Highlights of Immanuel Lutheran Church Benson History

1890s - Missouri Synod pastor Rev. J. F. S. Herr canvassed the area around 78^th and Cass Streets, in the area of the old Underwood Hills School, then called the Stuhr School. The only record of his efforts was the notation of a baptism on December 16, 1894, apparently from one of the families who would later form Holy Trinity Church.

- Very late in the 1890s, Missouri Synod pastor Rev. Otto Erbe worked in the Florence area, teaching classes at the ADebolt Preaching Station@ and also at what would later became St. John=s Lutheran Church in Florence.

1900 - In the fall, regular worship services at the old Underwood Hills School at 78^th and Cass streets were started by Pastor Erbe.

- Classes in religious instruction were held in the Claus Ernst home at 98^th and Blondo, where Pastor Erbe was boarding

1901 - The first Confirmation took place at the Underwood School on March 31, 1901.

- Holy Trinity was organized during the summer. Five lots were acquired on the east side of 90^th and Harney. Two were designated for the church and parsonage, and three lots for a cemetery. There were no burials there, though.

1902 - Holy Trinity=s church was dedicated on January 12, 1902.

- Pastor Erbe=s cousin, Rev. Henry Erck, served the St. John=s congregation in Florence.

1907 - Pastor Erbe accepted a call to Boone, Iowa.

- Pastor Erck served as interim pastor.

- Pastor L. W. Plehm was called and served for three years

1910 - Pastor Henry Erck from Florence again served as supply pastor.

1911 - Pastor F. W. Seesko from Central City became pastor of Holy Trinity Church..

- The Benson area was chosen to establish a mission church. On July 30, 1911 the first Sunday School and worship services were held in the Odd Fellows Building at 61^st and Maple. Only four or five families attended.

- By that fall the congregation needed more space. The Swedish Lutherans allowed them to use the basement of their building on the southeast corner of 60^th and Miami.

1912 - June 16^th 1912 was the organization date for the Evangelical Lutheran Emmanuel=s Congregation of the Unchangeable Augsburg Confession of Benson Nebraska, of the Missouri Synod. The congregation was officially incorporated in April of 1913. .

1914 - In September a house at 59^th and Wirt was dedicated for worship. At this time they abolished the Aold country@ practice of having the men and boys sit on one side of the church and the women, girls and babies on the other side.

1917 - Until this time all services, records and business meetings were in the German language. Because of World War I, all foreign-speaking groups were subject to government scrutiny. To avoid any hint of sympathy for the German government, English became the official language at all services.

1918 - Emmanuel became self-supporting, and was no longer a mission church

1919 - Pastor Seesko was trying to serve the two congregations, both of which were growing. His transportation was a team of horses and an open buggy. Not many of the roads were paved. Emmanuel was willing to merge, but Holy Trinity hesitated. In October Pastor Seesko received a call to St. Paul, Minnesota. Galvanized into action, Emmanuel promised to build a new, larger church. Fearful of losing Pastor Seesko, Holy Trinity agreed to the merger.

1920 - October 10^th - The Corner Stone was laid for the new church building.

1921 - May 10^th - The new Emmanuel Lutheran was dedicated.

1942 --World War II began. One hundred and one young men and two young women from Immanuel served in the Armed Forces. Four of these young men died while serving. They were: Cris Cramer, George Hagedorn, Gordon Simmons, and Clifford Stargardt.

1943 - In April, Immanuel hosted the convention of the Central District of American Lutheran Church. The district included churches in the states of Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and western Iowa. Ninety pastors and fifty lay delegates attended plus a number of visitors.

1946 - The entire basement was remodeled, the heating plant was reconditioned, and

Floors, stairs and vestibules were covered with asphalt tile.

- A library was added, with 500 volumes. Visual aid equipment was purchased.

1951 - The interior of the church was redecorated and the exterior repaired.

1952 - Elwin Bergstrasser began work as a student intern, and Mary Lou Mixdorf began as Parish Secretary.

1953 - In August, Pastor G. C. Becker suffered a heart attack.

- Don Vlasak began his year as a student intern.

- Pastor Alan Bergquist, chaplain at Veterans Hospital, assisted during Pastor Becker=s illness..

1954 - Pastor Becker resigned in April. He suffered another heart attack and passed away June 11.

- Pastor R. M. Meyer of Sheboygen, Wisconsin, was called and began his ministry August 15.

- Melvin Blobaum began work as the student intern.

- Pastor Meyer was instrumental in the formation of Christ Lutheran Church in Irvington. For quite a while he led two services at Immanuel and one at Irvington every Sunday morning.

1955 - After great discussion and consideration of numerous options, plans were drawn for the Educational Unit.

- Henry Stoltz began his year as the student intern.

- Alberta Brandt began work as the Parish Secretary

1956 - A contract was let for construction of the Educational Unit for

a total cost of $114,879. The cornerstone was laid on November 11.

- Robert Randoy began his year of internship.

1957 - The Educational Unit was completed and dedicated.

- Eugene Boschee began his work as the student intern.

- Adeline Hill was hired as Parish Secretary and Music Director.

1958 - The Central District of the American Lutheran Church held its annual meeting at Immanuel.

- New hymnals (the ARed@ Hymnal) were purchased to replace the ABlack@ hymnal which was first published in 1930.

- Gerald Westerbuhr began his year as the student intern.

1959 - Eugene Winterfield began his year of internship.

1960 - Richard Shibley was installed as a Lay Assistant to Pastor Meyer.

- The congregation authorized rebuilding the Pipe Organ.

1961 - The renovation of the Pipe Organ was completed at a cost of $11,500. The result was an amazing improvement in volume and quality of tone. Donations had been solicited for this project, and it was dedicated fully paid for with $750 left over.

1962 - Richard Shibley resigned to accept a call from Waupaca, Wisconsin, to be the Lay Assistant there.

- Pastor Meyer was instrumental in the formation of the Circle R Bible Camp on the hills above the Elkhorn River, near Gretna. After the merger that formed the ELCA, Circle R was sold by the synod, and camping activities were moved to Camp Carol Joy Holling.

1963 - Pastor Fred Hansen of Blair, Nebraska, assisted Pastor Meyer until July 1^st.

- Mr. W. Keith Langdon began as Lay Assistant on July 7^th.

- Training began for teachers of the Bethel Bible Series.

1964 - The contract was let for an extensive renovation of the church. The cornerstone was laid on November 8^th.

- Classes began for the congregation using the Bethel Bible Series, which is a two year comprehensive overview of the Bible. About a hundred and fifty members attended the first classes.

- A standing-room-only concert was presented by John Ylvisaker, noted composer and performer of contemporary Christian music.

1965 - The newly renovated church was rededicated on May 16^th.

1966 - Keith Langdon resigned as Lay Assistant, but continued as Youth Director and Choir Director.

1967 - Miss Ilene Strand began serving as Parish Worker.

1968 - Ilene Strand resigned her position as Parish Worker

- Keith Langdon resigned as Youth and Choir Director, due to ill health.

- Pastor Meyer accepted a call to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Champaign, Illinois.

1969 - Pastors A. H. Pinkall and Arthur Bliese served as interim pastors.

- Pastor Clair Geibert, from Holy Trinity Church in Carter Lake, Iowa, was installed on April 20^th.

1970 - The congregation had been growing over the last years, and the work load had increased considerably. It was decided to call an Assistant Pastor. Pastor Wendell Debner accepted, and was installed May 17. He had served for four years at Faith Lutheran in Miller, Iowa.

1971 - Pastor Debner accepted a call to St. Johns Lutheran Church in Sterling, Nebraska.

- Pastor Geibert suffered a heart attack in the fall.

- Patrick Mieritz was serving as the intern pastor, and was invaluable to the congregation during Pastor Geibert=s convalescence.

1972 - Pastor Geibert passed away on July 16^th.

- Pastor William Mantai from Wymore, Nebraska, was installed December 10^th.

1973 - Pastor David Zellmer was installed on February 24^th as part of a team ministry, which was designed and promoted by the Nebraska Synod.

- The Pastor Claire Geibert Memorial Scholarship was established.

1974 - The Carillon Bells were given as a memorial. They can be programmed to play various music at set times of the day, and can be heard for some distance away.

1975 - Pastor Zellmer accepted a call to St. Timothy Lutheran in Fremont, Nebraska.

- Pastor Mantai accepted a call to Centennial Lutheran in Englewood, Colorado.

- On September 14, Pastor John Streng returned to serve as interim pastor, forty years after he had come to serve the first time.

1976 - Pastor Harold Becker from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, was called and installed on February 22^nd. Pastor Harold Becker was a nephew of Pastor G. C. Becker, who served Immanuel=s congregation in the 1940s and 1950s.

-Also in 1976, a two-octave set of Schulmerich Hand Bells was added to the music department as a memorial gift. Pastor Becker=s wife, Anne, directed four bell choir groups. Since then, two and 2 more octaves have been added, plus five octaves of hand chimes.

1980 - William Christensen was the intern this year.

1983 - Pastor Becker resigned, due to failing health.

- Pastor Norman Lilligard was called.

1984 - Pastor Donna Durette was called as an Associate Pastor.

1986 - Pastor Lilligard and Pastor Durette resigned.

- Pastor Walter K. Schmidt served as Interim and Visitation Pastor through 1987.

1987 - Pastor Wayne Mesecher from Burlington, Colorado,.was called and began to serve in July.

- The ELCA was formed by a merger of the LCA, the UELCA and the ALC

1989 - Mary Lou Aune was hired as the Lay Assistant to Pastor Mesecher. While she was here, she was able to complete her work to become an Associate in Ministry.

1996 - Pastor Mesecher resigned due to poor health, and retired to Hastings, Nebraska. - Pastor Alan Hanson was

called from Syracuse,

Nebraska, and began to serve in December.

.

1997 - Marilyn Storms retired after more than 25 years as our Church Secretary.

- Pastor Wayne Mesecher passed away February 6.

1999 - Pastor Reid Neve accepted the position of Visitation Pastor.

- Mary Lou Aune resigned her position as Associate in Ministry to enter Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.

2000 - Gail Harp-Smith served as an Assistant from March through December.

- Extensive remodeling and upgrading began on the restrooms in the Education Unit and next to the Fellowship Hall. Asbestos had to be removed professionally, and major plumbing changes were made. The total cost was $182,200.

With the retrofitting of the elevator to be able to reach the basement level also, the church is now Handicap Accessible everywhere except the balcony and the second floor of the Educational Unit.

2001 - Rebecca Flores began as an Associate in September.

2003 - Pastor Raymond Meyer passed away August 13.

2004 - Repair work to the Organ chambers was necessary, due to water damage.

2005 - The original Pastors Office on the parsonage was remodeled to close the entrance door and remove the porch.

2006 - Rebecca Flores resigned to enter Wartburg Seminary.

2008 - Pastor Bryan Lagerstam, a recent graduate of Wartburg Seminary, began his service to Immanuel as our Associate Pastor, working with Pastor Hanson.

2010 - Plans began for the celebration of the 100 years of the presence of Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Benson area. It is scheduled to show different areas of Immanuel=s ministry in each of the months from July 31, 2011 through July of 2012. Three different anniversaries occur in this approximate time period.

* 110 years - Holy Trinity Lutheran church, the predecessor to Immanuel, was organized in 1901 and dedicated in 1902.

* 100 years - Emmanuel Lutheran was started in 1912 as a mission church by Holy Trinity=s pastor, Rev. Seesko

* 90 years - The two congregations merged. The cornerstone was laid in 1920, and the new combined church was dedicated in 1921.