Board Members
Beverly Gillund – Vice Chair – Hendricks, MN
Beverly Gillund of Hendricks is a registered nurse, a licensed social worker and has conducted professional speaking engagements throughout the country about telehealth and other technology improvements in rural health care. She recently retired from thirty years of service with the Hendricks Community Hospital Association, where she held numerous positions including the director of clinical services, director of hospice, director of home care and interim nursing director. Ms. Gillund is currently active with her local church and is a member of the Hendricks Kiwanis Club.
Deborah Rezac – Mankato, MN
Deborah Rezac of Mankato is a Sales Associate for Cal-Am Properties. Before moving back to Mankato to serve as a caregiver, Rezac was active in the aging and diversity professions in Wisconsin. As a specialist with the Western Wisconsin Area Agency on Aging, Rezac transitioned to the Diversity Director at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay. She remains active in diversity efforts within the Mankato area.
Dianne Crowley – Slayton, MN
Dianne Crowley of Slayton recently retired as the Finance Director for the Southwest Regional Development Commission (SRDC). During her tenure at SRDC, Crowley worked closely with the Southwest Area Agency on Aging from its inception and through the transition of Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. into a separate entity. Crowley is familiar with many of the programs of MNRAAA and values them, especially the Senior Linkage Line, as a vital link for seniors and caregivers in the area. Crowley continues to work with her husband on the family farm. Crowley has been active in numerous organizations in Southwest Minnesota, including Girl Scouts, Hospice of Murray County, 4-H and Lake Wilson Study Club. Crowley is interested in assisting caregivers in finding services for their loved ones.
Kandyce Peton – Chair – Courtland, MN
Kandyce Peton of Courtland currently sits on the Courtland City Council and works in retail in New Ulm. Ms. Peton is a registered nurse and has worked nationally in hospitals, health systems and specialty surgery centers. She is a graduate of Connecting Nicollet County, a leadership development program. Ms. Peton participated as a volunteer nurse with the Southwest Minnesota National Honor Flight to assist World War II veterans in traveling to Washington, D.C. She currently volunteers in her community and participates in activities at her local church.
Khou Lor – Tracy, MN
Khou Lor enjoys the relationships and the people of Southwest Minnesota and is determined to do what it takes to invite, share and create space for voices in the region. As a first-generation immigrant, many of Khou’s younger years were spent navigating systems and being the voice for her immigrant parents. Through these lived experiences, she realized her love for creating space for people to speak on behalf of themselves, in their truest form.
Khou appreciates how Southwest Initiative Foundation values community. Her role as Rural Equity Specialist is to build and strengthen local Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) leaders and organizations by defining strengths and challenges, building skills and being a resource in our region. She has a background in community engagement work and a passion for sharing resources and knowledge.
A photographer in her free time, Khou appreciates visual art. She also likes spending time with family. Khou is involved with the Hmong community in southwest Minnesota as a leader and organizer and is part of various community groups in the Tracy community, where she makes her home with her husband and daughter.
Pam Radunz – Treasurer – Hutchinson, MN
Pam Radunz is the Resident Services Director at Harmony River Living Center and is a resident of Hutchinson. Radunz holds a Master of Science in Gerontology from Saint Cloud State University, a certified Independent Trainer for Dementia through Positive Approach, LLC, and a certified Teepa Snow trainer on Dementia. She has been an integral part of numerous committees, such as, Well Being at Work Wellness (consortium for McLeod, Meeker, and Sibley Counties), Meeker County Fair Board, Meeker Area Care Connections, and McLeod County Senior Providers.
“I have a passion for older people that I have grown and developed all my life,” said Radunz when asked why she was interested in joining MNRAAA.
Rosie Dehli – Secretary – Montevideo, MN
Rosie Dehli from Montevideo, MN, is a retired educator who formerly worked with the Montevideo School District as a teacher and administrator and most recently held an Educational Specialist position with the Minnesota Department of Education. Rosie was in the charter graduating class of Southwest State University and received the Alumni Achievement Award in 1985. She received her master degrees and administrative licensure degree through St Cloud State and has taught in the Administrative licensure program with St. Mary’s University. In addition, she worked with the Reading First Program within the University of Minnesota and has been a Trainer within the Institute of School Leadership (Mn Principal’s Academy) and a board representative for the Minnesota Elementary Principal’s Association as well as a recipient of the National Association of Federal Programs Award. Throughout her 54 years in Montevideo Ms. Dehli was instrumental in the cross generational groups held between local elementary students and area seniors as well as getting a successful Grandparents Day in the elementary schools off the ground. Her involvement within the community has included Chairperson of the United Way, Board Member of the Montevideo Area Chamber of Commerce, and fulfilling numerous positions within her local church as well as volunteering with a variety of organizations and committees throughout the area.
Sheila Westfield – Trosky, MN
Sheila Westfield currently works as the Director of Nursing and Clinical Services at Sanford-Luverne Medical Center. She is active in her community as she has served as Scoutmaster for Troop 220 Pipestone Boy Scouts of America and coordinates or leads church music. A graduate of South Dakota State University, Sheila stated that her interest in joining the board is twofold: raise awareness of services available in the area and assist in filling gaps in services in the Pipestone, Rock County areas, specifically transportation and mental health.
Stacy Hammer – Redwood Falls, MN
Stacy Hammer is currently employed with the Lower Sioux Indian Community and serves as the Director of Community Health. She has been taking the lead in guiding the community through the COIVD-19 pandemic. Stacy is also the Title VI Director and a Registered Dietitian. The Minnesota State University, Mankato graduate has been awarded the 2019 Indian Health Services Area Directors Outstanding Tribal Health Employee Award and has been featured in the magazine Circle in an article called “Lower Sioux Healthy Meals – a model.”
