WINTER 2011
A home away from home… serving
people of all faiths.
Letter from the president
The Lutheran Center
PO Box 825
Dear Friends,
Billings, MT 59103-0825
…” For this is the day which the Lord hath made. Rejoice
and be glad in it.” ~ Psalm 118
Manager (406) 256-5756
Since purchasing the home in 2008, we have wanted to
relocate the House Manager’s office from the very darkest
corner of the basement to the main floor. It is with great
joy that I report Perry Construction has been hired and is in
the process of transforming one-half of the garage into the
House Manager’s office. This was our First Goal for 2010.
At last, Jona Moss, our House Manager will have a
respectable and visible office where guests can be
received!
House (406) 259-2900
www.thelutherancenter.org
[email protected]
Printer: Budget Instant Print
Board of directors & Staff
Ted rist, president
Jona continues to conduct the business of The Lutheran
Center in a very professional manner. She has worked
long hours volunteering much of her time to create and
improve systems; she has developed a network with the
social workers who in turn provide us referrals; she has
made presentations in and out of town. But most of all,
Jona is a true host; she listens to our guests, arranges
transportation, takes them to the Mission for food and
clothing, makes them welcome in every way and helps
where she can. The entire board and I wholeheartedly
thank you, Jona. You are our Guiding Light!
Dan Singer, vice president
During 2010, we lost our friend and Chaplain, Rev. John
Akre. He represented The Lutheran Center at the hospitals
for five years. He will certainly be missed. We will begin
the Search for a new Chaplain during this year.
Linda Miller
Looking forward, my first goal for 2011 is to start Phase 2
Improvements. This will include replacing the back door
steps; building a handicap ramp from the parking lot to the
new entry; and finishing the concrete work to complete
Phase 2 as funds become available.
Dolores Sampson
Continued on page 2
Tim Thompson, Treasurer
Sheryl Schaeafer, secretary
Norm ellertson
Jesse gonzalez
Al Halvor
Rev. Curt Haney
Trish Loken
Muriel Overstreet
Gary Restad
Mildred Tombre
Jona Moss, House Manager
Page 2
Support The Lutheran Center
Please Print
If your gift is a “special gift”, designate as follows:
□ In memory of ________________________________________________________________
□ In honor of __________________________________________________________________
□ Send acknowledgement to _______________________________________________________
□ Benevolence fund—sponsor a room for a night □ $30
□ $35
□ $40 □ Other _______
Whose address is _______________________________________________________________
The acknowledgement to the designated person does not specify amount contributed. Contributions are
deductible on federal income taxes. Consult your attorney for estate planning.
My name is ___________________________________________________________________
My address is _________________________________________________________________
Amount of gift _____________ Make checks payable to The Lutheran Center
President’s Letter cont.
My second goal is to “Spread the Word”, by talking about the Lutheran Center. A Power Point Presentation
was built for our use and we now have a projector and laptop. I would encourage each board member to consider making one presentation during this year. Spread the word to help keep our house full.
To the Board…Thank you for another good year. I appreciate your participation, your hard work and your
commitment to The Lutheran Center. I look forward to continuing this mission with you. To Ellen
Wangsmo…Thank you for all that you do to publish our newsletter, and for your articulate grant-writing.
Without the gift of grants, our whole program would suffer. To the Donors, Organizations and Churches…
Thank you for your time, your gifts and prayers. You are always there for us.
God’s blessings to each one of you in the coming year.
Ted Rist, President
Page 3
WINTER 2011
Gifts from September 2010-December 2010
Auxilary
Our Savior's Lutheran Church -Laurel, MT
American Lutheran WELCA -Livingston, MT
Peerless Lutheran Church - Peerless, MT
American Lutheran Women - Baker, MT
Resurrection Parish, -Bozeman, MT
American Lutheran Women -Harolwton, MT
Sheilds River Lutheran -Wilsall, MT
Bethlehem WELCA - Billings, MT
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd -Billings, MT
Christ the King Lutheran - Cody, WY
Trinity Lutheran - Sheridan, WY
Evangelical Lutheran Women - Big Timber, MT
Trinity Lutheran -Sheridan, WY
First Lutheran Chruch ELCA - Miles City, MT
Gifts in Kind
First Lutheran WELCA -Wolf Point, MT
Christ the King Lutheran - Billings, MT
Household consumables
First Lutheran Women of Faith -Circle, MT
Patti Lemmon -Garneill, MT
Household consumables
Froid WELCA - Froid, MT
Sharon Olson -Billings, MT
Electric Musical Organ
Hinsdale Lutheran WELCA -Hinsdale, MT
Grants
Hope Lutheran Women -Powell, WY
Town Pump Charitable Foundation -Butte, MT
Immanuel Lutheran LWML -Powell, WY
Individuals
Immanuel WELCA -Westby, MT
Albert Sommerfeld -Greenvale, NY
Malta WELCA -Malta, MT
Allwyn A. Gray (Gray Family Trust) -Sheridan, WY
Messiah Lutheran Women - Billings, MT
Alyn Sims - Alexander, ND
Nashua Women of ELCA -Nashua, MT
Arlene & Dan Holen -Billings, MT
Our Saviors Lutheran WELCA -Laurel, MT
Bruce Brown -Fairview, MT
Our Saviour Lutheran WELCA - Laurel, MT
Charles & Evalena Monaghan -Terry, MT
Pleasant Prairie Lutheran Women - Flaxville, MT
Christian & Patrician Vosler -Thermopolis, WY
Plentywood Lutheran WELCA -Plentywood, MT
Chrycentie & John Liggett -Round Up, MT
Presbyterian Women -Miles City, MT
Clarence & Yvonne Trushenski -Billings, MT
St. John LWML - Fairview, MT
Darlene & Edward Selby -Littleton, CO
St. John's LWML - Laurel, MT
Darrel & Vicki Auch -Morgantown, WV
St. John's WELCA - Helena, MT
Deborah Brace -Billings, MT
St. Lukes Lutheran Women -Buffalo, WY
Dewey Anderson -Billings, MT
St. Paul Lutheran LWML -Havre, MT
Diane Rapos -Forsyth, MT
St. Paul LWML -Park City, MT
Dolly Voxland -Scobey, MT
Trinity Lutheran LWML - Billings, MT
Doris & Gordon Radke -Worden, MT
Trinity Lutheran LWML - Riverton, WY
Edna & Leo Stepper -Park City, MT
Volmer WELCA -Dagmar, MT
Edna Hedges -Billings, MT
Zion Lutheran Church WELCA -Glendive, MT
Elaine Chapel -Thermopolis, WY
Zion Lutheran Church Women - Lewistown, MT
Gene & Diane Caiola -Sheridan, WY
Zion Lutheran Church Women - Round Up, MT
Harold R. Quigley -Miles City, MT
Congregations
Henry & Irene Jackson -Sheridan, WY
Atonement Lutheran -Billings, MT
Irmgard Schuette - Powell, WY
Bethlehem ELCA - Billings, MT
John Schaffer -Grand forks, ND
Emmanuel Lutheran -Shepherd, MT
Julie R. Brown -Laurel, MT
First English Lutheran -Billings, MT
Kent Wangness -Glendive, MT
Grace Lutheran Church -Fallon, MT
Lorraine Baker - Billings, MT
Homestead Lutheran Church -Homestead, MT
Lyle Schwarzrock -Poplar, MT
Gift cards for guests 2011
PPL&United Way of LV,PA
Cont on page 5
Page 4
Marketing Committee Report for 2010
This has been an active year for the Marketing Committee. In effort to get the word out about the house we
met on a monthly basis. Members of the committee include Ellen Wangsmo, Mildred Tombre, Linda Miller
and Dan Singer. House manger Jona Moss also consults with our committee.
On an annual basis, we have standard programs that we engage in to get the word out about our facility. These
include:
•
•
•
Mailing quarterly newsletters and a Thanksgiving card
Distributing brochures and posters with tear off information slips to healthcare facilities and affiliated
groups
Participating in trade shows and church gatherings
Going forward in 2011, we intend to go to three newsletters a year which will reduce our mailing expenses.
Other than that, we will maintain all existing programs. The Lutheran Center is currently exploring the
possibility of working with The Billings Community Foundation. This would allow us to get involved with
planned giving in order to establish a foundation fund that would help insure the house’s financial security into
the future. The benefit to the donor is by donating to the foundation they will receive a 40% tax credit plus the
federal deduction.
The Lutheran Center has some unique challenges when it comes to marketing our services. Since we require
admittance to be based on need, we do not broadcast to the public. We rely on the support of the
congregations both financially and emotionally to help get the word out. As long as we have your support, the
Lutheran Center will be able to help those in need for many years to come.
2011 annual Meeting
Don’t forget to join us for The Lutheran Center’s 2011 annual meeting on March 19,
2011. The meeting will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Billings (1301 Avenue
D) starting at 10 am. Join us to learn more about the Center’s goals for the upcoming
year and engage in fellowship with other supporters of this ministry.
WINTER 2011
Page 5
Gifts Continued from page 3
Memorials
In Memory Of
Individuals
Arlene Priest -Billings, MT
Marc Priest
Lynette & David Nelson -Richland, MT
Ava Anderson -Glendive, MT
Helen & Edmond Anderson
Marilyn & Frank St.Pierre -Anaconda, MT
Diane Raisland
Edna Raisland, Florence Fanning
Marlene Carstens -Billings, MT
Dora & Ernie Hergett -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre, Ricki Nitz, Mike Thompson Mary Ann Guenthner -Laurel, MT
H. H. & Jean Henrickson -Billings, MT
Curt Riemann
Melvin & Dorothy Quick -Sheridan, WY
Helen R. Trapp - Valparaiso, IN
Richard D. Trapp
Mona K. Clark -Billings, MT
Joyce A. Flom -Billings, MT
Ruth Kvaalen
Pearl P. Swank -Poplar, MT
Laura Fontaine -Billings, MT
Edward Popp, Curtis G. Riemann
Raleigh &Debra Peck -Sidney, MT
Mildred Tombre -Billings, MT
Betty Bower
Richard Lund -Bozeman, MT
Mildred Tombre -Billings, MT
Obert Aure
Robert Quam -Billings, MT
Mildred Tombre -Billings, MT
Trygve Aure
Rodney Hudson -Buffalo, WY
Patti Lemmon -Garneill, MT
Steve Lemmon
Roselyn Lueck -Fairview, MT
Sarah Dahlke Trust - Kennewick, WA
Sarah Dahlke
Sam Hoffmann -Sheridan, WY
Anton Sundsted
Rev. John Akre
Tom & Jean Olson -Laurel, MT
Barbara Verhaeghe -Goldsboro, NC
Rev. John Akre
Velma Lechuga -Albuquerque, NM
C. Walter Newman -Bpzeman, MT
Rev. John Akre
Vickie & Robert Blevins -Powell, WY
Carol Hauge -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Victor & Vivian Blake -Sidney, MT
Dean & Elizabeth Roberts -Powell, WY
Rev. John Akre
Wes & Mary Shackelford-Plentywood, MT
Deborah & Bernie Hedrick -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Donna Brandon - Powell, WY
Rev. John Akre
Donna L. Farnham -Powell, WY
Rev. John Akre
Doris Berg -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Esta G. Star -Winnetka, IL
Rev. John Akre
Fern A. Johnson -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Harold and Dorothy Everson -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
James & Judith Vogt -Powell, WY
Rev. John Akre
James L. Iverson -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
John & Joan Enger -Powell WY
Rev. John Akre
Ken & Julie Fulton -Powell, WY
Rev. John Akre
Lee & Shirley Houghland - Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Laura Fontaine -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Linda Dernoncourt, Dale Verhaeghe -Concord, CA Rev. John Akre
Mary Ann Hunder -Powell, WY
Rev. John Akre
Michael & Karen Magone -Billings MT
Rev. John Akre
Mildred Tombre -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Norman & Joanne Ellertson -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Paul & Kathryn Hanson -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Rev. Curt Haney and Sandra - Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Rev. Merville L. Olson and Joyce -Bozeman, MT
Rev. John Akre
Ted & Elaine Rist -Billings, MT
Rev. John Akre
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Billings, MT 59101
2902 Glenwood Lane
Po Box 825
Billings, MT 59103-0825
Permit No. 82
Return service required
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Notes from Our Guests and Friends
Thank you for providing such a peaceful and beautiful place to stay. May God bless you as you have truly
blessed so many. ~ J & S
Thank you for allowing me a place to stay. This was one of the most emotional weeks in my life. But I came
away with so much! I wouldn’t have been able to come if it weren’t for your kindness! God Bless ~ K
Most generous and kind. I leave this place feeling like there is hope for our society when there are people
who go so far to be kind. I will never forget this; it will push me to be a better person to others when I
remember what you gave to me. Thank you. ~ M
Thank you so much for your care and concern for M and for me. Your thoughtfulness (i.e. bar of soap, etc.)
are above the call of duty. God bless you in your mission.
We thank you again and again! Each time we return to the Lutheran Center it is predictably a fantastic
experience. The level of attention to everything here is wonderful. We couldn’t have
asked for a thing – everything was thought of before we arrived! Be blessed for all your
good work! ~ DD and F