The Good Life – May-June 2019

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HAVING A BEER WITH | BERNIE DARDIS HAVING A ROOT BEER WITH WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA Before West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis won the election in April 2018, he was a successful businessman. After being vice president (20 years) and president (3 years) of Cook Sign Company and CEO of Indigo Signworks (15 years), he’s still a consultant, along with his mayoral duties. 14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Dardis grew up in the hills of Killdeer, N.D., where his father was the county sheriff. Campaigning for his dad was his first introduction to politics, and he’s been active ever since. After graduating from NDSU, Dardis even had a stint in law enforcement before coming back to West Fargo. Now, 42 years later, Dardis is still living in and loving his life in “the biggest small town in North Dakota.” Dardis and I met up over a pint of root beer in the halls of Drekker’s Brewhalla. We talked a lot about West Fargo and his long history with the city, reveled in our love for Minnesota lakes, and talked about his wife’s awesome, red hair. However, I saved the real humdingers for you below, so read on, friend. Good Life: What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Bernie Dardis: This is going to tell a lot about me. French vanilla. I do like cherry every once in awhile. I have two daughters-in-law that live and die for Cass Clay Rocky Road. I have two cartons at our lake home and our house for them. GL: When you’re feeling down, who or what is your biggest go-to? BD: My wife — my Louise. She is the world’s best, biggest optimist. She has been my ballast for 43 years this fall. GL: That’s awesome. Are you a pretty optimistic guy, too, or do you kind of balance each other out? BD: I’m a worrier. Louise isn’t. If my wife reads that I’m worrying, she will walk up and say, “We’re FaceTiming our grandchildren.” She’s a heck of a nurse. Seven years ago, I had open-heart surgery. I didn’t have any grandchildren at that time. I’ll never forget what one of my sons said as he held my hand before I went in for surgery. My boy said, “Dad, you have grandchildren you haven’t met yet.” Jennifer, his wife, was pregnant with the first one. He said, “Fight through this. You have to meet your grandchildren.” And I did. It changed my lifestyle and I’m healthier than I’ve been in many years. Family did that. “I love AC/DC, and bass fishing is my absolute passion. I don’t care if I never catch another species, but boy, do I love bass.” – Bernie Dardis urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 15
Page 1 and 2: MAY-JUNE 2019 FREE TO A GOOD HOME
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Page 5 and 6: PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP w
Page 7 and 8: urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE
Page 9 and 10: It’s a Generational Thing WRITTEN
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The Good Life – May-June 2019

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