impact Sioux Falls Seminary
Richie Hutchinson and his wife, Allison, celebrated the birth of daughter, Karis Spring, on April 13, 2009. Karen Tim lives in Sioux Falls, SD. She asks for prayer for God’s direction. She is working with Youth Enrichment Services’ after school program. Andrew Wright and his wife, Megan, live in Dell Rapids, SD, and have two children, Maggie and Judah. They ask for prayer for their ministry with the Dell Rapids and Baltic church plants.
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Daniel Cravatt and his wife, Audrey, live in Norfolk, NE. Daniel asks for prayer for his job, which is being terminated. He would like prayers that God would keep him in ministry.
fall 2009
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from here to there
Lori Marty and her husband, Dean, live in Sioux Falls, SD. Lori’s father, Virgil Shelquist of Sioux Falls, passed away on January 18, 2009.
from the president President Hagan gives a brief update on the seminary and shares about the things that richly impact its ministry.
A glimpse into the journey that seminary students take to get from where they are to where God is calling them to be.
Charles Stanga and his wife, Cindy, reside in Sioux Falls, SD. They request prayer for Charles who had surgery last spring.
new educational technology With the ability to view class live anywhere with an Internet connection, all SFS students are benefiting—especially distance and commuting ones.
summit house report
Mission, theology, and service are central to the work done through Summit House and by its student residents.
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Krissie (Houske) Benson and her husband, Luke, live in Sioux Falls, SD. They celebrated the birth of their first child, Liam Ellis, on March 30, 2009.
center for lifelong learning Introducing new, non-graduate programs to assist in the journey of lifelong learning.
Sioux Falls Seminary impact
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alumni in action Meet SFS alumnus Chris Marchand and discover why he wrote a book on the subject of compassion fatigue.
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Connect with SFS at upcoming events. Event listings are always available online at www.sfseminary.edu/events.
Mark Eliason was ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America on June 7, 2009. Mark has accepted the call to serve as Associate Pastor at Shalom Lutheran Church, in Harrisburg, SD.
staying in touch
Roxanna Grogan and her husband, Dan, live in Brandon, SD. They ask for prayer for Roxanna’s employment.
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Jeremiah Whitebird and his wife, Tylinn, live in Ramona, CA. They ask for prayer for their family. Jeremiah is currently going to school for his doctorate and recently began an internship.
News, updates, and prayer requests from Sioux Falls Seminary alumni.
The impact is now published by Sioux Falls Seminary two times per year for the benefit of the seminary community, friends, alumni, and supporters. Additional news and event information is distributed by e-mail throughout the year. To join our online news list, please visit www.sfseminary.edu/signup.php or call 800.440.6227 ext. 2703.
‘08
Pastor Robert Duemig and his wife, Carolyn, recently relocated. Bob now serves as the pastor for Eureka United Methodist Church in Eureka, SD, and Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Ashley, ND.
Dawn Gardner resides in Keller, TX. She asks for prayer that she would find employment where she can use her gifts for Christ’s kingdom.
(April 12) 2009. He is survived by his wife, Edith (Dede); children, Kathy and Mark; and sister, Laverne Samb.
Gretchen Hartmann and her husband, Joshua, live in Sioux Falls, SD. Gretchen recently joined Sioux Falls Psychological Services as a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern. She will work with the Journey Program, which partners with churches to provide counseling services to their congregants.
Rev. Herbert Schauer of Hebron, ND, died on June 16, 2009. He was a longtime NAB pastor and area secretary. He is survived by his wife, Mary; children Andrew (Pamela) Schauer, April (Rodney) Zimmerman, Austen (Angela) Schauer, and Ashley (Jocelyn) Schauer; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Ruby Sukut and Glenna Fouberg.
Bob Holtrop and his wife, Brenda, live in Sioux Center, IA. They ask for prayer for their ministry.
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Michael Wheaton and his wife, Mary, reside in Sioux Falls, SD. Michael recently joined Sioux Falls Psychological Services in Sioux Falls, SD, as a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern. He will work with the Journey Program, which partners with churches to provide counseling services to their congregants. Pastor Ryan Zurbriggen and his wife, Renessa, reside in Parkersburg, IA. They welcomed their fourth child, Josiah Paul, to their family on November 16, 2009. Ryan is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. They ask for prayer for the family of Ed Thomas, a coach at the Parkersburg school who was shot and killed on June 24, 2009, as well as for the family of the shooter, the students who witnessed the incident, and the Aplington-Parkersburg region. Parkersburg is still recovering from an F5 tornado that struck the town in May 2008.
‘09
Mark Bonnema recently joined Sioux Falls Psychological Services in Sioux Falls, SD, as a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern. Sebit Moi, recent Master of Divinity graduate, was ordained on November 22, 2009, at First Congregational Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Dave Penn and his wife, Allison, welcomed a son, Jonah David, on May 20, 2009.
in memoriam
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Ruth Potratz, wife of Willis Potratz, died on September 18, 2009, following a lengthy illness. She leaves her husband of over 61 years; sons Steven (Laurie) and Nathan (Tracey); daughters Eloise Potratz and Leora (Tim) Herrmann; and six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
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The Rev. Don Ganstrom, D.D., passed away on January 16, 2009. Donald was a missionary to Cameroon and pastored several churches in Minnesota, California, Oregon, and Washington. He is survived by his wife Verna; daughter Glennis; son Norris; and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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Becky (Heerts) Dewey (wife of Marvin Dewey ‘79) passed away on August 17, 2009, following a battle with cancer. Becky taught in Owatonna, MN, Osaka, Japan, Sioux Falls, SD, and Edmonton, AB. She and husband Marv also served together at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Vancouver, BC, and Taylor University College and Seminary in Edmonton, AB.
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The Rev. John Nfor went to be with the Lord on January 11, 2009, after battling cancer. He served as executive director of the Cameroon Baptist Convention and president of the Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary. He is survived by his children.
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Donna Kopfmann, wife of Darwin Kopfmann, passed away on November 1, 2009, after a long battle with cancer. Darwin serves three United Methodist Churches in the Streeter, ND, area.
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Dr. H. John Vanderbeck of Matthews, NC, died on Easter Sunday 13
Fall 2009