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Rev. Hansen | Rev. Petersen | Rev. Aaberg | Rev. Otto | Rev. Haugen |

Rev. Wosje | Rev. Dukleth | Rev. Basel | Rev. Rank | Others

The Rev. Emil Hansen, who had come to Scarville in 1914, continued to serve the congregation until early in 1925, his farewell sermon being preached on Jan. 11 of that year. He moved to Mayville, North Dakota, where he served the ELS congregation there in its early beginning, and also several other places. Pastor Hansen later served Our Savior’s church in Albert Lea, and the Oslo congregation at Volga, South Dakota. He retired in 1949, and made his home in Sioux Falls. He died on March 16, 1956, and is buried at Sioux Falls. The ten years which Pastor and Mrs. Hansen spent at Scarville were times of great stress and strain in the church, and their loyalty to the truth and difficulties was a source of great blessing to the congregation.

From the Lutheran Sentinel:

October 1, 1919 - "The general pastoral conference of our synod, will meet at Scarville, Ia., October 24th to 28th. On Sunday, the 26th, the new church at Scarville will be dedicated."

November 12, 1919 - "The conference at Scarville, Ia., was an inspiration for all who could take part. The words of the 133rd Psalm: 'Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!' were verified in the hearts of all. The happy church members with their genial pastor, Rev. Emil Hansen, who have borne such heavy burdens to establish this blessed church home, and who provided such splendid Christian entertainment for the guests, will long be remembered by those who participated. – We noted how a large number of the younger men and women of the congregation attended the sessions and followed closely the doctrinal discussions. This is very encouraging and will bring blessed fruits."

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The Rev. Justin A. Petersen, who had served at Rembrandt, Iowa, and had subsequently joined the reorganized Synod, was installed as pastor of the Scarville-Center parish on May 10, 1925. Pastor Petersen served until May, 1942, when he resigned because of ill health. In 1943 he was again called by the parish. He served until June 26, 1949. Pastor and Mrs. Petersen moved to Mankato, and here Pastor Petersen became manager of the Lutheran Synod Book Company. By diligent service and a friendly, cozy way with people, he built the Book Store into a thriving business for the Synod and College. During his quarter of a century of service in Scarville, Pastor Petersen faithfully carried on the work so nobly begun by Pastor Hansen. His years of service included the trying days of the depression and the accompanying difficulties for both pastor and members of a comparatively small congregation. The burdens were borne by Pastor and Mrs. Petersen cheerfully, without complaint. It was in 1927, during Pastor Petersen’s service, that the Christian Day School was first established. Pastor Petersen died on February 18, 1954, and Mrs. Petersen died on June 9, 1963. They are buried in the Scarville Church cemetery.

Pastor Petersen was a strong proponent of Christian Day Schools. For more of his work in this area see the pages: Short History of Scarville Lutheran School and Scarville School in the Jubilee Souvenir 1928.

Justin A. - "A Christian Lutheran Pastor by the grace of God."
Nettie C. - "Her children arise up and call her blessed" - Prov. 31, 28.
Presented by the Center-Scarville Parish

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The third pastor to serve the congregation during its first fifty years was the Rev. Theodore A. Aaberg. He was called by the parish in the summer of 1949, while still a student in the seminary in Mankato. He was ordained on August 28, 1949, by Pastor Adolph M. Harstad, president of the Synod. He completed his seminary training during the school year of 1949-50, attending the seminary during the week and serving the parish on the weekends. Pastor Aaberg and Miss Melvina Olson were married at Tracy, Minnesota, October 8, 1951, and served the congregation to its Golden Anniversary Year, 1968. Pastor Aaberg accepted the call to the Norseland-Norwegian Grove parish near St. Peter, Minnesota, and took up work there in August, 1968. He served as president of the ELS from 1962-1963, and as the first full-time president of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary from 1976-1979 when he resigned due to complications from the rare lung disease, Sarcoidosis. He also acted as president of Bethany Lutheran College from August 1977 until January 1978. Pastor Aaberg died on January 8, 1980, after a life of faithful service to his family, congregations, and Synod. He is buried in the Scarville Church cemetery. Pastor and Mrs. Aaberg were blessed with five children: Theodore, Sarah, Marie, Jonathan, and Joel.

Pastor Aaberg printed this farewell in the Scarville-Center Church bulletin in August, 1968:

"This week your pastor concludes his ministry in your midst, which began 19 years ago, back in July, 1949. In taking leave of the parish, he, together with Mrs. Aaberg and the children, Teddy, Sarah, Marie, Jonathan, and Joel, all express their sincere thanks for the many kindnesses shown them over the years, and also now at their departure. The farewell parties, the good wishes, the gifts, and the help in getting ready to move - all is appreciated very much. May the Lord bless one and all.

Our years and work here were not unlike those which God's people have experienced from the early days of the world, namely, joy and sorrow, sorrow and joy. But over every day has stood the faithfulness and love of God. "And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace." John 1:16.

That your pastor would have shown greater faithfulness and diligence in his pastoral work is only too true; and this he sincerely regrets. For the Law and the Gospel which was preached and applied, however, he has no regrets, but only the happy confidence that this has not been in vain but has and will continue to bear fruit, for there is the promise of God concerning His Word: "It shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Isaiah 55:11.

May the Lord's richest blessings rest upon each and every member, and may He soon send a pious and faithful pastor!

Prov. 4:23 - "Keep thy heart with all diligence."

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The Rev. Milton Otto was born on December 6, 1914, in Cherokee County, Iowa, to Henry and Anna Miller Otto. He studied theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and was ordained in the ELS in 1940. Pastor Otto's service within the ELS was extensive. He served parishes in Cottonwood and Lawler, Iowa, and was interim pastor at the Center-Scarville Parish for a short time. He was president of the ELS for three years, dean at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, and instructor at Bethany Lutheran College until he retired after twenty-five years in 1981. Pastor Otto married Marjorie Lund on August 9, 1942, and they had five children: Margaret, Elizabeth, Ruth, Lois, and Paul.

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The Rev. Paul Haugen was ordained and installed at the Scarville-Center parish in 1970. At this service, Prof. M. H. Otto [see above] preached the sermon and Circut Visitor M. E. Tweit performed the rite of ordination and installation. Pastor Haugen served this parish until 1976 when he became pastor at Our Savior's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belview, Minnesota. In 1988, He resigned his call there and transferred into the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. During his time in that synod, he has served as pastor at churches in Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, and Indiana. For a short period of time, Pastor Haugen also worked as a counselor for Lutheran Social Services.

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The Rev. Carl R. Wosje was born July 3, 1937 to Clarence and Ada (Hoff) Wosje at Volga, South Dakota. He was baptized July 25, 1937 by the Rev. C. M. Gullerud at Oslo Lutheran Church of rural Volga. He was confirmed by Rev. J. H. Jungemann October 28, 1951 at Oslo Lutheran Church. After graduating from South Dakota State College in Brookings, South Dakota in May of 1959 Rev. Wosje enrolled at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. Following his seminary graduation May 30, 1963 he was installed as the pastor of Hiawatha Lutheran Church in Minneapolis June 30, 1963. He was accepted as a voting member of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod clergy at the 1964 annual convention. Other congregations served by Rev. Wosje are: Indian Landing Lutheran Church - Rochester, New York (1968-1970); Oklee-Trail Lutheran Parish - Oklee, Minnesota (1971-1977); Scarville-Center Lutheran Parish (1977-1981); Bethany Lutheran Church - Port Orchard, Washington (1981-1985); Emmaus Lutheran Church - Chicago, Illinois (1985-1994); Family of God Lutheran Church - Fort Mojave, Arizona (1994-2000); Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church - Clara City, Minnesota (2000-2004). Following his retirement from the active parish ministry Rev. Wosje was installed as Pastor Emeritas at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Bishop, California August 29, 2004. Rev. Wosje and Carolyn K. Berg were married August 9, 1964 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin where he served his year of vicarage in 1961-62. Children born to this union are: Elisabeth Ann, and twins - David Jonathan and Deborah Joanne.

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The Rev. John S. Dukleth was born on November 29, 1944, in Waterford, Wisconsin. He graduated in 1983 from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. The Rev. Dukleth was ordained and installed at the Scarville-Center parish on July 3, 1983 and served until 1989, at which time he took the call to Luverne, Minnesota. He married Naomi Nitschke, and they had seven children: Jeffrey, Susan, Gregory, Christa, Katherine, Joni, and Jason. The Rev. Dukleth died on December 27, 1994.

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The Rev. Daniel A. Basel, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Basel of Hawks, Michigan, was born on September 11, 1955, in Alpena, Michigan. He was baptized into the Christian faith at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hillman, Michigan. He was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on September 21, 1969 at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hillman, Michigan. Daniel graduated from high school in 1973 at Hillman Community Schools. He then attended the fall semester at Alpena Community College before transferring to Michigan State University where he completed the two year Agricultural Technology Program in 1975. The Rev. Basel received his AA degree from Bethany Lutheran College in 1984, and completed a BS degree at Mankato State University in July 1985. He enrolled at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mankato, Minnesota and was awarded his Bachelor of Divinity degree on Sunday June 18, 1989. He served his vicarage at the Northwood-Lake Mills Lutheran Parish in north central Iowa. He was ordained and installed at the Scarville-Center parish on July 9, 1989, and served until 1992. The Rev. Basel was married to Lisa Ann Campbell on March 18, 1978. They had five children: Deidra, Dustin, Joseph, Anna, and Jonathan.

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The Rev. Thomas L. Rank was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on September 9, 1957. He was baptized and confirmed at Hiawatha Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. He attended Bethany Lutheran College from 1975 to 1977, where he received an Associate in Arts degree. He continued his education at the University of Minnesota and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. He studied for the ministry at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mankato, Minnesota, graduating in 1985 with a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained on July 14, 1985 and served the Clearwater Lutheran Parish, Oklee, Minnesota, from July 1985 until January 1993. The Rev. Rank has served at the Scarville-Center parish since 1993. He and Sonja (Kulseth) were united in marriage in June of 1978. They were blessed with six children: Elizabeth (Libbi), Amanda, Katherine, Jonathan, Hannah, and Christian.

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Others who have served Center and Scarville for shorter periods of time:
The Rev. C. A. Moldstad, former professor at Bethany Lutheran College, who preached during the vacancy in 1942. Vicars: Raymond M. Branstad, G. F. Guldberg, and Rudolph E. Honsey.

Pastor-Sons of the Congregations: the Rev. Raymond M. Branstad, the Rev. Stephen Sande, the Rev. Morris O. Dale, the Rev. Joseph N. Petersen, the Rev. Paul G. Petersen, the Rev. Wilhelm W. Petersen, the Rev. Theodore Aaberg Jr., the Rev. Daniel N. Faugstad, and the Rev. Ron Pederson. Currently, congregation sons Mark Faugstad and Peter J. Faugstad are studying for the Ministry.

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