Donor Stories
The call to give is compelling. Those who support Luther Seminary with their gifts of time and money can tell you what this stewardship role means to them:
Valborg Hallan
I have always admired the pastors and missionaries that I have known, and since it hasn't been possible for me to join them, I'm happy that the charitable gift annuities provide a means of helping ease the financial pressure of others who are preparing to answer God's call...
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Valborg Hallan
Valborg Hallan, a retired school teacher, is committed to life-long learning and believes that Luther Seminary is important to the future of her congregation. Ms. Hallan has been a long-time supporter of Luther Seminary and has expressed her commitment to this mission through a series of charitable gift annuity agreements –- a total of thirteen since 1995!
When asked why has she been so generous to Luther Seminary over the years, she responded by saying, "I have always admired the pastors and missionaries that I have known, and since it hasn't been possible for me to join them, I'm happy that the charitable gift annuities provide a means of helping ease the financial pressure of others who are preparing to answer God's call, while also providing a generous income to me for the rest of my life."
Gertrude Hognander
Gertrude Hognander served the Lord with a song in her heart her whole life. Now she's used the gifts God has given her to enable others to do the same.
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Gertrude Hognander
Gertrude Hognander served the Lord with a song in her heart her whole life. Now she's used the gifts God has given her to enable others to do the same.
Hognander gave $150,000 to Luther Seminary to endow a presidential scholarship in memory of her father, Pastor Lars R. Lund, who graduated from Augsburg Seminary (one of Luther Seminary's predecessor schools) in 1912.
"This fund is established with thanksgiving for the blessings of God bestowed upon my family and my community of faith, with the hope that the students of Luther Seminary will extend and share the good news of Jesus Christ during their lives of service to the church," she wrote.
Gertrude was a long-time advocate of church education. She and her late husband, O.C., also generously supported the music department at Augsburg College, Minneapolis.
O.C., who died in 1997, created, produced and announced the "Hour Melodious" weekly radio program on WCCO during his years as a student there. Gertrude and O.C., who met during fall registration at Augsburg College in 1933, shared a great love for music and the church.
Al and Mary Ann Solmonson
Ask Mary Ann Solmonson how she thinks of stewardship and she'll tell you it's: "Everything I am and everything I do after I say what I believe."
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Al and Mary Ann Solmonson
Ask Mary Ann Solmonson how she thinks of stewardship and she'll tell you it's: "Everything I am and everything I do after I say what I believe." She's lived this out loud and clear as a Luther Seminary volunteer. She has been a volunteer for more than 10 years and has served on the seminary's board of directors, and been a member of the Called and Sent campaign partnership gifts committee. She has also assisted with various development initiatives and leadership programming in the Southwestern Washington Synod.
Looking back on her life and connection with Luther Seminary, she sees the blessings that were made possible by the generosity of many stewards who have supported Luther Seminary.
A young bride in 1965, she entered the Lutheran community when her late husband, Rick Halvorson, began his studies at Luther Seminary. "I grew up in a very small town in South Dakota and belonged to an Episcopalian church. My experiences with the Lutheran tradition were so few," she said. "I didn't know what to expect and was very nervous." But the people she met at Luther demonstrated how 'to witness to salvation through Jesus Christ and to serve in God's world.'
Over the next 27 years after Rick's graduation and ordination, Solmonson leaped into ministry with him, serving various roles in the congregation and community. In 1991 Rick was diagnosed with cancer and died nine months later. "My life was changed that day," she said.
Not long after Rick's death, the opportunity to serve on the seminary's board was presented to her through her bishop. "I felt like a brick was lifted off my heart. I wanted to be active in the life of the local congregation but found that it was just too difficult," she said. "Because the seminary had done so much to mold me into the person I was, I felt a calling to share my gifts with the seminary."
Solmonson's service is fueled by her desire to be a faithful steward of what she's been given. "I bring to my service at Luther Seminary the perspective of a pastor's wife and a layperson who sits in the pew every Sunday," she said.
She also takes the Luther Seminary story to local congregations. "I have a deep commitment to share the seminary's story and its mission with local congregations," she said. "I also want students at the seminary and those considering ministry of some sort to feel encouraged in their calls and excited to do ministry."
Today, Solmonson continues to serve her calling to stewardship with her husband Al, sharing Luther Seminary's story with families in the Northwest and Alaska. In addition to serving the seminary and her congregation, Solmonson is part-time registered nurse at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash. Al is a retired pastor and does some supply preaching. "We are trying to be faithful stewards of the seminary's mission statement, stewards of our finances by sharing with others, and stewards in the vineyard of our congregation by looking for prospective students and encouraging their calls."
The Solmonsons, who live in Olympia, have five adult children and five grandchildren.
Dr. E. Duane and Mrs. Marlene Engstrom
We wanted to make sure that some of our present assets were set aside to benefit those attending the seminary in the future.
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Dr. E. Duane and Mrs. Marlene Engstrom
Duane and Marlene Engstrom”s relationship with Luther Seminary began in the 1950s when some of Duane”s classmates from St. Olaf College enrolled at the seminary. Today, they both actively support the seminary”s mission through their contributions and leadership. They appreciate Dr. Tiede”s vision and leadership and the key role the seminary plays in developing lay and ordained leadership. Marlene added that “the mission statement uniquely capsulizes, perhaps for the entire ELCA Church, the focus on Christian communities as the places where clergy and laity grow and serve together.”
When asked why they chose to support the seminary through a series of deferred payment charitable gift annuities, they responded by saying that “for us, over the past several years, our five deferred gift annuities are a win-win situation. First, we wanted to make sure that some of our present assets were set aside to benefit those attending the seminary in the future. Secondly, we benefited from tax deductions needed during our working years, and now from the income that we receive during our retirement years.”
Robert Torkelson
I am a member of the Leadership Circle at Luther Seminary because I love the Church and want it to be here for future generations.
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Robert Torkelson
I am a member of the Leadership Circle at Luther Seminary because I love the Church and want it to be here for future generations. That”s why the seminary seemed the natural and best place for me to volunteer. It”s where our future pastors and lay leaders are educated. The Leadership Circle is the vehicle for concerned individuals to assist in maintaining and improving excellence at Luther Seminary. Simply put, the Leadership Circle is one of the keys to the future at Luther Seminary.
John and Eleanor Yackel
Circle Pines, Minnesota
Because of our respect for this institution based on the blessings we have derived from its "product" ... we have decided to invest some of our hopes, prayers, and resources at this seminary.
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John and Eleanor Yackel
Circle Pines, Minnesota
As life-long Lutherans we have an appreciation of Lutheran theology and its emphasis on God's grace, manifested in the life and work of Jesus. That message has been clear, but less clear is the call to follow Christ's example to answer the cry of those in need. As we have developed an understanding of social issues, we have wondered, "how well are Lutherans addressing these concerns; how urgent to our church is God's prophetic call for justice and peace for all of Creation?" Because of our respect for this institution based on the blessings we have derived from its "product" -- many pastors that we know, some of whom have served our congregation -- we have decided to invest some of our hopes, prayers, and resources at this seminary.
Our support, then has been motivated by a desire to strengthen the commitment of Luther Seminary to prepare leaders who are willing to stand and speak on behalf of the oppressed, who teach and bear out a prophetic understanding of justice, in which humans live in a holistic relation with God, each other, and with all of Creation.
Lee and Louise Sundet
Pastors and teachers who effectively teach God's word can have a great impression on young people. Lee and Louise Sundet can witness to that.
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Lee and Louise Sundet
Pastors and teachers who effectively teach God's word can have a great impression on young people. Lee and Louise Sundet can witness to that. Lee is a member of Luther Seminary's foundation board of trustees. Raised in a small town Lutheran community in Spring Grove, Minn., the Sundets learned about Jesus and Christian community in their youth. What they learned has had a lasting influence.
"In our hometown, the church was the center of the community. Our first impression was that Jesus loves us and he gave his life so we can have eternal life. This is God's gift to us and we want others to have this same understanding and experience," said Lee.
Their experience and hope for the church influenced their support of the seminary and its youth and family ministry program. "We have a strong interest in Luther Seminary because we feel the future of the church is the seminary, the youth and the teachings of the Bible."
The Sundets support Luther Seminary financially with gifts totaling more than one million dollars. They also served on the team that developed the business plan for the seminary's youth and family ministry program. Their support continues each year as they, along with others, review the progress of the program and help set annual goals.
"It is our hope that the seminary knows how congregations feel," said Lee. "We hear so many positive things about Luther Seminary. The school listens to congregational members, staff, students and the church in order to serve its mission. This is how Luther Seminary learns what is needed to effectively train Christian leaders."
Since 1982, Lee has devoted most of his time to community work. Before retiring, he worked in the automotive manufacturing field. His extensive community service experience includes work with Tentmakers, Augsburg College, the Greater Minneapolis Association of Evangelicals and the National Muscular Dystrophy Association. Louise's service experience includes work with the Golden Valley College, the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa and her sorority, Kappa Delta. She has also led women's ministry groups, prayer groups and Bible studies at her church.
Lee and Louise have two adult daughters, two adult sons and eight grandchildren. The family is very active in various businesses and at their respective churches.
Gurine Gall
Gurine Gall is all about doing her part to support the gospel and God's work in the world at Luther Seminary. "From those to whom much is given, much is expected. I feel it is my obligation to help make sure the spreading of the gospel continues well into the future," she says.
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Gurine Gall
Gurine Gall is all about doing her part to support the gospel and God's work in the world at Luther Seminary. "From those to whom much is given, much is expected. I feel it is my obligation to help make sure the spreading of the gospel continues well into the future," she says.
Gall has been a seminary volunteer for six years in a variety of roles. She is a member of the seminary's legacy gifts committee. She and her husband, John, are members of the Leadership Circle, a group of seminary friends who support the school with gifts of $10,000 or more each year. And, she has introduced the seminary to individuals interested in supporting causes that fit with their faith and values.
Born and raised in a small community, Gall is deeply interested in rural ministry and is fascinated by the seminary's rural ministry program, led by Dr. Alvin Luedke. She has witnessed the impact of the clergy shortage. "I have a real passion to make sure the training of new pastors with good preaching skills continues so our church will continue into the next generations, for my grandchildren and for the rural church communities," she said.
Approximately $13.5 million from the Called and Sent campaign will build and sustain core academic programs, including rural ministry.
Gall has worked as a financial advisor for more than 20 years, helping her clients create, preserve and pass on their wealth. She specializes in working with women and philanthropic planning. She is a member of Women in Philanthropy, a national organization. Gall is also one of four trained and certified TEEM members in Minnesota who specialize in wealth empowerment. TEEM (The Equity Enhancement Matrix) is a program that maximizes one's real estate equity for philanthropic purposes.
In addition to serving as a Luther Seminary volunteer, Gall volunteers at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Maplewood, Minn., Lutheran Social Services and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation (JDF). Her support is very personal. She has two grandchildren with Juvenile Diabetes. She has served the foundation as a major fund drive chair for the local area and participates in the Juvenile Diabetes Association walks at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. She also supports the walk in Rochester, Minn.
Gall and her husband, John, are members of Gethsemane Lutheran Church. They attend First Lutheran Church, Cumberland, Wis., when they are at their summer home. They are very proud of their four adult children and 12 grandchildren. Continuing in their love for rural community, they plan to retire to a rural area in the future.
"We've been blessed to be a blessing," says Gall referring to Genesis 12:2. "This passage has influenced the decisions John and I have made to volunteer and give charitable gifts."
Mike Diemer
Ready and willing, Mike Diemer has supported Luther Seminary as a volunteer in many ways for 15 years. One of the primary ways he serves the seminary is by introducing it to potential major donors who have a deep love for the church.
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Mike Diemer
Ready and willing, Mike Diemer has supported Luther Seminary as a volunteer in many ways for 15 years. One of the primary ways he serves the seminary is by introducing it to potential major donors who have a deep love for the church. He has also served on the Called & Sent campaign committee, participates in the seminary”s Heritage Society and serves as an outside consultant to the Office of Seminary Relations.
“Seminaries are the future of the church. They are major players in setting the standard for church leadership,” he said. “I believe in [Luther Seminary]. I plug in my talents to places wherever they may fit and where they are welcome.”
A preacher”s kid from Oconto Falls, Wis., Diemer has known about Luther Seminary all of his life but he became more aware of the seminary when he moved to the Twin Cities area in 1988.
Diemer is familiar with the joys and challenges common to most pastors. His understanding of finances and ministry has enabled him to help support some of the seminary”s needs very well.
“It takes a lot to be a pastor -- they experience enormous challenges. This is why I”m involved with the seminary. I want to help make things easier financially at the seminary level for individuals answering God”s call. Being a good pastor is a hard job; the students should focus on the outstanding preparation that the seminary provides rather than how to make the next tuition payment.” In May 2001, his daughter Sarah graduated with a master of divinity degree from Luther Seminary. She is the 31st pastor from the family and the family”s first female pastor.
Diemer”s desire for Christian ministry and the church is summed up by the Great Commission -- to go to all the world with the gospel. “I support Luther Seminary because it produces leaders who are true to the Commission and well trained to do ministry,” he said. “And, those leaders spread the Gospel and empower others to do the same.”
Diemer is president of North Point Advisors, Inc., a financial planning company he founded in 1996. The company has representatives nationwide. He has served as a volunteer in a variety of ways with a number of organizations, including Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, his community school board and in his congregation, St. Andrew”s Lutheran Church, Mahtomedi, Minn. He and his wife, Diane, have three adult children -- Sarah, a pastor in Columbus, Ohio; Ruth, who works for an investment banker in Boston; and Daniel, a computer consultant in Chicago.
Diemer
Noel and Ethel Estenson
Noel Estenson is no stranger to meeting challenges. "I heard that Luther Seminary sometimes has to turn away potential students because of a lack of funding," he said. "I know that after I've left this place we call earth, Luther Seminary will continue responding to the call of supplying pastors for our churches."
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Noel and Ethel Estenson
Noel Estenson is no stranger to meeting challenges. "I heard that Luther Seminary sometimes has to turn away potential students because of a lack of funding," he said. "I know that after I've left this place we call earth, Luther Seminary will continue responding to the call of supplying pastors for our churches."
Estenson and his wife, Ethel, became members of the Heritage Society when they named the seminary a beneficiary of their qualified retirement plan. After death, their gift will create an endowed scholarship fund. The Noel and Ethel Estenson Endowed Scholarship Fund will eventually have a value of $250,000 and generate financial aid for students at Luther Seminary.
Estenson is passionate about Christian education that engages people's spirits and helps them develop deeper relationships with God. He is concerned that the church may become irrelevant to future generations if it only uses traditional Christian education models and assumes that faith will be passed to the next generation. "The weak link is that congregations many times don't go beyond their Sunday school education and balk at any new thinking coming out of the seminaries."
"We need to learn more than what others have passed on about our faith and how others have interpreted scripture. People need to learn how to develop their personal relationship with God. Luther Seminary is a key player in this and is doing an excellent job."
For 37 years, Estenson served his calling in the agricultural industry, helping farmers feed the world. Today he is a retired CEO of CHS, Inc. (formerly Cenex Harvest States), a $10 billion farm supply, grain and food processing cooperative, located in Inver Grove Heights, Minn.
Currently, he is writing the last chapter of a book that explores sixth-sense communication – a spiritual intuition – and prayer. When he is not writing he enjoys playing golf, attending various church activities and spending time with family and friends. He and Ethel have four children, 11 grandchildren, and attend First Lutheran Church in Hayward, Wis.
