Lawrence Biehn, the longtime principal of Centennial High School in Circle Pines, remained important at the Anoka County school after he retired.
Biehn, who was instrumental in helping Centennial become a National School of Excellence in 1987, died of complications from surgery for cancer on Saturday in Minneapolis. The Circle Pines resident was 76.
"He was the driving force" behind the award, said John McClellan of Lino Lakes, retired superintendent of the Centennial School District, which serves Centerville, Circle Pines, Lexington and parts of Blaine and Lino Lakes.
Biehn served as principal from about 1966 to 1993, and until recent months worked as a regular substitute teacher. In the 1980s, he brought college-credit courses to Centennial, pioneering the practice in Minnesota.
But it was his open-door policy, corny jokes and enthusiasm for staff and students that most endeared him to the community.
"If you had a problem, you could go into his office, sit down in a chair and feel like you were his best friend," said Dawn Jensen of Circle Pines, a 1978 Centennial graduate.
Biehn arranged for financing school activities beyond the budget, often reaching into his own pocket to fund activities such as the foreign-student and faculty-exchange programs, said Centennial English teacher Nancy Bledsoe of Coon Rapids., adding, "He was always supportive of his staff."
He grew up in Cleveland, Minn., and earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and education at what is now Minnesota State University, Mankato. In 1962, he got his master's degree in education administration from the University of Minnesota, next serving as a principal for a Department of Defense school in Seoul, South Korea.
In addition to his wife of 55 years, Dorothy, he is survived by three sons, Doug of White Bear Lake, Chris of Lino Lakes and Gary of White Bear Township; a daughter, Lori Ann Lindahl of Woodbury; a sister, Joan McCabe of Le Center, Minn., and 10 grandchildren.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes.
