and worked with Marvin and Lucille Kruse when they first established the music fund. Heidi Toale is the executive director of the Spencer Community School Foundation.

"It's incredible, the amount of excitement and learning opportunity that it provides to the students and to the teachers," Toale said.

(Photo by Randy Cauthron) The Spencer School District music department was presented with a $9.744.34 check from Peter Kruse on Thursday at the Spencer Middle School band room. On hand for the presentation were (from left) Heidi Toale, executive director of the Spencer Community School Foundation, Dave Woodcock, treasurer of the Kruse Music Fund and Peter Kruse, who is presenting the check on behalf of a fund established by his parents the late Marvin and Lucille Kruse of Spencer. They are joined by Denise Reit and Paul Jepson of the Spencer School District's music department. [Order this photo]

The opportunities included seed money from risers and a soundproof room at the recently-constructed middle school. Funds are distributed across all grade levels and students of any age get to use the middle school equipment.

"Now the fund is as strong as it was before," the middle school construction donations, Peter Kruse said. "I just think it has been phenomenal. That's exactly what my folks had in mind when they set it all up. They wanted something that would work, off the interest, and help support the program."

Peter's mom, Lucille has a chance to see the middle school music room and enjoyed a couple of concerts before she passed away earlier this year.