Clergy Spouses

Bernice Rath, 88, surviving spouse of the Rev. Ted Rath, died Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Chandler, Arizona. Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at the Chandler United Methodist Church in Chandler, and on Friday, June 4, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Bernice V. Huber was born March 20, 1933, to Daniel and Katie Huber and grew up in Beulah, North Dakota. After graduating from Beulah High School in 1951, she went to Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, majoring in elementary education, with a minor in religion. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1955 and married Theodor “Ted” Rath on Dec. 27, 1955.

Bernice had a long career teaching in elementary schools in Merrill, Iowa; Naperville, Illinois; McClusky, North Dakota; Cavalier, North Dakota; and Rocklake, North Dakota. She dedicated her life to Christian service, working with Ted as he pastored churches in McClusky-Mercer, Cavalier-ConcreteHamilton, and Cando-Churchs Ferry-Starkweather.

After Ted’s retirement, he and Bernice lived at Rocklake and then split their time between Sun Lakes, Arizona, and Devils Lake. Ted passed away on July 7, 2015.

Bernice lived her last eight years in Chandler, where she was involved in the Chandler United Methodist Church. She was active in Bible study, sharing in teaching and giving lessons on Bible and mission topics.

Bernice is survived by her four children: Corleen, Nolan, Mylen, and LoAnn; five grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; her parents; and her two brothers: Reine and Leo.

Loretta Stein, 90, wife of the Rev. K. James Stein, of Naperville, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, June 20, 2021. Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Community United Methodist Church in Naperville. Loretta Bahr was born April 26, 1931, in Northwood, North Dakota, the youngest child of Edwin and Myrtle (Schroeder) Bahr. Loretta grew up on a farm and went to country school. She graduated from Central High School in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and then attended Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, where she studied religion and met her future husband, Jim Stein, of Cavalier, North Dakota.

Loretta and Jim were married in 1953 and moved to Naperville that same year, when Jim entered the Master of Divinity program at Evangelical Theological Seminary. Loretta worked as the church secretary at First Evangelical United Brethren Church in Naperville for three years and then as secretary to the faculty at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, while Jim was a student there.

In 1958 their daughter Mary Beth was born. They moved back to Naperville in 1960, when Jim joined the faculty at ETS. Their family was complete when they adopted their son Paul in 1963.

After moving to Evanston in 1974, Loretta worked at Evanston Township High School before being hired by the General Board of Pensions of The United Methodist Church, where she worked for 15 years, from 1982-1997. During her last years there, she served as Assistant General Secretary and was responsible for coordinating the pension portfolios of the bishops.

Family and friends knew Loretta as friendly, generous, and kind. She was involved in the spiritual and social lives of the congregations at Trinity United Methodist Church in Wilmette,

Illinois, and Community UMC in Naperville.

In retirement, Loretta and Jim traveled widely and often with family and friends. In 2016 they moved to Monarch Landing in Naperville, where they found old friends and made new friends.

Loretta is survived by her husband, Jim; her daughter, Mary

Beth Stein (Bruce Blundell); her daughter-in-law, Nikki Pearson Stein; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Paul; and her siblings: Myron Bahr, Vivian Rebsch Luwe, and Arlene Krueger.

Phyllis Sortland, 95, surviving spouse of the Rev. John Sortland, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, at Trinity Homes in Minot, North Dakota, where she had resided for more than 10 years. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, at Sunset Memorial Gardens, north of Minot, with Pastor Matthew Scherbenske

officiating.

Phyllis Cannon was born on June 14, 1926, to the Rev. Henry and Matilda (Sayers) Cannon at Castlewood, South Dakota. She began her schooling in South Dakota, but then her education continued at Bottineau, North Dakota, and then Hannah, North Dakota, where she graduated from high school in 1945.

Phyllis then attended Jamestown College, where she earned her degree in teaching in 1949. She taught in North Dakota at Hannah, Neche, Carpio, Harvey, and then Minot Public Schools for 21 years.

Phyllis married the Rev. John Sortland on Dec. 29, 1954, in Fargo, North Dakota. Together they served Methodist and United Methodist churches in the North Dakota Conference at Rocklake-Clyde-Hansboro, Kenmare-Donnybrook-Bowbells, Cando-Churchs Ferry, and Washburn-Turtle Lake. Phyllis served musically and played and taught piano.

Phyllis and John moved back to Minot in the 1960’s and resided in their home along the river. After John retired in 1974, they traveled to Norway and England to visit family.

She enjoyed reading and keeping up with family and friends through letters and newspaper clippings. She retired from teaching in 1990 to help care for John, who passed away Oct. 5, 1990.

Phyllis is survived by one niece and two nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her parents; two brothers: John and Dwight Cannon; four sisters: Vera Cannon, Bernice (Ralph) Brostrom, Mary (Elden) Treleaven, and Dorothy Cannon; and a nephew.

Edythe Cascini, 94, surviving spouse of the Rev. William Cascini, passed away Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, in Lincoln, Nebraska. No viewing or services were held. A private family graveside burial of cremains was held later in Lincoln Memorial Park.

Edythe Mae Peden was born May 6, 1927, to Maurice and Pearl (Heaton) Peden of Gary, South Dakota. She was a graduate of Gary High School and Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and she received a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska.

She married William Cascini on Aug. 3, 1949. Bill and Edythe moved to Lincoln from New York City in 1957, when Bill began his 38-year tenure on the faculty at Nebraska Wesleyan University.

Edythe worked as a research assistant in the Town and Country Department of the Methodist Board of United Missions in New York City for three years (1953-1956). She was a teacher and librarian for 37 years, retiring in 1992. She taught at the South Dakota School for the Blind in Gary, where she began her teaching career; Cherry Creek District-Castlewood School in Denver, Colorado; Waverly District 145 in Waverly, Nebraska; Lincoln High School; and Lincoln Northeast High School, where she spent the last 25 years of her career. After retiring, she

volunteered for 13 years at Pyrtle Elementary School, where her grandchildren attended.

She held many memberships in professional education and library associations. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, serving as the Lincoln Branch President and the Nebraska State AAUW Co-President.

Edythe served as a Campfire Girls leader and merit badge counselor for Boy Scouts of America for 20 years and sang in the Lincolnaire Chorus of Sweet Adelines. She led four delegations of students to Europe and around the world with the People-to-People High School Ambassador Program. She and Bill also worked with teachers of English and Social Services in Italy through the Global Volunteers Program. She was a member of Lincoln First United Methodist Church and volunteered at their Fabulous Finds Thrift Shop.

Edythe and Bill moved to Eastmont Towers in Lincoln in 2004. Edythe sang in the Eastmont Choir and shared her musical talents on the accordion and piano for many skits and sing-alongs.

She is survived by her son, Wade (Marcella DeMera), of Sammamish, Washington; her daughter, Janelle Herres (Michael), of Lincoln; her daughter-in-law, Mary (Lundy) Cascini, of Lincoln; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters: Arlyce (Wayne) McNeil, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Mildred Bullock, of Princeton, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.

Edythe was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, on May 17, 2019; her parents; son Brett; two sisters: Vivian Phillips and Ruth Whipp; three brothers: Dwight in infancy, Wendell, and David; and brothers- and-sisters-in law: Ira Phillips, Carol (Gilkerson) Peden, Jim Sebastian, Charles Bullock, Carol (Williford) Peden, Joan (Cole) Peden, and Gene and Eva (Cascini) Brandt.

Ronald Mackey, 81, husband of the Rev. Janis Sue Kana-Mackey, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Sanford on Broadway in Fargo, North Dakota. Visitation was held at the Aaker Funeral Home of Lakota, North Dakota, on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. In observance of the Covid-19 pandemic, masks were required, and social distancing was recommended. A private burial was held at the Storlie Cemetery of rural Hampden, North Dakota.

Ronald Raymond Mackey was born on Aug. 17, 1940, to Raymond and Rose (Otto) Mackey. He grew up in rural Hampden and graduated from Hampden High School in 1958. Ron served in the North Dakota National Guard for 25 years. He was a member of the Hampden Hay-Overbo American Legion Post No. 266.

On Feb. 25, 1982, Ron married the Rev. Janis Sue Kana in Seattle, Washington. Together Ron and Sue served churches in the North Dakota and Dakotas conferences at StarkweatherEdmore-Hampden, Edmore, Edmore-Lakota UCC-Michigan UCC, and Edmore-Lakota UCC-Michigan ELCA-Sarnia United ELCA.

Ron farmed his entire life in the Hampden area with his brother Ralph.

Ron loved to hunt – from wild pigs in Texas to elk in Colorado, and from black bear in Canada to mule deer in western North Dakota. He also loved to fish – deep-sea fishing off the Florida coast, halibut and salmon fishing in Alaska, and paddlefishing and ice fishing in North Dakota.

Ron is survived by his wife, Sue; two sons: Travis (wife Sarah) and Kyle (wife Amber); five grandchildren; one brother, Robert; and two sisters: Rosalie Ellingson and Rhonda Rostberg.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ralph.

Thelma Moberly, 95, surviving spouse of the Rev. Richard Moberly, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Memorial services were held Monday, March 14, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls.

Thelma Fae Iverson and her twin sister, Elma, were born on Dec. 7, 1926, in a rural Sioux Falls farmhouse to Sherman Arthur and Nellie May Iverson. Their survival as infants weighing about 3 pounds each was miraculous.

Thelma attended Sioux Falls public schools and graduated from Washington High School in 1944. She married Richard O. Moberly on Sept. 5, 1948, at Sioux Falls First Methodist Church.

Together they served Methodist and United Methodist churches in the South Dakota Conference at Ellis-Riverside, Dell Rapids-Garretson, Doland-LaDelle, Miller-Greenleaf, Sturgis, Sioux Falls First, and Aberdeen First. Richard also served as Northern District Superintendent from 1986 to 1989, when he retired, and they returned to Sioux Falls.

Thelma also worked as an elementary school secretary when her children were older. Her family was the focus of her life, and she was happiest when surrounded by her kids and grandkids. The annual family reunion at Lewis and Clark State Park was the high point of each year for her.

In her retirement, Thelma volunteered for 18 years at the Sanford GI lab and was named their volunteer of the year. She sewed numerous receiving blankets for babies and knitted prayer shawls and dish scrubbies.

Thelma embraced new experiences. She and Richard traveled to many countries, including Turkey, Great Britain, Norway, and Switzerland. She loved to accompany her kids and grandkids on vacation adventures. Her philosophy of life was “Every day is a gift.”

Thelma lived independently until age 90, when she moved from her home to Sunnycrest Village in Sioux Falls. She greeted each new day with the expectation that something wonderful might happen.

Thelma is survived by her children: Linda (Mark) Chaplin, Mark Moberly, John (Kelly) Moberly, and Brian (Patti) Moberly; 8 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; her twin sister, Elma Black, and sister, Elda Buxton; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, on Oct. 5, 1995; her parents; her brother, Clifford Iverson; and three sisters: Ruth Pingree, Elsie Winfree, and Garnett Stoutenburg.

Harlan Hansum, 78, of Montrose, South Dakota, surviving spouse of the Rev. Carolyn Hansum, passed away Friday, March 25, 2022, at Ava’s House Hospice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at the United Methodist Church in Montrose. Burial followed at the New Holland Cemetery in New Holland, South Dakota.

Harlan Gene Hansum was born Sept. 20, 1943, to Adrian and Genevieve (VanZee) Hansum at New Holland. He graduated from Dakota Christian High School in rural Corsica, South Dakota, and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Harlan married Carolyn Riedesel, whom he had met at Dordt College, on June 3, 1966, at Eureka, South Dakota. Both were teachers at South Dakota schools for many years.

Carolyn was called to ministry, and together they served South Dakota churches in the Dakotas Conference at Brothersfield-Parker Presbyterian, Scotland-Tripp, and ScotlandTyndall. Carolyn died from a malignant brain tumor on April 7, 1996, at her residence in Scotland, at the age of 50.

Harlan taught 7th- and 8th-grade science in the West Central School District for more than 30 years. He also raised cattle and operated an exterior contract painting business.

In January 2012, Harlan married Marilyn Zimmer.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed all things outdoors. His favorite motto was “Pretty boats don’t catch fish.”

Harlan is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of Montrose; his son, Heath (DeAnn), of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania; Marilyn’s children: Julie Rae, of Lennox, South Dakota, Tammy (David) DeJong, of Rapid City, South Dakota, and Jeff Lindstrom, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and his sister, Sheryl VanderPol (Tom Nestvold), of Plymouth, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn; his parents; and Marilyn’s son Gary Lindstrom.

Doris Horner, 91, surviving spouse of the Rev. Charles Horner, passed away at her home in Spearfish, South Dakota, on Monday, April 11, 2022. A memorial service was planned for late May 2022 at the United Methodist Church in Spearfish.

Doris May Hollingsworth was born Sept. 29, 1930, to Elsie (Posey) and Rufus Hollingsworth on a farm in Woonsocket, South Dakota. Upon graduating high school in 1949, Doris entered the Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Mitchell, South Dakota. There she met Charles “Chuck” Horner, a student at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell.

Doris graduated as a registered nurse in 1952, and she and Chuck were married on Nov. 16, 1952. He graduated from DWU in 1953 and entered seminary at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

Together they served Methodist churches in the South Dakota Conference at Colman-Wellman (1957-1960) and Spearfish (1960-1964).

Shortly after the great earthquake of 1964, a mission opportunity arose at the Turnagain Methodist Church in Anchorage, Alaska, and the young family moved to Alaska. In 1970 the family moved to Ketchikan, Alaska.

In 1973 Chuck left the ministry, taking voluntary location in 1974, to found one of the first eco-tourism businesses in Alaska, Alaska Discovery Wilderness Adventures and The Discovery Foundation. Adventures and travels ensued for them both, including canoeing and kayaking.

After moving to Sitka, Chuck retired from the Alaska State Parks system, and Doris continued working as a registered nurse. She enjoyed the frontier life in Alaska, gardening, fishing, knitting, and reading. She delighted in donning raingear to pick berries in the woods near her yard and then serving her guests delicious huckleberry pie.

Chuck then returned to the ministry, and he and Doris returned to South Dakota. Together they served United Methodist churches at Deadwood (Oct. 15, 1989-1992) and then Watertown First (1992-1994). Chuck retired from the ministry in 1994, and they returned to Sitka.

Chuck passed away June 1, 1998, at their home in Sitka. Several years later, Doris moved back to Spearfish.

Doris is survived by her four children: Charles, Nancy, Gregory, and Deanna; 10 grandchildren; and 7 greatgrandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Chuck; and her parents.

Donna Masartis, 74, wife of the Rev. Russell Masartis, died Monday, April 11, 2022, at her home near Wall, South Dakota. A private family memorial service was held at a later date.

Donna Ceney was born on April 9, 1948, to Jack and Dorothy Ceney, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After high school, Donna took a job at the University of Pittsburgh, where she took classes. At that university, she worked for “Knowledge Availability System Center” a secret information gathering group that would become a part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

On Sept. 9, 1967, Donna married Anthony Russell Masartis at their home church, the First Primitive Methodist Church of Pittsburgh.

Together they served two years at a church in Rowes Run, Pennsylvania, and then transferred to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, First Church, where Donna built up the women’s group. When they transferred to a church in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, Donna took the lead in organizing plays and musicals and was recognized by the denomination for her leadership skills. They then returned to their home church in Pittsburgh.

In Pittsburgh, Donna was the assistant administrator of the Angelus Nursing Home and worked toward her administrator’s

license. After seven years, Donna and Russell accepted an appointment in Lowell, Massachusetts. There, Donna used her musical skills to organize musicals and dinner-theater productions.

Russell had been a professor of practical ministry skills at the denomination’s school of theology, and Donna was a mentor to spouses of new pastors. This led to an invitation from SEND International to develop a program for training pastors in Alaska. After the program disbanded, Donna and Russell moved to Benton, Wisconsin, where they began serving a small three-point circuit. The congregations outgrew the church building, so they purchased the old Benton school building. While Russell oversaw renovations, Donna oversaw the development of outreach missions – beginning a fiber arts classroom, a winter-walkers program, a food pantry, and a thrift shop.

Russell transferred to the Dakotas Conference in 2006, and he and Donna served as directors of the Tree of Life Ministry on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Russell oversaw construction duties, while Donna handled financial duties, opened a thrift shop and a food pantry, and started a hot meal program.

In 2015 Russell was appointed to Wall-Wasta United Methodist churches in South Dakota, and they moved to Wood, South Dakota. Russell retired in 2018 but continued serving Wall-Wasta part-time. When Donna was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, she began a new ministry of encouraging cancer patients with monthly notes and gifts. This “Open Hearts Care” ministry occupied the last eight months of her life, even after she developed acute myeloid leukemia.

Donna is survived by her husband, Russell: two children: Donnalynn James (William Deppe) and Russell Robert Masartis (Cheri); six grandchildren: nine great-grandchildren; and her siblings: Linda Kneiss, Carol Buffone, and Jack Ceney.