Miles L. Christianson was elected Potentate of Kem Shriners at the group’s annual meeting January 9, 2010 at Grand Forks. As Potentate, Christianson will be the Chief Executive Officer of Kem Temple, one of over 190 such groups situated throughout the world. Kem has approximately 1286 members and takes in the area in northern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota stretching from Williston to Roseau. The Shrine of North America is noted for its philanthropy of providing no-cost medical, orthopedic and burn care to children within its system of 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children located throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. The hospital located at the Twin Cities is the primary recipient of Kem’s philanthropic efforts.

Christianson was born and raised in Mayville, North Dakota. He has been employed at Swingen Construction Company in Grand Forks since 1970. He is currently the Equipment Manager. Miles lives near Northwood, North Dakota with his wife, Laurie and two children, Megan
and Alex.

Miles is a Past Master of Acacia Lodge #4 in Grand Forks and Goose River Lodge #19 in
Mayville and also a member of North Star Lodge #16 in Larimore. He is a member of
the Grand Forks Scottish Rite where he holds the honorary degree of Knight Commander Court of Honor (KCCH). He is also a member of the York Rite. He has been a member of the Kem Shrine Director’s Staff since 1999 and served as President. He has served on the Masonic Center Building Board for eleven years, is a Past Patron of Acacia Chapter #12, Order of the Eastern Star in Grand Forks and is also a Past Rainbow Dad for Grand Forks Assembly #2, International Order of Rainbow for Girls. Miles has served on the board of the Red River Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Memorial Park Cemetery. He is a member of Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church and served on the Church Council. He was on the Advisory Board for the welding program at the Northland Technical College in East Grand Forks.