05/19/2026
The Barnes County Historical Society Lecture Series Season 25 Presents: Tim Burchill “The Incredible Life of Herman Stern.” 7:00 PM Thursday, May 21st, at the Barnes County Museum. (315 Central Ave N. Valley City, ND)
Herman Stern was a successful, longtime Valley City businessman who owned a small chain of men's clothing stores. He was a Jew who had immigrated from Germany to North Dakota shortly after the turn of the 20th century. However, Stern's story goes well beyond this. Not only did he assist many of his Jewish family members (and some unrelated individuals as well) escape the death camps of N**i Germany, but he was also a quietly generous man who was a tireless worker, a true philanthropist, and a community builder. This presentation tells Herman Stern's story and highlights his remarkable life and legacy.
Tim Burchill was born in Valley City in 1961 and raised on a farm in the northeast corner of Barnes County near Pillsbury. His parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents all farmed in Barnes County, so his roots run deep in the area. Tim attended school in Pillsbury and Page, graduating from Page High School in 1978. He attended Valley City State College and graduated from Concordia College in 1982 with a degree in hospital administration. In the fall of that year, he began a 39-year career in health care administration at Kenmare, North Dakota, ending with a 14-year stint as administrator of Ave Maria Village in Jamestown. Tim retired in 2021. Since he was a child, his lifelong passion has been the study of North Dakota history. He has a collection of several thousand books, maps, and other materials pertaining to our state. He is married to Christine, and has two sons, two stepchildren, and two grandchildren. Tim's dad, Nyle Burchill, was once chair of the Barnes County Historical Society and passed away in June 2024. His mother, Arlene, is now a resident of Bridgeview Estates in Valley City. Tim plays the piano, organ, and accordion, participates in music ministry at two churches, is a longtime active member of Kiwanis, and serves on the local hospital board. He and Christine also operate a small non-profit farming project in Liberia, West Africa.
The public is cordially invited
All Lectures are at the Barnes County Historical Society Museum and held in conjunction with Valley City State University. They are free and open to the public.
For more information contact Wes Anderson at 701-845-0966
Barnes County Historical Society
315 Central Ave N
Valley City, ND 58072
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