Weekly Updates

Pastor - Rev. Dennis Ellisen

A native New Yorker, Pastor Ellisen received his college degree at Upsala College in New Jersey. Prior to receiving his Master of Divinity degree at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, he was a social worker in New York City. He served congregations in Rochester, and Albany, N.Y. before accepting a call to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Appleton,Wisconsin in 1976. During his tenure, Our Saviour’s grew in membership to 2600 members. Pastor Ellisen has served on the executive board of the Large Church Conference of the ELCA. Since retirement in 2008, he has served as an Interim Pastor for the East Central Synod in various congregations. Presently he serves as the Interim Pastor at Atonement Lutheran in Green Bay.

Pastor Ellisen and his wife Cathy have 4 children and 8 grandchildren. They enjoy traveling, golfing, and watching the grandchildren participate in a myriad of middle school and high school sporting events. They also enjoy quiet sunsets at their cottage on the bay outside of Dycksville.

Pastor - Rev. Norman Wahl

Pastor Norman Wahl retired in October 2020 after 41 years as a pastor of the ELCA. His last 24 years were as Executive Pastor at Bethel Lutheran in Rochester, Minnesota. He also served in St. Charles, Minnesota; rural Alden, Minnesota; Viborg, South Dakota (church name–Bethany!); and on the staff of Augsburg College, both as Director of Church Relations and an adjunct professor of Religion. His internship was in Tomah, Wisconsin! Kathy and Norm, high school sweethearts, have been married 47 years. They have three grown children and six grandchildren ages 6-13. They have done some traveling, including two week-long trips in Door County with family.

“We are thankful to the people of Bethany for your kindnesses, and for sharing the great good news we have in Christ.”

Pastor - Rev. Larry Pinnow

Pastor Larry Pinnow grew up on a farm south of Brodhead, Wi. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Luther College, Bachelor of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, a Master of Sacred Theology and a Doctor of Ministry from Wartburg Seminary.

Larry served congregations in Racine, Monroe and Madison. Since retirement he has served 12 congregations as an Interim.

Larry has been married to Mary for 25 years. He has three children with his first wife who died of cancer, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He loves to read history, travel and enjoy their house on the north side of Madison.

Pastor - Rev. Larry Pinnow

Pastor Larry Pinnow grew up on a farm south of Brodhead, Wi. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Luther College, Bachelor of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, a Master of Sacred Theology and a Doctor of Ministry from Wartburg Seminary.

Larry served congregations in Racine, Monroe and Madison. Since retirement he has served 12 congregations as an Interim.

Larry has been married to Mary for 25 years. He has three children with his first wife who died of cancer, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He loves to read history, travel and enjoy their house on the north side of Madison.

Pastor - Rev. Josef Aalbue

I was born on D-Day. My father, a pastor, and my mother served Central Lutheran in Eugene, OR. We moved to Hope Lutheran in Tacoma, WA where I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University. After earning my MDiv from Luther Seminary in 1970, I served congregations in Texas, South Dakota, and Washington State. I am married to Sally Schlachtenhaufen (sister of Joel Schlachtenhaufen who served at Bethany for many summers).

After my 1st retirement I served local congregations in need of pastoral care. I recently retired for the 5th time— hopefully for the last time—after 51 years of ministry. Sally and I garden, read, and host regular gatherings for retired pastors and spouses, widows, and seminary students. I am trying to switch from reading mysteries to non-fiction books.

Pastor - Rev. Josef Aalbue

I was born on D-Day. My father, a pastor, and my mother served Central Lutheran in Eugene, OR. We moved to Hope Lutheran in Tacoma, WA where I graduated from Pacific Lutheran University. After earning my MDiv from Luther Seminary in 1970, I served congregations in Texas, South Dakota, and Washington State. I am married to Sally Schlachtenhaufen (sister of Joel Schlachtenhaufen who served at Bethany for many summers).

After my 1st retirement I served local congregations in need of pastoral care. I recently retired for the 5th time— hopefully for the last time—after 51 years of ministry. Sally and I garden, read, and host regular gatherings for retired pastors and spouses, widows, and seminary students. I am trying to switch from reading mysteries to non-fiction books.

Service of Remembrance and Commendation for Rev. Donald Ray Just

November 23, 1939 – April 27, 2020

Bethany Lutheran Church
Ephraim, Wisconsin
Aug. 30, 2021
10:00 AM CST

Pastor - Rev. John Rollefson

John Rollefson, a native of Oconomowoc, Is a retired ELCA pastor having served urban and campus congregations in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor and Los Angeles with interims in Solvang and London. His schooling has taken him from Decorah to New Haven to Edinburgh, and from London to Berkeley, with stops along the way at Collegeville and Cambridge, Mass.

He lives in San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast with his wife Ruth, a retired vocal music teacher and church musician. They have two grown sons who live with their families in Cork, Ireland and Shorewood, WI. They are expecting their fourth grandchild in October.

John is the author of a trilogy of books, Postils for Preaching: Commentaries on the Revised Common Lectionary, Years A, B & C and reviews books for the journal Currents in Theology and Mission.

Pastor - Rev. Ken Smith

Pastor Ken Smith and his wife, Judy, live in Madison, Wisconsin. He is retired and continues to be active in ministry as the visitation pastor at Midvale Community Lutheran Church which he also served in the 1980’s as a young associate pastor. Over the years he has served congregations in Madison, Janesville, and Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and has been the Associate Director for Christian Education at the churchwide office in Chicago during the 1990’s.

His current focus is elder fellowship in congregational life and facilitating Midvale’s Adult Bible School. This summer’s theme is Life in God’s Garden. He and Judy spend time visiting family in Chicago and Peoria, taking care of their places in Egg Harbor and Madison, and walking their active goldendoodle, Annie. Judy is currently the chaplain at Central Wisconsin Center, one of three state centers offering services to assist people living with intellectual disabilities.

Pastor - Rev. John Rollefson

John Rollefson, a native of Oconomowoc, Is a retired ELCA pastor having served urban and campus congregations in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor and Los Angeles with interims in Solvang and London. His schooling has taken him from Decorah to New Haven to Edinburgh, and from London to Berkeley, with stops along the way at Collegeville and Cambridge, Mass.

He lives in San Luis Obispo on California’s central coast with his wife Ruth, a retired vocal music teacher and church musician. They have two grown sons who live with their families in Cork, Ireland and Shorewood, WI. They are expecting their fourth grandchild in October.

John is the author of a trilogy of books, Postils for Preaching: Commentaries on the Revised Common Lectionary, Years A, B & C and reviews books for the journal Currents in Theology and Mission.