The St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad was founded on August 23, 1958, by three men: Fred Van Derwalker, Donald Isakson, and Roderick Appleby.
The unit they envisioned was one of volunteer private citizens, who, in their free time, would train extensively in various aspects of rescue work, searches, first aid, and accident prevention by public education.
On August 23, 1958, this group of men approached Sheriff Sam Owens with the idea of forming such a rescue unit for St. Louis County. They were informed by the County Attorney that state legislation was required to authorize the county to accept such a unit.
The bill was introduced to the legislature by the late Senator Homer Carr and Representative Willard Munger in the 1959 session. Chapter 53, Laws of 1959, was passed by the Senate on February 16, passed by the House of Representatives on February 24, and signed into law by Governor Orville Freeman on February 27, 1959.
On March 17, 1959, the squad was officially accepted by the County Board. It was suggested by the County Attorney that the unit be incorporated under the Minnesota State law. The Charter of Incorporation was granted on August 17, 1959, and the name St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. was adopted. The corporation as chartered is non-sectarian, education, and charitable in character and operation, and is authorized to receive gifts and contributions from individuals and corporations to achieve the foregoing purposes.
Officers and charter members of the Rescue Squad were:
- Captain Fred Van Derwalker
- 1st Lieutenant Harold “Bozo” Wilson
- 2nd Lieutenant Ryan Markfelt
- Sgt. Donald Isakson
- Sgt. Royal Adams
- Ken Slatten, Secretary
- Robert Lee, Treasurer
- James Rogers
- Harlin Behn
- Dave Coleman
- Marsh Slatten
- Rod Appleby
- James Helgemoe
- Gordon Bromme
- Robert Olson
In 1968 Sheriff Greg Sertich stated he would like to see the Rescue Squad expanded to include a detachment on the Iron Range, possibly based in Virginia, to provide the same rescue squad service which was available in Duluth to residents of northern areas of St. Louis County.
In 1970 the swearing-in of the Charter Members for the Range detachment of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Rescue Unit was held at the Cook Village Hall.
This group would supplement the thirty-man squad which was based in Duluth and brought the squad up to its maximum authorized strength of forty-five men.
The Rescue Squad was headed by Captain Ken Slatten. Officers of the newly formed group were:
- 1st Lieutenant in charge of Range detachment Robert Carver
- 2nd Lieutenant Frank Hyppa
- 2nd Lieutenant Donald Price
- John Amundson
- Melvin Bakk
- Donald Barnes
- John Bergman
- Arnie Johnson
- Kenneth Leding
- Paul Richardson
- Dennis Rinne
- Donald Simonson
- Dexter Straw
- Associate member David Angler