

Latest Edition of the Telescope Released
December 21, 2022
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Click below to see the latest Telescope newsletter.

Northern Star alumni establish $50,000 endowment, Phil Kadner honored
September 7, 2022
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Click here for Northern Star Article

Past, Present, Future Northern Star Alumni Feted during September 16-17
August 17, 2022
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DeKALB, IL — The biennial celebration of The Northern Star’s past, present, and future resumes this September. The event: The 12th Northern Star Alumni Awards Banquet and Hall

NIU’s Northern Star to induct two Daily Herald journalists into its Hall of Fame
August 5, 2022
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Click Here for Article

70s Reunion (Sept. 16-17, 2022)
May 24, 2022
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CALLING ALL 1970s ERA NORTHERN STAR TYPES: Mark your calendars for the 11th Northern Star Hall of Fame & Awards Banquet, and 1970s era reunion

Hall of Fame 2018
October 12, 2018
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Photo left to right: Mark Bieganski, Jaime Swanson, Ed Murnane, Rick Baert, Dr. Larry Bolles, Kevin Wendt, Alex Wilkinson, and Eric Krol. The Hall Of

Tri-Swine Still Alive at 55
October 12, 2018
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The Paddle. It’s almost like The Monolith in Stanley Kubrick’s movie “2001: A Space Odyssey.” An artifact from an advanced civilization, hidden for centuries? Almost.
Sad news from Bret Hamilton, the son of Hallie and FloAnn Hamilton. Bret says FloAnn passed yesterday, Jan. 19, on Hallie's birthday. Hallie passed Dec. 19, 2013. (He shared the attached photo.) Two wonderful, intelligent, generous people who were important to so many. Condolences to Bret and his siblings. ... See MoreSee Less
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Hallie was instrumental in my career. I can hear him saying her name.
Special people. Hallie was one of the best.
So sorry to hear this. Good memories of both of them.
Sad news. They had me over for dinner once. Forever grateful to Hallie for lending me a shoulder and his ear. Learned so much from him about photography and life. Picturing them riding on a cloud now, getting some great shots!
What a huge influence Hallie had when I attended NIU. Such a treasure.
Such an amazing woman and gentle soul. I loved the times I spent with her. May she rest in peace with her beloved husband.
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Gorgeous design, great fit and great quality- extremely well received gift.:👉http://rb.gy/9b7lng ... See MoreSee Less
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👉http://rb.gy/9b7lng
Zero in the design department.
Not an "officlal" Northern Star shirt, folks. Ripoff city.
Anyone willing to work a night shift 6pm- 12am $31.50 hr. We have transportation. ... See MoreSee Less
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Here is all details. If you interested click here.👇 sites.google.com/glusdoors.com/jhvghf/home
Sorry I missed the HOF dinner. Hope to see some of you at Homecoming! ... See MoreSee Less
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It was fun. Check out Mike Korcek's page for a photo of attendees.
Sad to report the loss of another Star veteran, Ben Rubendall. Ben was the first editor I worked for on The Northern Star back in the late '60s. Loved his wit. I clearly remember him heavily salting his buttered bread at the Hillside Restaurant (DeKalb). And the time he spoke from the floor at a Sigma Delta Chi convention during a heated debate over whether women should be allowed as voting members. His basic argument was: "I don't see any reason why women should not be allowed a vote just because of a basic biological defect."![]()
Here is the obit link and obit:![]()
www.fitzgeraldfh.com/obituaries/Bennie-Dale-Rubendall?obId=25688109#/obituaryInfo![]()
**Obituary**![]()
Bennie Dale Rubendall, 81, of Rockford, passed away on August 22, 2022. He was born on July 6, 1941, in Polo, Illinois, the son of Rafe and Velva Rubendall. He served in the U.S. Army for 3 years. Bennie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University. He married Susan Gustafson on August 15, 2004, in Minnesota. Bennie worked for the Rockford Register Star as an editor and reporter. He was a member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church and the Black Powder Club. He enjoyed reading the news and jokes on his iPad.![]()
Bennie is survived by his wife, Susan; stepchildren, Amy Gustafson and Matthew (Michelle) Gustafson; step grandchildren, Elijah, Hannah, Lauren, Alexandra and Caitlin; nephew, Matt Rubendall; and niece, Renee Huntman. He is predeceased by his parents, first wife, Kathryn Gallagher, and brother, Duane Rubendall.![]()
The family would like to give a special thanks to Promedica Hospice and Senior Helpers.![]()
Services are still pending at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Please share memories and condolences online at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.![]()
To send flowers to the family of Bennie Dale, please **[visit our floral store.](fitzgerald-funeral-home-crematory-mulford-chapel.tributestore.com/?oId=25688109&tag=&source=tco_d...
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Tribute Store | Funeral Flowers Hand Delivered
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Ben was my first editor at the Star, too.
From Tom Osborne, who worked with Ben at Rockford paper: That’s sad news, but thank you, Lonny, for sharing the news. I have two quick memories that speak to Ben’s unique personality and pursuits. When personal computers were becoming a thing, he boasted that he had paid $750, I think, in the 1960s to buy an early Hewlett-Packard calculator and all it could do was basic math. He also described in detail how he had bought an antique revolver in Turkey while serving in the Army and then disassembled it and smuggled the pieces home to the U.S. so he could put it back together. There was no TSA back then. He was one of a kind. Thomas Osborne
He will be missed. Ben also helped purchase the first computers for the Morning Star and Register Republic. They were big and expensive. Not all the reporters had them. We had to share.
From Star alum Linda O'Connor: The summer before I started at the Star, Ben came into the Tri-County Press office in Polo, Ill., and told me he’d heard (from his mom who knew my mom) I was a journalism major. I’d worked for the weekly for year before I went to NIU, and I worked Christmas, spring and summer break times, as well. Come work for the Star, he’d advised. I think you’ll like it. He was right. And thanks for including Ben’s biological deficient comment. That was Ben. Exactly. Prayers for his family.
I now have the home address for those who might want to send a thought or card to Ben's wife: Susan Rubendall 3407 N Trainer Road Rockford, IL 61114 Cell: 815-985-9792 E-mail: susanrubendall@aol.com
Rip
Bennie was a fabulous editor and journalist when I came to the Photo Service in 1968. I so loved working under him. Ouch is what I can say over his loss.
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Hello everyone ... See MoreSee Less
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