Weekly Updates

Pastor - Rev. Dr. Brian Beckstrom

Rev. Dr. Brian A.F. Beckstrom has served at Wartburg College (Waverly, IA) since 2009. He is currently Dean of Spiritual Life, overseeing the college’s ministry and promoting faith exploration and development in and out of the classroom. Pastor Brian teaches in the college’s Leadership Program and Religion Department. His writing has appeared in The Journal of Lutheran Ethics, Intersections Magazine, and on the ELCA’s Living Lutheran web site. He is currently working on a book about Lutheran Higher Education.

Brian’s wife Josie works as a labor and delivery nurse at the Waverly Health Center. They have two children, Soren (18) and Linnea (15). The Beckstrom’s are excited to be back at Bethany for another summer!

Pastor - Rev. Scott Benolkin

The Rev. Scott K. Benolkin is the pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Rockford, Illinois. A Minnesotan by birth, he grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Lenexa, Kansas. He is a graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Syracuse University, and the University of Minnesota. Before hearing God’s call to the ministry of Word and Sacrament he worked as an economist for the EPA and the Federal Reserve. He enjoys computer programming, disc golf, and traveling with his wife Monica and seven-year-old daughter Claire.

Pastor - Bishop Gerald Mansholt

The Reverend Gerald Mansholt has served as bishop of the East Central Synod of Wisconsin since July 1, 2014. Prior to moving to Appleton, Bishop Mansholt served congregations in Oklahoma, St. Louis, and Wichita, KS. He also served as bishop of the Central States Synod (Missouri and Kansas) from 2001-2013. Bishop Jerry grew up on a farm outside of Bunker Hill, Illinois and is a graduate of Christ Seminary-Seminex. Bishop Mansholt serves on the Board of Directors for 1517 Media, the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Bishop Jerry and Anita will be leading a trip to the Holy Land March 23-31, 2020 and would welcome inquiries from interested travelers.

Pastor - Rev. Harold Usgaard

The Rev. Harold “Huck” Usgaard is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He retired in 2018 after most recently serving as Assistant to the President for Church Relations at Portico Benefit Services, a ministry of the ELCA.

Huck is Bishop Emeritus of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, having served two six-year terms between 2001 and 2013. Prior to that, he had served as a pastor at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN; at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in West Allis, WI; and at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, MN. He holds degrees from Luther College and Luther Seminary, and was ordained a pastor in 1973.

Huck and his wife, Lynette, live in Rosemount, MN. They are proud parents to three grown children and two grandsons. This means that much of their time is spent attending their grandsons’ basketball games, soccer matches, and concerts… as well as providing dog sitting services for the family. And they couldn’t be happier.

Pastor - Rev. Harold Usgaard

The Rev. Harold “Huck” Usgaard is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He retired in 2018 after most recently serving as Assistant to the President for Church Relations at Portico Benefit Services, a ministry of the ELCA.

Huck is Bishop Emeritus of the Southeastern Minnesota Synod, having served two six-year terms between 2001 and 2013. Prior to that, he had served as a pastor at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN; at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in West Allis, WI; and at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, MN. He holds degrees from Luther College and Luther Seminary, and was ordained a pastor in 1973.

Huck and his wife, Lynette, live in Rosemount, MN. They are proud parents to three grown children and two grandsons. This means that much of their time is spent attending their grandsons’ basketball games, soccer matches, and concerts… as well as providing dog sitting services for the family. And they couldn’t be happier.

Pastor - Rev. Mick Roschke

Before retiring, Pastor Mick served as a street pastor in Uptown Chicago and led several congregations in Milwaukee. Over the past five years, Mick has served as a seasonal pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, during the winter months. He also preaches frequently at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Milwaukee where he and his wife are members.

Mick and his wife, Judy, recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Judy is a retired teacher who taught in parochial schools and in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Their son, Micah and his wife, Gloria, have two children. Their daughter, Melissa and her husband, Jeremy, also have two children.

In February, Mick and Judy sold their home in Milwaukee. They are currently staying with their children until they find a place to live. The Roschke family has been blessed to come to Bethany for over 25 years and are thankful to the Bethany congregation for the opportunity to serve.

Pastor - Rev. Mick Roschke

Before retiring, Pastor Mick served as a street pastor in Uptown Chicago and led several congregations in Milwaukee. Over the past five years, Mick has served as a seasonal pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers, Florida, during the winter months. He also preaches frequently at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Milwaukee where he and his wife are members.

Mick and his wife, Judy, recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. Judy is a retired teacher who taught in parochial schools and in the Milwaukee Public Schools. Their son, Micah and his wife, Gloria, have two children. Their daughter, Melissa and her husband, Jeremy, also have two children.

In February, Mick and Judy sold their home in Milwaukee. They are currently staying with their children until they find a place to live. The Roschke family has been blessed to come to Bethany for over 25 years and are thankful to the Bethany congregation for the opportunity to serve.

Pastor - Rev. Darin Wiebe

Rev. Joy Mortensen-Wiebe and Rev. Darin Wiebe both graduated from Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary and were ordained in 1992. They both served Grace Lutheran, Tomahawk right out of seminary.

Later, they served All Saints Lutheran church in Oshkosh, WI together. Darin serves Our Savior Lutheran church in West Bend, WI. Joy serves St. Luke, Slinger, WI. and also works as a school based therapist.

Darin and Joy have two adult daughters. They enjoy being outside, playing with their dogs and spending time with family in their spare time.

Pastor - Rev. Joy Mortensen-Wiebe

Rev. Joy Mortensen-Wiebe and Rev. Darin Wiebe both graduated from Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary and were ordained in 1992. They both served Grace Lutheran, Tomahawk right out of seminary.

Later, they served All Saints Lutheran church in Oshkosh, WI together. Darin serves Our Savior Lutheran church in West Bend, WI. Joy serves St. Luke, Slinger, WI. and also works as a school based therapist.

Darin and Joy have two adult daughters. They enjoy being outside, playing with their dogs and spending time with family in their spare time.

Pastor – Rev. Emily Tveite

Pastor Emily Tveite began her work at Lutheran Campus Ministry in August 2015. She was born and raised in Austin, Texas and earned her undergraduate degree in Religion from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. She completed her seminary studies at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. During that time, she served as Intern at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Vancouver, WA.

The experience of working in the Pacific Northwest inspired her passion for journeying with those new to the Christian faith and equipped her for working in a climate of declining religiosity. More recently, Pastor Emily served as Associate Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oregon, WI, where her work focused on faith formation for all ages.

Her husband, Paul Tveite, is a Software Engineer. They are parents to toddler Eleanor. Emily enjoys cooking and eating, playing board games, and reading. She loves to travel and especially visiting America’s National Parks.