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.