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The Beginning
Charter Member Signatures
May 6, 1984 - Lord of Life officially organized as a congregation of the Red River Valley Synod, Lutheran Church in America with 204 Charter Members. For the next 3 years the congregation continued to worship in the Rapid Valley Elementary Gymnasium. Because no storage space was available at the school, all necessary worship and Sunday School furnishings, including the altar, lectern, baptismal font, and even the chairs had to be transported from the parsonage on Johnston Drive to the school week by week. They were transported in a 1962 2-ton Chevy truck loaned to LOL by Willis Venekamp, and later a 1972 International school bus dubbed the "Lord of Life Ark" which was given as a gift by Owen Seeley. In 1991, our beloved bus, having served it's purpose, was sold for $500 to a missionary from Alaska. The original land purchased for the building of Lord of Life Church was rejected and the 5 acres the church now occupies was purchased in March of 1987. This eliminated the need to transport furnishing, and also allowed the church office to move out of the parsonage. We now had more space and flexibility. Worship services and fellowship were held in the basement of the unit and Sunday School met in the upstairs rooms.
Groundbreaking for the new church was held October 25, 1987. As we lined up around the perimeter of the proposed church building, each one turned three shovelfuls of earth.
Groundbreaking for the new church was held October 25, 1987. As we lined up around the perimeter of the proposed church building, each one turned three shovelfuls of earth.
Construction began and congregational work parties were held to varnish, stain, paint; and, whatever else could be done under the guidance of the general contractor. Before the framework was enclosed, we had an "Autograph Sunday" on February 28, 1988 and we all signed a 2x4 or whatever we could write on. Although the contractor had not turned the building over to us, we were able to hold Easter Services on April 3, 1988. Following a Service of Entrance, members realized their dream of having their own building when they held worship in this church for the first time. Lord of Life Lutheran Church was dedicated on June 19, 1988.
Hanging the cross
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Lord of Life's first Vacation Bible School
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Enclosing the belfry of the bell tower
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The Bell
During the early stages of getting our church building designed, Martha Wiedmeier, a Lord of Life member, told us aabout a large old bell for sale in Artas, SD. The bell was in an old Methodist church that had disbanded, and they were selling all the contents. A group of Lord of Life members drove to Artas after services one Sunday to check the bell out. We were told that the bell came to Artas, SD, in the early 1900's by train. The bell is cast iron and weighs approximately 1700 lbs. and is 40" in diameter. The bell was purchased for $1,200 from donations, and was delivered to Rapid City by truck. The Neumiller family reconditioned the iron parts of the bell and the Woodden's built a new wooden wheel. The bell was placed on a small trailer to be used at the church site while the bell tower was being built. On October 25th, 1987, the church bell was rung by Churck Wehrle and Tom Woodden for the first time. The bell tower was designed by an architect from the National Church in Chicago and was paid for from donations within the church. The mens group, along with Harold Malke, built the bell tower. The tower and bell were raised and put in place by the church's general contractor.
25th Anniversary - June 14, 2009
Lord of Life's 25th Anniversary celebration. Charter Members
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Lord of Life's 25th Anniversary celebration. Pastors
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30th Anniversary - June 29, 2014
The dedication of the outdoor lighted cross is in memory of Leona Ferguson (Betty Woodden's mother) and Linda Johnston (Tom Woodden's niece.)
Leona Ferguson lived in Hot Springs, SD and died this past January. Leona was 96 years old and was a member of Saint John's Lutheran church in Hot Springs for 80 years.
Linda Johnston was born and raised in Burke, SD. Linda was a Missionary in Indonesia for 26 yrs. There she met her husband Neil who also was a Missionary. While living in Indonesia they adopted their two children. The last few years they were living in Dallas, TX, where Linda developed mesothelioma cancer and died in April 2014. She was 57 years old.
Leona Ferguson lived in Hot Springs, SD and died this past January. Leona was 96 years old and was a member of Saint John's Lutheran church in Hot Springs for 80 years.
Linda Johnston was born and raised in Burke, SD. Linda was a Missionary in Indonesia for 26 yrs. There she met her husband Neil who also was a Missionary. While living in Indonesia they adopted their two children. The last few years they were living in Dallas, TX, where Linda developed mesothelioma cancer and died in April 2014. She was 57 years old.
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, ELCA 2000 Lancer Dr. Rapid City, South Dakota 57703 605-393-0700