{"id":8139,"date":"2025-05-27T00:30:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T00:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.luthersem.edu\/story\/?p=8139"},"modified":"2025-08-13T20:43:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T20:43:50","slug":"summer-2025-alumni-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.luthersem.edu\/story\/2025\/05\/27\/summer-2025-alumni-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni news"},"content":{"rendered":"

The listings in this publication include notifications received by January 31. Submit your own alumni news at luthersem.edu\/alumni<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1950s<\/h2>\n

Arthur Dale \u201953 M.Div.<\/strong> has self-published a book, \u201cMakers of Peace and Joy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harold Vold \u201955 M.Div.<\/strong> died on October 27, 2024. He served five congregations in North Dakota.<\/p>\n

G. Neil Christopherson \u201958 M.Div.<\/strong> died on September 6, 2024. He served as a U.S. Army chaplain from 1958 to 1962. He pastored churches in Minnesota and Utah, returning to chaplaincy at St. Luke\u2019s Lutheran Home in Blue Earth, Minnesota, and ending his career as a part-time visitation pastor.<\/p>\n

1960s<\/h2>\n

Roger Livdahl \u201961 M.Div. <\/strong>died on November 27, 2024. He served congregations in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He directed Church World Service\u2019s MinnKota hunger program and the ELCA\u2019s international hunger appeal, later volunteering at Global Health Ministries.<\/p>\n

Eugene Hanson \u201962 <\/strong>died on December 15, 2024. He worked as a social worker for Ramsey County and the U.S. Postal Service.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong> Newcomb \u201962 M.Div. <\/strong>died on August 16, 2024. He served congregations in California and Idaho and was the executive director of Lutheran camps. He was also a counselor, opening a North Idaho office for Lutheran Community Services Northwest. He ended his career providing resources with Thrivent Financial.<\/p>\n

George Madsen \u201963 <\/strong>died on October 21, 2024. He served as a professor in Minnesota and Slovakia; held pastoral positions and a theologian-in-residence position at congregations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; and worked as the assistant director of the Division of Theological Education and Ministry of the American Lutheran Church. He also created and fostered an interfaith collaboration in Wisconsin and was founding editor of Lutheran Partners.<\/p>\n

Ronald Pechauer \u201963 M.Div. <\/strong>died on December 4, 2024. He served parishes in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Arizona and was also director of church relations at St. Olaf College.<\/p>\n

David Anderson \u201964 M.Div. <\/strong>died on August 15, 2024. He served congregations in New York and Iowa.<\/p>\n

Wilbur Fisher \u201964 M.Div. <\/strong>died on December 12, 2024. He served congregations in North Dakota and Minnesota.<\/p>\n

Roy Nilsen \u201964 M.Div. <\/strong>died on January 13. He served congregations in Minnesota and Iowa.<\/p>\n

Randall Wilburn \u201964 M.Div. <\/strong>died on December 10, 2024. For 37 years, he served in four different congregations across the United States. He then served as interim pastor for 18 years at 14 congregations in New England.<\/p>\n

Donald Johnson \u201965 M.Div. <\/strong>died on January 18. He served congregations in North Dakota and Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

Charles Arndt \u201967 <\/strong>died on October 10, 2024. He pastored congregations in Canada and Wisconsin. After retiring in 2007, he worked as a part-time chaplain at Good Samaritan Center in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin; provided pulpit supply; and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Interfaith Caregivers.<\/p>\n

Ed Markquart \u201968 M.Div. <\/strong>died on September 3, 2024. He served at Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Washington, from 1973 to 2007.<\/p>\n

Rolf Amundsen \u201969 M.Div. <\/strong>died on November 28, 2024. For over 50 years, he served congregations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. As co-founder and director of the Family Life<\/p>\n

& Growth Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin, he provided marriage and family therapy for 15 years. He also co-developed a lay ministry training program, Christian Ministry of Hope.<\/p>\n

William Olsen \u201969 M.Div. <\/strong>died on December 26, 2024. He served congregations in Minnesota, Montana, and South Dakota, as well as serving as a school board member in Havre, Montana, and on the board of directors of Flathead Bible Camp. In retirement, he was executive director of People Against Childhood Hunger in Webster, South Dakota.<\/p>\n

Keith Prekker \u201969 M.Div. <\/strong>published \u201cPastor Is a Verb: Life Beyond Sunday,\u201d an illuminating account of a Lutheran pastor\u2019s 50 years of service within a variety of settings.<\/p>\n

1970s<\/h2>\n

Paul<\/strong> Gravrock<\/strong> \u201970 M.Div. <\/strong>published a book with Fairway Press titled \u201cWonder Anew: A Book of Bible Stories for Adults.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dean Larsen \u201970 <\/strong>died on November 21, 2024. He served congregations in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Illinois. He also served as assistant to the bishop of the ELCA in Eastern North Dakota from 1985 to 1992.<\/p>\n

Richard Luedtke \u201970 M.Div. <\/strong>died on January 21. He served congregations in North Dakota and Minnesota and concluded his career as a chaplain at HCMC and Allina Health.<\/p>\n

John Sandager \u201976 M.Div. <\/strong>died on January 21. He served parishes in Minnesota and Colorado<\/p>\n

1980s<\/h2>\n

Thomas Walker \u201980 M.Div. <\/strong>died on December 22, 2024. He served the church in various roles, including parish pastor, information technology director, and librarian.<\/p>\n

Kevin<\/strong> Tracy<\/strong> \u201986 M.Div. <\/strong>died on August 14, 2024. He served as a youth pastor in Port Angeles, Washington, before becoming a representative for Lutheran Brotherhood and later starting his own wealth management practice.<\/p>\n

1990s<\/h2>\n

Esther Dant <\/strong>\u201996 <\/strong>M.A., <\/strong>\u201901 <\/strong>M.Div. <\/strong>died on January 4. She served as director of youth ministry, Stephen Ministry, and pastoral care, and later as pastor of congregational care at congregations in Minnesota. She also was executive consultant to Stephen Ministries and an adjunct instructor at Luther Seminary. In retirement, she served as a visitation pastor.<\/p>\n

Karl<\/strong> Jacobson<\/strong> \u201996<\/strong> M.Div.<\/strong> died on August 18, 2024. He served congregations in California and Minnesota and was an assistant professor of religion at Augsburg University.<\/p>\n

2000s<\/h2>\n

Nathan Hoff \u201902 M.Div. <\/strong>hosts \u201cLow in the Water,\u201d a weekly lectionary-based podcast produced by the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination at Western Theological Seminary.<\/p>\n

Erika Foss \u201907 M.Div. <\/strong>died on November 22, 2024. She served congregations in North Dakota and Minnesota.<\/p>\n

Andrew<\/strong> Nyren \u201908 M.Div. <\/strong>has accepted a new position as a chaplain with St. Croix Hospice in Waukesha, Wisconsin.<\/p>\n

2010s<\/h2>\n

Joe Skogmo \u201913 M.Div. <\/strong>is lead pastor at First Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota.<\/p>\n

2020s<\/h2>\n

Shari Howell \u201920 M.Div. <\/strong>is the first spiritual care director at Benedictine Living Community in St. Peter, Minnesota, serving elders, families, and staff in short-term rehab, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care.<\/p>\n

Anna Ferro \u201923 M.Div. <\/strong>has been ordained and installed as pastor of children, youth, and family at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, Minnesota.<\/p>\n

Karen Peterson \u201924 M.Div. <\/strong>has been ordained and installed as pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church of Myrtle in Glenville, Minnesota. She was featured in the January 28, 2025, Albert Lea Tribune article, \u201cCalled here to love: Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Myrtle hires new pastor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Julie<\/strong> Wesley \u201924 M.Div. <\/strong>has been ordained and installed as pastor at Joy in Christ Lutheran Church in Hot Springs, Arkansas.<\/p>\n

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Read more from Summer 2025<\/h2>\n