Darrell Runke is a native of Mapleton, Minnesota. Although his college career was interrupted by service as an Air Force navigator and radar observer during World War II, he returned to Mankato to complete a B.S. degree in science in 1946. After teaching chemistry for two years in the Mapleton School district, he went to work as a chemist for Supersweet Feeds. International Multifoods acquired Supersweet in 1952, but Runke stayed on to move up the corporate ladder. In 1973, after serving as executive vice president for operations, he was named president and chief operations officer. Prior to his retirement from Multifoods in 1984, Runke served as vice chairman.
Runke has maintained his affiliation with MSU through membership in the President’s Club and through the recruitment of Mankato State students for employment by Multifoods. In 1973 he delivered a commencement address at Mankato State.
