Sylvia Arlene Morgan

Sylvia Arlene Morgan, Associate Professor Emeritus of Minnesota State University at Moorhead, died on May 24, 2025, at Pelican Landing in Detroit Lakes, MN at age 94, with family by her side.

Sylvia was the older of two daughters born to George “Mike” Morgan and Caroline Randa (Erickson) Morgan. She loved growing up in Oakes, ND where she was a proud Drum Corps Girl and a lifeguard at the pool. In 1948, at the age of 18, she bravely boarded a train heading for Chicago, IL, ultimately graduating from Northwestern University with a bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She taught at Northwestern as a teaching assistant and then in high schools in Illinois, California and Minnesota. After moving to Fargo in 1956 with her husband, Eugene A. Kruger, she taught 5 years at North Dakota State University and 32 years at MSUM (1962-1994).

At MSUM, she taught English, Humanities, and Multicultural Studies, and created one of the first Women’s Studies classes in the nation in 1971. She was an inspirational teacher, influencing countless students over the years. She loved literature and always had a poem at the ready, often by W.B. Yeats whose life she retraced in Ireland with her family upon retirement.

Sylvia was an anti-war and women’s rights activist and leader. She was a delegate for Eugene McCarthy to the 1968 Democratic national political convention and, while teaching western thought in China, was present when the tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Over the years, Sylvia participated in several community organizations: PTA, AAUW, Unitarian-Universalists, Fargo Heritage Association, Fine Arts Club, Democratic Women Plus, Gray Dragons of MSUM, a book club and a Thursday evening women’s group. She loved her summertime and retirement on Lake Melissa, pontooning and bird watching.

While she was never intentionally funny, “Sylvia stories” were often hilarious and will be told for years to come. She was famous for her frequent, lengthy voicemails full of dramatic observations, complaints, and unsolicited advice. She was an impressive force who will be greatly missed.

Sylvia was preceded in death by her infant brother Robert Dale and her sister Marlene Helen Pockrass of Mankato, MN.

She is survived by her daughters Kristin (Ardwin) Boyer of Chicago and Hallie (Steve) Larsen of Detroit Lakes; along with her grandchildren Ardwin Boyer III, Hallie Caroline Boyer (Joseph) Chelmo, Michael (Lacy) Pettet, Randa Larsen, and Willa Larsen.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Pelican Landing and Hospice of Red River Valley for their excellent care and for making her last years and days comfortable.

Arrangements are entrusted to West-Kjos Funeral Home of Detroit Lakes, MN. A memorial service will be held at a later time.