John Odegard, 57, aviation pioneer and founder of the University of North Dakota school that bears his name, died Sunday in Grand Forks, N.D., of kidney cancer. He joined the faculty of the University of North Dakota's business college in 1966 and proposed merging a business degree with a flight program. His proposal gave birth to UND's aviation program.

Dr. John Prudden, 78, a surgeon who used medicines made from lobster shells and shark and cow cartilage to heal wounds and treat diseases, died of acute leukemia Sept. 12 in Mount Kisco, N.Y.

Bernhard Weiser, 86, a pianist who performed around the world and headed the piano division of the University of Minnesota School of Music for two decades, died Friday of heart failure in

Edina, Minn.

Toni House, who for 16 years served as a liaison between the Supreme Court and the public as its chief spokeswoman, died yesterday. She was 55 and had been diagnosed with lung cancer a few weeks ago.

zTC Pub Date: 9/30/98