Helps for Historians

Society and Zone levels—make sure someone is designated to keep important papers related to your level—bylaws, programs, important papers...

Regional Vice Presidents are collecting programs and minutes of the fall and spring zone rallies/workshops and regional rallies in their region. They will turn them into the District Historian, who will file this information.

If a church closes and they had an LWML society, the society records can be kept with the LWML MN North Archives at the MN North District Office. Contact our LWML MN North Archivist-Historian at historian@lwmlmnn.org.

More information on our LWML History and Historian Helps can be found on the www.lwml.org/who-we-are website by going to ABOUT/WHO WE ARE.

Remembering Past Presidents of our District

Helen Beck

Past District President (1992-1996)

LWML Minnesota North District Past District President Helen Beck received her Crown of Glory on March 14, 2014, at the age of 87 years. Helen was active in LWML on the society, zone and district levels for 55 years. She was on the LWML District Board of Directors for 20 years and was President for four years (1992 - 1996). Helen was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hinckley, MN.

What dedication – to God and the LWML!

Lucille (Phillips) Lidbeck

Past District President (2000-2004)

Our sister in Christ and a past LWML MN North President, Lucille (Phillips) Lidbeck, received her Crown of Glory on November 9, 2013, at the age of 75 years old. Her funeral was held on November 13, 2013, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN. Lucille served as our District President from 2000 to 2004; she served in other LWML positions also. We thank God for her life and service to our Lord and the LWML!

Lydia Bode

Past District President (1964-1968)

LWML Minnesota North District's first president, Lydia Bode, of Wood Lake, MN., died on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. As of April 2011, Lydia was a resident of Parkview Nursing Home in Belview, MN.

Lydia was a charter member of LWML and helped organize the circuits. Minnesota was organized as a whole circuit on May 19, 1942. She served as Vice President of LWML Minnesota. LWML Minnesota North District was organized in 1963. She served as President from 1964 to 1968 and served as our district's first Archivist-Historian for ten years.

What a blessing Lydia was in leading our LWML MN North Distrct.

Thelma V. Derkey

Past District President (1968-1972)

Thelma Derkey, 93, of Perham, was called to her eternal home on Saturday, January 7, 2012. Her funeral was held on Tuesday, January 10, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Perham, MN. Thelma served as president of LWML Minnesota North District from 1968 to 1972, our district's second president. She was also the first regional vice president of Park Region II from 1964 to 1968. Praise God for Thelma's dedication to the LWML!

Betty (Mrs. Earl) Wagner

Past District President (1998 - 2002)

Elizabeth (Betty) Wagner died on January 3, 2019, at the age of 86 years old. Betty served in many offices of her local society at Trinity, Fisher. She also served on the LWML International Board and was LWML MN North District President from 1998 - 2002. Her passion for the ministries of LWML and Lutheran Island Camp was very evident in her actions and words. We thank God for Betty!

The History of Scholarships

At the first convention of the LWML Minnesota North District, action was taken to offer Ministerial Scholarships totaling $3,000 in the 1964-1966 biennium. During each convention since that time, larger amounts have been approved by the convention body, such as $15,000 for the 1978-1980 biennium, $40,000 for the 1988-1990 biennium and $65,000 for the 2008-2010 biennium. The overall scholarships total since that first convention is $805,000. These scholarships have been for students preparing for full-time church work, including pastors, teachers, DCE's, deaconesses, etc. In addition, scholarships have been offered for specialized study and would be in addition to the amount stated above. Watch the website for more information about the grants our mighty mites have funded!

Our History in the Making

In the early 1960's congregations in Ontario Canada became part of the Minnesota District and when the district was divided it added 12 LWML societies from Ontario to the our District. LWML Minnesota North was truly international! Those 12 Canadian societies were part of the Minnesota District until the 1990 convention when the Canadian societies formed the Son Set District of LWML Canada.

Minnesota District: "The Beginning"

The Minnesota District of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League was organized in Minneapolis on May 19, 1942, and Mrs. Julius Deckman, Minneapolis, was elected president. Two delegates were sent to the organizational convention of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League held in St. Stephens Church in Chicago, IL on July 7-8, 1942. Those two delegates were Mrs. A. Rubbert from Minneapolis and Mrs. Al Bakke from Crookston.

The First District Convention was held at Concordia College, St. Paul, MN, on October 18-19, 1944, with a membership of 4,528 members and 130 societies. The first project was a grant of $5,000.00 for the construction of a portable chapel.

Second District Convention - Oct. 17-18, 1946, at Concordia College, 6000 members, 176 societies, total project amount $6,000

Third District Convention - Concordia College, Aug. 26-27, 1948, 8,493 members, 218 societies, total project amount $6,346, Mrs. Lawrence Gallman, Faribault, president

Fourth District Convention - Concordia College, June 15-16, 1950, 11,445 members, 270 societies, total project amount $9,348

Fifth District Convention - Concordia College, June 25-26, 1952, 11,855 members, 311 societies, total project amount $19,000. Because of the sudden death of the district president, Mrs. E. A. Dicke, Long Prairie, the vice president, Mrs. F. J. Seltz of St. Paul, presided

Sixth District Convention - Concordia College, June 23-24, 1954, 14,778 members, 342 societies, total project amount $29,100, Mrs. Albert G. Plagens, St. Paul, president

Seventh District Convention - Concordia College, Aug. 14-15, 1956, 16,100 members, 372 societies, total project amount $34,900

Eighth District Convention - Concordia College, June 24-25, 1958, 17,456 members, 381 societies, total project amount $52,700, Miss Della Wolf, Glencoe, president

Ninth District Convention - Concordia College, June 21-23, 1960, 18,482 members, 390 societies, total project amount $48,600

Tenth District Convention - Concordia College, Aug. 15-16, 1962, 18,814 members, 409 societies, total project amount $67,000, Mrs. William Buege, Minneapolis, president. A resolution was adopted to divide the Minnesota District into two districts: Minnesota North and Minnesota South LWML Districts.

Eleventh District Convention - Concordia College, June 2-3, 1964, 19,058 members, 418 societies, Mn South projects $45,500, MN North projects $20,000, Mrs. Lydia (Edgar) Bode, Wood Lake MN, presided and was elected president of MN North District Lutheran Women's Missionary League and Mrs. Helen (William) Morris elected president of MN South District, MN North District constitution, articles of incorporation and bylaws adopted.

Convention Themes 1964 - Present

Every two years we meet to elect new officers, adopt new mission grants, change and modify bylaws, but mainly to worship and gather together as women in mission, to support, uplift and share our lives in Christ.

Convention locations, themes and mite goals for the past forty-six years are listed below:

1960s

1964 Concordia, St. Paul "United in Christ" (Ephesians 4:1-6)
Mite Goal $22,000

1966 Bemidji "As For Me and My House We Will Serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15)
Mite Goal $25,000

1968 Duluth "Let His Work Your Pleasure Be" (Isaiah 6:8)
Mite Goal $28,000

1970s

1970 Thunder Bay, Ontario "Great God, Here I Am" (Romans 8:18-23)
Mite Goal $29,000

1972 Morris "He That Heareth My Word and Believeth On Him That Sent Me Hath Everlasting LIFE" (John 5:24)
Mite Goal $33,900

1974 Moorhead "Bloom Where You Are Planted" (Solomon 2:10)
Mite Goal $35,000

1976 St. Cloud "Bring in the Sheaves" (Psalms 126:6) Mite Goal $50,000

1978 Bemidji "To God Be The Glory" (Philippians 2:11)
Mite Goal $50,000

1980s

1980 Thunder Bay, Ontario "Ever, Only, All For Thee" (Psalm 86:11)
Mite Goal $55,000

1982 Crookston "Grow, Glow, Go in Christ" (I Peter 2:9-10)
Mite Goal $70,000

1984 Duluth "Anchored in the Lord" (Hebrews 6:19)
Mite Goal $80,000

1986 Moorhead "Chosen and Challenged" (John 15:16)
Mite Goal $85,000

1988 Alexandria "God Creates, God Sustains" (Genesis 1:31)
Mite Goal $88,700

1990s

1990 Thunder Bay, Ontario "Bind Us Together" (Romans 5:6)
Mite Goal $88,000

1992 St. Cloud "Renew Us, Lord, as Living Stones" (I Peter 2:5)
Mite Goal $90,000

1994 Bemidji "Great Things He Has Done" (Psalm 66:5)
Mite Goal $92,000

1996 Duluth "Reflect the Lord's Glory" (II Corinthians 3:18)
Mite Goal $95,000

1998 Alexandria "...I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:17)
Mite Goal $100,000

2000s

2000 Moorhead "Who Will Go and Work Today?" (Isaiah 6:8)
Mite Goal $110,000

2002 St. Cloud "Thousand, Thousand Thanks Shall Be" (Psalm 107:1)
Mite Goal $120,000

2004 Willmar "His Cross, Our Freedom" (Galatians 5:1)
Mite Goal $125,000

2006 Grand Forks, ND "Jesus Overflowing in You" (Romans 15:13)
Mite Goal $130,000

2008 Duluth, MN "Walk in the Light" (1 John 1:7)
Mite Goal $132,500

2010s

2010 Alexandria, MN "Come To The Living Water" (Revelation 22:17b)
Mite Goal $135,000

2012 Breezy Point, MN "Arise! Shine! Your Light has Come..." (Isaiah 60:1-3 NIV)
Mite Goal $135,000

2014 St. Cloud, MN "God Alone Is Our Rock" (Ps 62:1,2  ESV)
Mite Goal: $136,000

2016 Wilmar, MN "Heir of God's Abundant Love" (1 John 3:1a, NIV)
Mite Goal: $137,000

Archivist-Historian

JoNette Brogaard
320-846-0984

Mailing Address

Please send all archival items to:

JoNette Brogaard
LWML MN No District Archivist-Historian
6158 Co Rd 11 NW
Alexandria MN 56308
320-846-0984

Past District Presidents

Lydia (Mrs. Edgar) Bode
d. (July 31, 2012)
Served from 1964-1968

Thelma (Mrs. Fred) Derkey
d. (Jan. 7, 2012)
Served from 1968-1972

Katheryn Pipho
Served from 1972-1976

Virginia (Mrs. Karl) Ansorge
Served from 1976-1980

Kay (Mrs. C. J.) Repulski
Served from 1980-1984

Elda Maynard
Served from 1984-1988

Betty (Mrs. Earl) Wagner
d. (Jan. 3, 2019)
Served from 1988 - 1992

Helen (Mrs. Vernon) Beck
d. (March 14, 2014)
Served from 1992-1996

Phyllis (Mrs. Robert) Jastram
d. (Nov. 12, 2022)
Served from 1996-2000

Lucille (Phillips) Lidbeck
d. (Nov. 09, 2013)
Served from 2000-2004

Laurain Jurchen
Served from 2004-2008

Cheryl (Petersen) Hamil
Served from 2008-2012

JoNette Brogaard
Served from 2012-2016

Marilyn Hiltel
Served from 2016-2020

Kathy Brandt
Serving from 2020-(current)

Do you want to contribute?

Can you help us? We will be posting additional historical information about the LWML Minnesota North District. If you have any interesting facts about our district, please feel free to share them with us. You can send the information to: historian@lwmlmnn.org.