BIBLE CAMP RED WILLOW · 2019-12-09 · story of the beginnings of the Bible Camp work, recall many wonderful memories of friends who gave their help and cooperation, of interesting

RED WILLOWBIBLE CAMP

The History of

Established 1926

M. Schleif Photography

Compiled by DeAnna B. Frederick

IN THE BEGINNING...

At the request of the Bible Camp Committee, I will try to tell thestory of the beginnings of the Bible Camp work, recall manywonderful memories of friends who gave their help and cooperation,of interesting incidents, and of inspiring sessions with our youngpeople. But most of all it is the story of how God brought into beingand carried forward a work for our young people in such a way thatthe present growth of the movement has far exceeded our wildesthopes and dreams. Our prayers have been answered abundantly.REVEREND R. A. OFSTEDAL

RED WILLOW BIBLE CAMP1

1926Girls Camp at Devil's Lake

According to Reverend R. A. Ofstedal, during the District LutherLeague Convention held at Devil’s Lake, in the summer of 1926,several girls from the Edmore Parish had a camp of their own at thelake. They expressed the wish to their pastor and to others thatthey have their camp next year as well. During the first couple ofyears in the ministry, it became more and more apparant that youngpeople needed more of an opportunity for Christian fellowship andwholesome fun. For the most part, their lives were lived within theconfines of their own parish and community.


1927Boys Camp at Devil's Lake

In the summer of 1927, 14 boys, mostly from the St. Ansgar andBethel congregations of the Edmore parish, responded to aninvitation to go with their pastor to Devil’s Lake for a 4-day camp. The boys brought their own provisions and tents. Each day startedwith a session conducted by the pastor immediately followingbreakfast. Everyone sat about a table in the open, and each daydiscussed one of the four parts of the catechism as it deals withthe Lord’s supper.


1928The First Red Willow Camp

There was a desire to attempt another camp and we started toinvestigate possible sites. There was a visit to Stump Lake, andanother one into the Turtle Mountains in search of a site. Finally, wewere told about Red Willow Lake. In the summer of 1928, about 35young people responded to an invitation to go to this lake for aweek’s outing. We secured the Greenland Cottage for the girls andanother cottage nearby for the boys. Tables were set up under thetrees. The young people were each asked to bring $1.50 and asupply of provisions for the commissary. A great deal of homevisitation was required to persuade the anxious parents to let theiryoung people go to a lake. The feeling seemed quite general thattheir boy or girl might not return home again. In fact, when we issued a solemn warning to the young people, onthe opening day, against the hazards of the water, the result wasthat no one would go near it! We had to change our propagandaand exert all influence possible to persuade the young people toenter the boats. It is difficult to realize now that practically none ofthese young people at that time had been at a lake. Farmersdonated the use of their trucks and cars for our transportation. Miss Edna Anderson, a student at the Lutheran Bible Institute,assisted the pastor in the teaching of 2 classes a day.


1929Two Camps

In July 1929, 28 children accompanied the pastor to a camp atDevil’s Lake. Here several happy days were spent, with timedivided between instruction and play. The camp ended a daybefore planned. Cyclones were prevalent during the year 1929. Irecall vividly seeing the cloud come down over the water of Devil’sLake in the direction of our camp. We gathered in the cabin, whilethe big trees outside trembled under the force of the tempest. Thechildren gathered close around their pastor and sang hymns. Wediscovered later in the evening that the cyclone had spent its forceon a golf course nearby, taking up big trees by their roots. We feltthat we had experienced the protecting hand of the Almighty.


The summer of 1929 proved to be the turning point in the BibleCamp work. Up to this time we had felt that the work was anexperiment and we had entertained serious doubts as to whether itwas worthwhile. But we felt we must make another attempt andinvited the Rev. Carl B. Ylvisaker to be our Bible instructor. That inturn induced the thought that with such a spiritual treat in store weshould invite others to come with us. We visited the Cooperstownand Lakota circuits making personal appeals to the pastors tocome and bring their young people, inviting each of them to help usin the instruction. The idea was quite new, the time was short, andthere did not seem to be much interest. It was on one of thosetrips that we laid the matter entirely in the Lord’s hands, saying thatif it was not according to His plan and program, He should causethe work to cease. On the other hand, if it was His wish, He shouldindicate that He desired to have the project carried further.

RED WILLOW BIBLE CAMP

About 45 of our young people came to attend this camp. Provisions and camping equipment were brought in trucks. This time about 10 cars came with young people. A small tent,with just enough room for the cots, served as quarters for Rev.Ylvisaker, Arthur Wiedahl, and Rev. R. A. Ofstedal. For the firsttime we made use of the pavilion at the lake for our Biblestudy. At first no visitors came, but after a day or so Rev. A. O.Odegard, from McVille, came with a group of young people. These young people became so enthusiastic thatarrangements were made for them to stay on with usthroughout the week. During this week, Dr. David Stoeve, ourdistrict president, came to be with us and to encourage us. Itbecame an inspiring week and proved to have greater resultsthan we had expected.

The Crucial Year

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This year the number of morning classes was increased from 2 to3. The young people seemed to thrive under it. The year before wehad scheduled a “quiet hour”, immediately following the noon meal,but we found that the group was not mature enough to take fulladvantage of this hour set aside for individual Bible study andprayer, so the “cottage conference” period came into being with theyoung people gathering in small groups to discuss problems ofChristian faith and life. Their interest in this discussion was arevelation. Our “camp-fire” hour at the close of the day hadheretofore blended secular song with the sacred. Now we began tosing hymns and spiritual songs exclusively around the camp fire. Again, the young people liked it. More and more this hour came tobe regarded as a kind of benediction over the day.


All in all, we were beginning to see that our young people didnot shy away from a strong Christian program, but rather thatthe increased program of classes and stronger religiousemphasis was far better designed to reach their hearts than a“sugar-coated” program. Recreation and fun had their part, butmore and more it became evident that the gospel appeal wasboth needed and desired. In short, the Bible Camp programduring this year of 1929 began to reveal very clearly far greaterpossibilities for spiritual work with young people than hadhitherto been realized.

A Change in Program

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One of the pastors said that it was too bad we were at camp duringthe week of the 4th of July because of the expected presence thatday of a large crowd of people. Indeed, they came – over 3,000 ofthem attracted by the picnic facilities, the baseball game, and someof them by the dance. Without our knowledge, it had also beenadvertised that a “prominent Lutheran pastor” would speak. Thechallenge was accepted by Rev. Ylvisaker, who spoke from the stepsof the dance pavilion. The crowds became silent as he brought hismessage and pressed in close to hear as he spoke of Christianpatriotism. That afternoon we managed to secure about 16 boats,and in the late afternoon our young people came floating down thelake in this little flotilla of boats for the first lake “Sing.” It was abeautiful evening, and the shores were lined with hundreds ofvisitors. Quiet fell upon the scene as clear young voices sang theirpraise of the “Beautiful Savior.” The people from the dance hall wereattracted by the sound of voices until virtually no one remainedthere.

So, before the camp closed, we heard the pastor who had doubtedthe advisability of our being there say that nothing could stop thesuccess of such a camp. Later, we heard that many people hadreturned to their respective communities telling of these youngpeople and our Bible Camp. Without realizing it, the Lord had causedthis work to be advertised in a most effective way. But perhaps whatmost enthused us at the close of that camp were the results thatfollowed in our own parish. Returning home, on the last evening, theyoung people stopped the procession of cars to request that we singsome hymns in the streets of their own village of Edmore before wedisbanded. They came with the request that they might organize ahigh school chorus, which carried on through the year. In manyways, the great possibilities of Bible Camp work began to becomeapparent.

A Test for the Camp

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1930More Parishes Interested

In 1930 several parishes became interested, and about 150 youngpeople came to camp. Again, Rev. Ylvisaker was our speaker. It isnot necessary for us to emphasize how greatly God had used himfor the establishing of not only this work but of later camps whichcame into being.


1932Continued Expansion

With our continued expansion, we had to secure more cabins andwe began to talk about using tents. In 1932 our attendanceincreased to about 225. Attendance at services in the pavilion onSunday which we had begun to hold during the preceding year, nowpacked that building to capacity, with upwards of 1600 people, andwith many outside listening as best they could to the service. During this time of expansion, we received a great deal of helpfrom Rev. G.C. Loftness, of Devil’s Lake, Victor Boe, Rev. M. B.Ordel, of Binford, and from some of the local business men whohad been consistent friends, including Mr. Gilbertson, nowdeceased. Later, Rev. H. Everson, of McVille, came to our rescueand gave help of inestimable value. More and more of our pastorsfrom the surrounding circuits became regular visitors to the campin the years that followed.



More equipment had to be acquired. We managed to find beds,stoves, and ice boxes. For a couple of years, we secured the largeLuther League tent from the Park River Circuit, for our dining hall. When this was no longer available, Rev. Loftness became acommittee of one to bring in a tent which he secured from theIndian Reservation at Fort Totten, and which he faithfullytransported to the camp and back to its owner each year. Eightsmaller tents were brought from the young people’s band ofBuxton, North Dakota. For dishes and utensils, we appealed for acouple of years directly to our young people attending the camp. We asked in advance that if possible, our young people would bringto camp dishes, knives and forks, and cups which they could leaveas a donation. The response was generous, and we soon had acouple of barrels of such equipment. The Luther League andLadies Aid of Binford, also provided assistance by supplyingequipment and by always being available to help out.

We were called upon to help with selection of sites out in the BadLands and up in the Turtle Mountains, where it was thought we mightestablish a Luther League Camp sponsored by the district. We triedto persuade the young people of the Oakes Circuit to come with us,but they decided to have their own camp. Another Luther Leaguesponsorship of camp was attempted at Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Ina short time, we began to hear of camps springing up over the entireMidwest. As this came about, our National Luther League decided that thereshould be some coordinating agency, and conferences began to beheld with representatives of the various camps. Without realizing it,God had brought into being a mighty movement within our Churchbody.

Other Camps

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We cannot help but wonder at the progress of the Bible Campmovement and its rapid spread throughout the Lutheran Church. Bible Camps are dying out in some areas of the Christian church. This is happening where the Church has lost its message, for BibleCamps cannot survive without the attracting power of the ChristianGospel. But with that power as the center, we need not fear for thefuture of the work. We cannot help but feel that God has saved theBible Camp movement for the Lutheran Church for just such a dayas this.


STORY OF THEPRESENT SITE

It is interesting to go back and trace the story, how the present siteat Red Willow came to be selected. This is again an instance ofGod’s guiding hand. As far back as 1928 or 1929, those interested in the future of thecamp began to be attracted by the possibility offered by the site atthe north end of the Red Willow Lake. In 1929, Mr. Jacobson, theowner, was approached. Mr. Jacobson had always shown a deepinterest in the work. He gave several valid reasons why, at thattime, he did not feel ready to enter into negotiations with us. Hepointed out several difficulties which would have to be overcome. We now realize, much better than at that time, that we were notready for this step. God had other plans for the work. A beautifulcustom, however, grew up at Red Willow Lake in connection withthis prospective site. Each year on the last day of the camp asunrise service was held on what we called “Look-out Point.” Earlyin the morning the young people would make their way along thelake shore up to this hilltop site. Here devotions were held, andspecial prayers were offered that if God so willed this place mightsomeday become the permanent home of the Red Willow BibleCamp.



Near the large rock at the top of the hill each year a jar was buriedcontaining the names of those present at the camp. Each year thisjar was unearthed, and roll was called to see how many membersfrom the previous year were again present. Then the jar was againburied to await the next year’s sunrise service. It is truly faith-strengthening to think that after these many years notonly has this site, in answer to many prayers, been secured, but thatour people of this area are planning to erect a chapel at the veryplace where the prayers were offered.

The time finally came, however, when it became necessary to lookfor a camp site in another locality other than Red Willow Lake. Itwas with real regret that we left this locality, but we left with thehope and prayer that God would make it possible for us to sometimereturn. On one of the last days of our 1935 camp, together with Rev.Everson, we conferred with Mr. Jacobson, and secured from him thepromise that should he ever contemplate the sale of this site hewould give the Red Willow Lutheran Bible Camp the priority. Thispromise, as will be seen, he faithfully kept.

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1936 - 1939On the Move

For 2 years we camped near Cooperstown, at the Bible ConferenceGrounds. The next 2 years the camp was held at Chautauqua Park inValley City. We began to realize that the very fact that we werecompelled to move about in this manner helped to interest friendsover a much wider area than would have been the case had weremained at Red Willow Lake. Again, God’s guiding hand. In 1939, Rev. M. A. Braaten took up the work with consecratedenergy and enthusiasm. Together with Rev. L. B. Brake, then ofLakota, he entered negotiations with Mr. Jacobson, with the resultthat in a short time the property was secured for Bible Camppurposes.



It was not until the June 12, 1940, that building operations began. Camp was to open on June 23rd, and all we had was the tract ofland. Not a single facility was ready. Various circumstances hadprevented us taking up the work before this time. We had, however,conferred with Mr. Bard, of Bard and Vanderbilt, Minneapolisarchitects, as to where the buildings should be located. We had alsoscoured the country, without success, for a large “church” barn. These barns had once been used for stabling horses, but in our eraof automobiles, had become obsolete. Such a building, if available,could easily be reconstructed for use as a temporary dormitory forthe girls. Finally, Rev. M.T. Bratrude, of Sheyenne, notified us that hewould bring such a barn from their parish, and that it would beavailable a few days before camp was scheduled to open. It was the evening of June 11th that we came to Red Willow Lakeand set up camp with two carpenters, which was all that we wereable to secure at first. Our camp cook was strictly amateur. Mydaughter Dorothea, then 15 years of age and her younger sister Judyserved in that capacity.

Tents were set up to serve as a shelter for the various workers. MyNash car, famed for its sleeping accommodations, came to good useduring the days that followed. In order to get lumber and othermaterials to the camp on time, it was necessary for us to sleepseveral nights alongside the lumber sheds in Binford, so that in themorning we would be on hand to arouse the manager and secure hishelp in loading the trailer with more supplies. Again, there weresome evenings when we could move our “hotel” out to the hilltop siteand awaken in the beautiful surroundings of our new Bible Camphome.

The Story of Our First Buildings

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In the next 10 days we had to build the dining hall which was to be70 feet long and 30 feet wide, with a kitchen about 30 by 20 feet. Our barn had to be made into a temporary dormitory for the girls,since we had no time or means with which to build cottages. Acottage for the registrar had to be constructed, also a refreshmentstand. It was also necessary to dig a well. In compliance with ouragreement with Mr. Jacobson, our 11 acres must be fenced in, with acattle gate of special construction to serve as the entrance. Also, aroad about ¼ mile long had to be graded. Toilet facilities must beprovided. A small dock and a raft must also be in the picture, andbenches for 300 hundred people had to be constructed. Bunks hadto be built for 60 or 70 people in the girls’ dormitory. These weremade of canvas and lumber. The lumber, as well as the sand andgravel for the footings of our main building, had to be hauled. All ourtents, including the large one, must be set up in time for the campopening. The beds, stoves, and other equipment, which we hadstored in several places in the countryside, had to be brought back tothe camp site. A lighting system must also be set up, whichnecessitated the building of a little power house.


I shall never forget the evening when Rev. Bratrude came with thebarn. It was cut into 2 sections and loaded on a truck and a trailer. This building, about 50 or 60 feet long, had been hauled about 50miles over hill and dale. Rev. Bratrude brought with him severalwilling workers. A site was quickly selected, and the barn unloaded,with the 2 sections opposite each other. In a few days the sectionswere joined together, and a crew of young people were busy cuttingout and nailing together lumber after a set pattern for the bunks andtacking on canvas to serve for beds. Rev. Braaten came in with acrew of men from Edmore, who enthusiastically took charge ofbuilding the needed benches and gave assistance wherever theycould.


At the start, things seemed to move very slowly, but as time went on,and the deadline approached, the tempo increased. Andrew Sathe ofValley City gave us some volunteer help on the first day in clearingthe ground. Someone had loaned us a team of horses and a scraperfor that purpose. Two carpenters set to work immediately to makeforms for the cement footings for the dining hall and the kitchen. During the second day we hauled in the required sand and gravel in atruck donated by a farmer. That evening, the cement was mixed andpoured. This work was done by moonlight, by a small but activecrew. We finished it about 11:00 p.m. Our help was on hand eachday shortly after daybreak and labored from the rising of the sununtil the stars appeared. After a few days we were able to use moremen and were fortunate in securing them from nearby communities.

The"Church" Barn

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Psalm 91 1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of theAlmighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom Itrust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadlypestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will findrefuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror ofnight, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, tenthousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe withyour eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,”and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all yourways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot againsta stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion andthe serpent. 14“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protecthim, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I willbe with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”


The well was dug by Palmer Svaren. The location of the well wasmade by a diviner who operated by willow sticks, with one shoe offand one shoe on. We rather doubted the accuracy when we foundthat 30 feet of excavation was not enough, nor 40, nor even 50 feet. Day after day, Palmer’s old truck worked back and forth carryingaway pails of dirt which were lifted by a windless arrangement. Weworried about Palmer as he dug deeper and deeper without strikingwater. He insisted that he did not need any curbing for the supportof the walls. Our fears were increased one day when some visitingcounty commissioners spoke of the danger. These countycommissioners, by the way, had responded graciously to our appeal,and had brought in their equipment for the building of the road. Wespoke with Palmer about the danger, but he insisted that he must goon. What a relief it was when suddenly one evening he reported thathe had struck a good supply of water. We asked him if he had notbeen nervous when working at such great depth. His answer is aclassic. “I took great comfort from the 91st Psalm.”

Digging the Well

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THE WORK GOES ON You can picture for yourselves a scene of varied activity, especiallyduring the last few days preceding the opening of camp. By thistime upwards of 40 workers were busy, some of them roofing themain building, others at work on setting up the bunks, tents andbeds, still others working on the benches, and some working on theroad. Others were clearing away brush from the grounds, to providean outdoor seating arrangement, and finally the cooks and camppersonnel came in to set up the final arrangements.


Yes, we should stop here to pay a little tribute to those cooks. Irecall how, in years before at the lake, they had worked in a largeleaky tent with a non-descript collection of stoves, gas – (gravityfeed and pressure) kerosene stoves, or perhaps with a wood stovethrown in for good measure. Because the tents leaked their platformbecame muddied by the shoes of the waiters who on one occasionhad to struggle up to their shoe-tops in the mud between the tablesbefore we had a chance to bring in planks and straw. This was, ofcourse, under unusual weather conditions. Even at best, however,these cooks worked under primitive conditions serving 200 or moreyoung people and often unexpected visitors, all on a limited budget. This gives an idea of what women can do, when they, like theMarines, tackle the impossible. “Let’s give them a hand” the youngpeople used to say, and they surely deserved this and more.

He who said so graciously to his Church, “Lo, I will be with youalways,” must have had Bible Camps in mind, for with all our lack ofplanning, and with all the obstacles that have been overcome, thework has gone on. Today, we can look back on faith and simply say,“the Lord hath done this.” We can look forward with the same faithto greater things. I believe that God has a greater plan for the RedWillow Bible Camp in the days to come. As for all the projects of HisChurch and Kingdom, it must continue to be true that if we pray infaith, and are consecrated to His Will, He will continue to hear us andanswer us. “For He is able to exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask oraccording to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in thechurch by Christ Jesus throughout the ages. World without end.” Amen. Written by Rev. and Mrs. R. A. Ofstedal1945


But on that June day when camp opened, our kitchen was muchbetter equipped. On the first morning the windows were not in and adriving wind and rain made it necessary for the young people to tackup canvass both at the kitchen and auditorium windows. Thenecessary installation was made later in that day. Camp opened atthe scheduled time, and whatever obstacles there may have beenserved as a call to a little more prayer and a little more work. During the year following, 3 more cottages were erected, one of themby the Edmore Parish. And now, God has raised up new leaders forthe camp. A host of friends are rallying to the task. Our Men’sBrotherhoods are taking up the challenge. The debt had beencompletely retired, and funds are accumulating for a chapel. Otheradditions are in prospect and will be realized as God opens the way. We have told a little of the greater story of the Bible Camps. Wecould not begin to tell the story of its many inspiring sessions. Onlyeternity will reveal the fruits of the Word as sown in the hearts of ouryoung people. But as we look back upon the story of the Bible Campmovement, we can only think of it as another instance of the Lord’sleading, guiding and helping hand.

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In 1966 a camp staff of 60 conducted a camping program at ParkRiver Bible Camp and Lake of the Woods in addition to Red Willow. Staff and programming continued for this tri-camp arrangementthrough 1969.


1966Working with Other Camps andGrowth

Also, the Board of Directors is instructed to begin construction of theOfstedal Center as soon as possible. Ground breaking is held inOctober. The Rev. Robert Weber spent many hours designing andsupervising the building and construction of the retreat center. Thededication In Memory of Rev. Rudulph A. Ofstedal, Founder of RedWillow Lutheran Bible Camp is held on September 10, 1967.

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The Grand Forks flood created an unusual opportunity to open thecamp to those left homeless. It was a great chance to share ourcamp and also to minister to those that were really looking for asolid rock to cling to. Darrell Costain, RWBC Chairperson


1997Community Needs

Camping cannot be an island where you send your kids to get a shortin the arm, but it has to be a part of that whole congregation andmission of the church. The whole thing has to make the churchstronger, and that can only be done by teaching young people how tolive their faith day to day in the confidence that God really does lovethem. Jerry Olstad

Chester Fritz Library UND.edu

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Grand Forks, ND

GAIUS AUSLANDREV. RAY KLUG PASTOR JIM OAKLAND PASTOR TED KALKWARF DEAN NELSON PASTOR ERIC ACKERMAN BOB IVERSON, ACTING DIRECTOR RON ABRAHAMSON RAY BRANSTITER, ACTING DIRECTOR PASTOR CHUCK SABIN DENNIS & BECKY GOETZ, CO-DIRECTORS BECKY GOETZ, ACTING DIRECTOR REV. JAMIE DESAI RICK FREDERICK

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1962-1968 1968-1974

1974 1975-1976

1977-1983 1983-1995

1995-1996 1996-2002

2002 2003-2006

2006-2013 2014

2014-2015 2016-2019

Red Willow Bible Camp Directors

90TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIES



Becky (Alm) GoetzBinford, ND I wish I still had the packing slip the camp sent to me when I was an8th grader. I had just completed one year of Confirmation withPastor Carl Turmo at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Page. Ourgroup was heading off to a place called Red Willow Bible Camp, and Istarted to pull together the items on the list. First, I needed a hat and dresses for chapel! I asked my cousin’swife, Jo, to buy a hat for me when she was in Fargo. Check.I borrowed a few dresses from my Mom. Check.Then I needed shorts, shirts and shoes. Check.Canteen money and most important to me, money for a trail ride!Check.Off we went to camp, and I think I stayed in the Spiritwood Cabin,now named Esther. Canteen was served out of the Dining Hall, whichis now gone. The retreat center and pool were still in the future. Ido remember the chapel, and that the canteen was in the front leftwing. I bought a short-sleeved sweatshirt!

I also joined the optional Choir, and we practiced one hymn over andover. “For All the Saints” which was Hymn #144 in the Red Hymnal. That was the theme song for the week. I also remember the crazysongs we learned from the counselors. I taught them to my kids,and they thought they were weird. (Yes, they were). “Granny’s in the cellar,Lordy can’t you smell her,Making biscuits on that darn old dirty stove. In her eyes she has some matter that keeps dripping in the batter,and she whistles while the (sniff) runs down her nose.” (Then therefrain!) The other was called: “Three Non-seeing Rodents” to the tune ofThree Blind Mice. Very lofty songs! I didn’t know it at the time, but 1963 was the year the Board hiredGaius Ausland to be the first full-time year-round camp director. Heand Sheila were living in a cabin with no running water and 9 kidswhen the board brought in the camp house for them. I could neverhave imagined that 42 years later my husband and I would move in tothat house as Program Director and Site Manager.

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Our church in Jamestown used Red Willow for many fall and springretreats for Confirmation classes. I helped teach Confirmationclasses in the early 90s and came to the camp as a chaperone. In1997, I was called to Atonement as the Youth and EducationCoordinator. In that position, I scheduled and chaperoned manyretreats, work projects and headed cabin adoption project days. Atonement donated many loads of flowers over the years andplanted many flower beds up until 2016. During some of these events at the camp, I met Pastor Chuck Sabin,a Tri-County Ministry Pastor, and a part-time Executive Director forRed Willow Ministries. He and his family led worship at Atonement, Iattended a workshop led by Ray Siegel at the camp, and I got toknow Chuck at Fall Theological gatherings. In 2002, 2003 and againin 2004, Chuck asked me to consider joining the staff at Red WillowMinistries as the Program Director. After dismissing this idea manytimes, I finally discussed it with Denny. I had been at Atonement for7 years and was ready for a challenge. Denny had worked in StateGovernment for enough years to retire with the rule of 85 (age andyears employed). My generous and empowering husband remindedme that I had followed him to Kalamazoo, Bismarck and Jamestownfor his education and career. He said that he would follow me toRed Willow if I felt called to take on a new venture.

My family moved to Casselton in 1964, and I attended Red WillowBible Camp many more times. The packing slip no longer requiredhats and dresses, and I do believe jeans and t-shirts became morecommon summer wear. The horseback riding was still a big draw forme, and I always wanted to ride a little pinto that the Miller’s had intheir string of trail horses. When I was a junior, many of my friends at school becameCounselors in Training, and I even interviewed with Gaius at CentralCass High School but didn’t make the cut! Once I was away fromhome at college, I lost track of the camp. I had no idea the RetreatCenter was built in 1967, or that a pool was completed in the early90s. Denny and I moved from Bismarck to Jamestown in 1983, and soonafter I signed up for a winter Women’s Bible Study retreat for the“Scope” Bible Study. I couldn’t quite imagine where we would staybut was happy to find a retreat center with everything under oneroof.

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After coming up with about 10 good reasons to not go, and about 4reasons to say yes, I called Chuck and said I would accept his offer,but Denny would need a job too! They were searching for a SiteManager, so Denny was offered that position. We moved to thecamp in March 2005 and fixed up the camp house (that Gaius andSheila had lived in) and settled in to figure out how to hire and trainstaff and run a Bible Camp. One call to Abbi Johnson provided anexperienced and able assistant program director, and we survivedACA Accreditation and a busy summer. Abbi left in the fall, andDenny and I settled into our roles. Then Chuck felt called back intoparish ministry, and announced his departure for Roy, Utah in June. The board then asked Denny and me to consider taking on theExecutive Director position as co-directors. We said YES! I calledAbbi up again at her church job and offered her a full time ProgramDirector position, and she said YES! Denny continued as the sitemanager and administrator, and we had Erica Adrian as officemanager, Becky Delfs as Food Services Director, and a supportiveboard of directors.

Over the years staffing changed and evolved, but the camp wasalways blessed to have dedicated people filling the positions. Program Directors I worked with include Abbi Myers (Johnson),Allison Levi (Stoltz) Josh Silbernagel and Jeremy Maahs.Office Managers included Wendy Frappier, Erica (Adrian) Henne,Becky Nelson and Julie Maahs. Denny retired at the end of 2013, I was the acting director until theBoard called Pastor Jamie Desai as Executive Director in May 2014. After serving as assistant director for another year, I retired fromRed Willow Ministries on June 1, 2015. Watching the cars filled with eager campers go past our home onthe lake to the camp this summer, I am filled with hope for thefuture of this outdoor ministry.

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John H. Paulson After attending Red Willow as an 8th grade confirmation studentin 1969 (with Tomi Folk and a few other future camp staffers), Iheard my first call to ministry at Red Willow during the summer of1978 while sitting by the lake, waiting for the staff musical tobegin. Scott Tunseth, a friend and neighbor from Mayville, waspart of the staff. As I sat there, I heard a voice (mine and yet notmine) say, “I’m going to be on staff here next summer.” That fall, I began my senior year at UND. When camp recruitmenttime came around, I deliberately DID NOT apply to Red Willow, buttried instead to every camp BUT Red Willow. Being small, they allrequired staff to also be lifeguards. The only problem was that Icould not swim to save my OWN life.

I did, however know my way around a camera and a darkroom. Infact, I was working for the University photographer as my work-study assignment. Imagine my surprise when my sister told me thatScott’s brother Pete, who was Red Willow’s program director thatyear, had invited me to apply for a position as combined counselor-photographer at the camp. Ten years after my stint as a camper I gave up my fight and appliedfor the position. It wouldn’t be the last argument I lost to God. Italso would not be my last summer at Red Willow. I returned thesummer of 1991, in the middle of seminary, to be camp chaplain.

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Tomi Jill Folk Hello from Tomi Jill Folk, counselor, photographer, craft directorfrom summer 75-78 and retreat coordinator/assistant to directorDean Nelson. Sorry that I will be unable to attend the reunion. I suspect that likemy own experience there as a camper that drew me back as a staffmember, much of what mattered most to me were the incrediblepeople – nothing will ever match the friendships formed and workskills gained, and especially the sharing of faith through the musicand Bible studies. I also had a lot of time visiting camp and working there in the offseason. It was while working there that I first began gettingrequests to preach. My first sermon was written out in the pasture,with the wonderful passage helping me get past the fact I had neverheard a woman preach before: For what we preach is not ourselves,but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as his servants. The textwould later be used at my ordination after attending Luther Seminaryyears later.

Blessings to all who gather; the attached poem goes beyond the joyof the people, to talk more about the sacredness of the place. Idream of someday bringing my husband Hank Bruce to see and feelRWBC’s spirit. For now, we live in New Mexico and are writers and publishers (cancheck us out on Amazon.com) and have a nonprofit called HungerGrow Away that has helped people learn to grow food and recognizethe food growing around us and how to use the plants. I was aparish pastor for 11 years until my health failed after servingcongregations through 3 floods and 2 tornadoes. But the doors toministry are many – and included providing hospice care for both ofour mothers and a book to help others do the same, The FamilyCaregiver’s Journal, and so many others. I am thankful for the Facebook connections, and especially wish Icould have been there to hug Pat & Clyde Hendrickson and family,who devoted so much of their lives to keeping the camp running andfood cooked to keep us all well fed. May you all be blessed, andpost lots of photos!

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My spirit used to soaracross the prairie plains –the hills and sky remainthe place I walked with God. Out in the open landmy sighs and cries could flyand echo back to meas breezes passing by. Laughter cheered my soulas wild flowers I did find –they chased the blues awayand brought me peace of mind. The night sky I beholdwith utmost awe and fearthe enormity of it allhumbled my presence here.

‘Twas safe to walk alonein day and night as well;the longings of my soulto God above, I’d tell. To history I’d linkwhere pioneers had trod;the ox cart trails I’d tread;walked where the house of sod had been!Its outline lingered thereupon the hillside bare. A place can hold a heartand call to the spirt, too.I miss the camp I loved,the place my faith once grew. Tomi Jill Folk, M.Div.

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Joella (Ackerman) Mesa I Grew Up at RWBC! From 1983-1995 my world revolved around summer and being at RedWillow Bible Camp. I was 7 years old my first summer that I lived atRWBC, and I was a bit intimidated by this new world and new homeas I was a very shy girl. With each summer, my confidence grew andhelped shape the person I am today. I experienced a summer vacation unlike that of all my friends fromschool. When school ended, I moved with my family to RWBC to getready for staff training and many fun-filled adventures. We lived inthe upper end rooms of the retreat center. One room with all thebeds for sleeping and one room as our living/play room. It was thehub, where we started and ended each day, but mostly ouradventures happened outside those walls. Typical days began withbreakfast in the dining hall amongst staff and campers, attendingstaff meeting with all the “college kids” (which made me feel sogrown up!), singing and celebrating at morning chapel, lunch in thedining hall, an afternoon full of activities where I mostly spent my

time in the Craft Barn and swimming in the lake (leeches, “the itch,”and all!), dinner and entertainment in the dining hall, an all campactivity (memories of Boofer, staff musical, and Christ Walk abound),and then singing and dancing and prayers at evening Campfire. Notmany others can say they had summers filled with experiences likethese! I had the privilege of participating in all these events in myyounger years and then leading them in my high school and collegeyears. The summer I was 13 I transitioned from the “Director’s Daughter” toworker. They needed help in the kitchen a few weekends for retreatsand a week or two during the weekly camper sessions. I wasnominated to help, and that was the start of “earning my keep!” Iwas full-fledged staff after that. 3 years as the kitchen assistant(working with Dorothy Bjornson), 1 year on the maintenance staff, 1year as the support staff director (both years with Bob Iverson) and 1year as a senior counselor. I moved up through the ranks,developing my voice and confidence with each step.

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I have so many wonderful and life changing memories of my years atRWBC. I know I am missing thousands, but a few I recall now are: Hundreds (maybe even thousands) of hours spent in the Craft Barnmaking the project of the day! I think my dad still has the facemasks I made! That project made me overcome some fears andreally rely on others as my face was covered with plaster for quitesome time! I also became a master of friendship bracelets, and stillcan whip one up from a variety of techniques today. Swimming in the lake (yes, well before a pool fund was established!)and getting covered in leeches (to be removed after shaking salt onthem!) and getting “the itch!” Even after those not-so-funexperiences, we still got back in the lake for more fun! Horseback riding at Art’s and roller skating and malts at Red WillowResort… back when off-site activities happened in the afternoon! The Mountain Dew Swing!

Devil’s Lake grade school weeks. When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade,not enough kids signed up for the Devil’s Lake program, so I was“volunteered” to go. I was nervous about going, but I had a greattime! That led to me really volunteering to go for other grade schoolprograms even if there were enough registrations. I remember whenwe got the tipis and set up Tipi Village and what fun it was to be apart of the program and live there for a week. The Summer Staff Musicals. I started off being part of the mainnumbers, but with each summer I gained confidence until Ivolunteered to do a solo. No other staff member had volunteered forthe solo, so I did, much to the shock of the program director (andmyself too!) After I volunteered, some of the staff members went tomy Dad, the Director, and said they didn’t think I should be allowed todo the solo as it should be a staff member who did. I remembercrying when my dad told me I had to let the staff member do the soloand threatening to just go back home for the summer instead ofstaying at camp “to teach them a lesson” if they didn’t want methere. I recall my dad smiling and very calmly telling me that itwouldn’t make a difference to them if I left, but that I could be thebigger person and “share” the solo, teaching them a better lesson.

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So that summer I “understudied” the solo and got to do it a coupletimes when the staff member was off-site. I think we both learnedvaluable lessons through the challenging situation, and I returned thenext summer more confident to volunteer and take more leadingroles in the musicals. We used to do the musicals one night a weekat camp and then travel each Sunday to a different congregation todo it for that church’s worship service. It was a lot of work, but somuch fun to be a part of a musical faith message every week! Victory Camp. Those were challenging and rewarding weeks. Frommy first experience and hiding under the dining hall table tovolunteering in a cabin and being a cabin counselor. Sleeping on the floor in my dad’s office! I worked in the kitchen forretreats in the off-season many times. There were several timeswhen the retreat center was fully booked with attendees, so the onlyplace left for me to stay for the weekend was my dad’s office. It wasalways fun to get to be a part of events at camp outside of summer. Weenie Wednesday! Having hot dogs cooked on the huge barrel grill,charred just right…mmmm, I can taste them now, and they tastegood!

Building the Sod House! What an experience that was, not only thephysical strength needed, but the teamwork and comradery withfellow staffers as we did what so many on the prairie had donebefore us. It was always fun (and sometimes a little scary) to doovernights at the sod house. Riding out severe storms in the gymnasium. No matter how scary itsounded, we would sing and play group games in the gym, alltogether, until the storm passed. During my summer when I was onthe maintenance staff, we had tornadoes that left trees down all overcamp, including on cabins. I remember being assigned to drive thetractor and help pull down the trees from cabins and pick up debrisall over camp.

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The last summer I would spend at RWBC, 1995, when I was finallyable to be a counselor! I was so excited to have my own cabin andfill it with camper’s week after week! I felt like I had finally arrived. This was what I had waited for after all the years of working my wayup the ranks! Ticks! Even though they were common, and we learned how to takecare of them, I was always afraid of getting one and not knowingabout it until it was too late. One week, when I was a counselor, Iwoke up in the wee hours of the morning and happened to rub myhead. I could feel a rather large lump that I had not noticed before. Isaw that one of my girls had her flashlight on, so I got out of bed togo see about having her look to see what it was. She saw mecoming and immediately turned off her flashlight, thinking I wascoming to tell her to get back to sleep! I told her it was okay, and Ijust needed her to check my head to see if it was a tick. She lookedand said it was, but she was too afraid to pull it out for me, and Icould not see it or get a good angle to do it myself. I franticallylooked around the girl’s side of camp to see if anyone else was upwithout luck. I even tried knocking on the door of the program

director (who was my sister that summer), but no one was awake toanswer. As a last effort, I went to the retreat center to collect mybearings and figure out what to do next. One of the Pastorsattending that week was reading in the lobby, and I approached himasking if he could help me. While he acted a bit nervous, he workedwith me until he was able to get the tick out! I was so grateful forfinding him, and he ended up having a great story to tell for hisdevotion (or maybe it was chapel) the next day! The life-long friendships I had made throughout the years! I wasable to make friends from such a wide and diversified group. Myfirst exposure to friends from other countries, nationalities, andraces began at RWBC through summer staff members. I always feltspecial to have made friends from all over the country and world! The Christ Walk that ended with campfire at Cross Hill. Every time Ithink of Red Willow, I get a picture in my head of Cross Hill! Whilethe Christ Walk remained fairly the same year after year in terms ofthe scenes and dialog, what was always awe inspiring and “magical”was ending the walk with the crucifixion scene at Cross Hill.

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When you would walk up and see Christ and the robbers on thecrosses with the campfire blazing in the background, you could nothelp but to get goosebumps. I always felt closest to God there, and Iwould even find times during breaks and whenever I was at camp inthe off-seasons to take the walk out there and just be in Hispresence. To this day I get tears in my eyes remembering just howspecial Cross Hill was to me. So just how do I sum up 13 years of my life at RWBC? Looking back,I know just how much of a privilege it was to be a part of a faith-centered community for my most impressionable years. I learned somany things…confidence, leadership, compassion, empathy,courage…but most of all, that God is with you thorough it all, thegood and the bad, the fun and the fear, the joys and trials. You nameit, God is there (even when we do not think he is). I am more thangrateful for my years at Red Willow Bible Camp and truly feel it wasthe place where I found my voice and strengthened my faith. Thankyou, Red Willow Bible Camp, for being “Rooted in Faith and Growingin the Spirit!”

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Dr. Sarah Hoverson I was on staff at RWBC during the summer of 1992, 1993 and 1994. While there isn’t one specific story that stands out, I have many greatmemories! My second summer, I worked with Dorothy Bjornson in the kitchen. She and Donna were fantastic. On Sunday nights I was in charge(they had the day off). As the campers arrived for a new week, theywould drop off an “order” for pizza and soda as each cabin filled. My role was to prepare their orders for pickup. I loved meeting thenew campers and sharing in their excitement and nervousness aboutbeing away from home for a week. When the campers left at the end of the week, some of us wouldclimb up to Cross Hill and lay under the stars. It was a peacefulfeeling to ponder God’s creation while listening to the joy of thecottagers arriving for the weekend at the lake! And, of course, the walks from RWBC to the Resort. I enjoyed thefood and fun, but mostly Vernis. We enjoyed Vernis!

Hearing her stories, reading her quotes hanging everywhere, soakingin her encouragement and marveling that she knew our names inaddition to those who came before us. Though in heaven andenjoying Jesus, she is legend! There are many other fond memories! May God continue to blessRWBC so that others will have amazing memories too!

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Phyllis (Kent) Olson Psalm 90:1 “Lord, you have been our dwelling place in allgenerations.” I began working at Red Willow Bible Camp the summer of 1965. Gaius Ausland was camp director. He came to Concordia to recruitsummer staff. Gaius and Shelia had 9 children. Marv Gerhardson, aWest Fargo high-school counselor was also at camp to work withstaff. He and Audrey had 5 children. We were a lively family of 14children, 14 staff, and Josie and Tillie as camp cooks! Meat for the camp was donated by area farmers and kept at theAneta cold storage. Roast beef and pork with mashed potatoes andgravy, also hamburger hotdish, and Tillie’s cakes, cookies, andpuddings were on the weekly menu. Pancakes or French toast was atypical breakfast and there was always plenty of milk and peanutbutter!

Many pastors brought their families along when they came with theiryouth group. Of course, the Fargo Conference was the biggest,usually over 200 campers, and staff was exhausted by Fridayafternoon. It was also the beginning of camping for thedevelopmentally challenged. Those were wonderful weeks as we got to share Christ’s love inunique ways. Lasting friendships were made by staff and campers. Several of those relationships turned into marriages. One afternoonduring the quiet time Bible reading, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heartabout trusting Him. The verse was Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you inthe way you should go, I will guide you with my eye upon you.” ThisWord from the Lord has been a lifetime verse for my husband andme. The summer of 1967 the Ofstedahl Center was completed. I washired to be “hostess” for the ladies’ aid groups who were invited tocome and see the results of their faithful giving for the constructionof the center. We averaged about 4 groups a week. It was a joy tothank them for the thousands of dollars they had shared to makethis project possible. WELCAs are still vital to the ministry of RedWillow.

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This past year I have attended the graveside service of SheilaAusland and the memorial service of Marvin Gerhardson. Floods ofmemories came to mind of what I believe was God’s plan for BibleCamp ministry in Eastern, ND. Almost nightly at camp fires theChristian song “Pass It On” was sung. The words ‘it only takes aspark to get a fire going and soon all those around you will warm upto its glowing’, that’s how it is with God’s love, once you’veexperienced it, you want to sing its fresh like spring, you WANT TOPASS IT ON! I believe that hundreds of campers and staff found theSPARK at Bible Camp and have witnessed it in their lives. TO GODBE THE GLORY – GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.

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Cheryl Rumbolg Pedersen There are too many stories to fit – so here are the life changingsnippets. June 1972 my faith journey began on my knees in the chapel. PK required we wear our bright colored windbreakers every time weleft camp. He wanted people to know who we were and us toremember we were ambassadors for Red Willow Bible Camp in theworld. EK (Elaine Klug) directed us in cleaning kitchens and bathrooms. When we wrinkled our noses and complained about scrubbing toiletsand urinals, she would tell us to not be so afraid of the dirt we couldwash off, but of the dirt (sin) we can’t wash off. In 1974 I decided not to return to camp. My dad had been diagnosedwith a brain tumor and I thought I should stay home. Jim Oaklandurged me to reconsider and my dad told me to go. I obeyed and metSteve Pederson that summer.

1975 I married the aforementioned Steve Pedersen in the chapel. There is no way to measure or explain the impact of Red Willow onme and my family. I am forever grateful to this camp for the impactit has had on me. P.S.Many prayers were offered for my dad. That summer as he wasprepped for brain surgery, the Mayo doctors determined the tumorwas gone. They sent him home healed.

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Steve Pedersen 1974-1976 I had a very special relationship with Art Miller. I helped with thehorses and on weekends would go over and play caroms with him. In 1976 we gathered donations from staff and bought Art a newsaddle which prominently appears in the 1976 staff picture.

Kelly Lindstrom I worked at Red Willow during the summer of 2013. I had justfinished my first year of teaching, and it had been a tough and busyyear. Working at Red Willow that summer gave me a chance to restand rejuvenate, while allowing me to share the good news of Jesuswith campers and work with an awesome summer staff. It was sucha blessing to see God use the diversity of believers for His glory thatsummer!

Shelley Williamson The kids in my family all attended this camp at some point in ourlives. I remember being excited to meet camp counselors andspending time with not only kids from Our Savior’s, but meetingothers from different church congregations in North Dakota.

Lorne W. Sterner I was on the Board years ago and had said I would bring a load ofpower poles (donated by the Valley City Cass County Electric) to thecamp. They were going to be used for the ropes course. I couldn’tdrive over 40 mph because the trailer swayed all over the highway. God was driving with me that day! The poles and I arrived safelyafter a few hours. My wife and I love the camp and your QuiltAuctions!

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Pastor Bob BekkerusWest Fargo, ND Camp is always the first thing on our kids’ calendar every summer. Our girls love their time there – they come home singing the songsand sharing the stories (usually of arts and crafts cabin). I’m alwaysthankful for how much their faith grows at Red Willow. We can’t waitfor summer to come!

1975

2017

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Pam NessThompson, ND In my youth, my faith was primarily formed at a Bible Camp. I had adesire for God to touch my kid’s lives in the same way. We had trieda couple of summer camps, but our son & daughter did not want toreturn to them. I heard about Red Willow Bible Camp and decided totry one last time. As I left them at camp, it was I who cried, I fearedthat my attempts to have them experience the wonders of outdoorministry would be over. When I returned to pick them up, mydaughter came running over to me with her clenched fists shaking ather side. She said, “I am SO coming back here next year!”

Our two kids have been hooked on Red Willow since! It is a safeenvironment where the kids can be themselves and discover thatGod loves them for who they really are. My son said that it was thecounselors who planted the seeds of faith in his life. They took rootand inspired him to dig deeper into a personal relationship withJesus. This relationship led both our kids to be campers for 9 years,on staff at Red Willow for 3 years, and now our son is consideringseminary. If that is not reason enough to send your kids to camp, Ido not know what is!

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Pastor Ivy SchulzGwinner, ND Here is what I can tell you about what Red Willow has meant to myfamily. Our oldest daughter’s best friend is a girl she met at thiswonderful place. Their friendship is rooted in the faith that theyhave in God and it has been fostered by Red Willow. Our middledaughter isn’t quite sure what to make of the whole church thing, butyou give her an opportunity to go to Red Willow and she jumps at thechance. Her faith is truly being nurtured by this place. Our youngestdaughter is often heard to say, “This one time at Red Willow…” Thestaff is always top notch. Your child will be cared for by incredibleand diverse people. They will encounter Christ in unexpected waysand in unexpected places. Should your child attend Red Willow, beprepared for non-stop chatter for days because they will be soexcited and have so many stories to tell. Thanks be to God for RedWillow Ministries!

Elaine RodningTacoma, Washington In 1943, I attended Red Willow Bible Camp, Dr. Carl Ylvasaker wasour Bible teacher and recruiter for Concordia College. I was 17, hadjust finished my junior year of high school but he told me I had allthe credits I needed to attend Concordia. I had to stay away fromhome to go to my senior year of high school, so my parents decidedto send me to college instead. Richard Rodning graduated fromcollege the next spring. If I hadn’t met him, I would not have hadthese 68 wonderful years as his wife! I also met Bernice Garnaasthat year and she became my college roommate and lifelong friend. Red Willow Bible Camp has a very special meaning for me for theseand many other reasons. Another item of interest to you, I suppose it is gone now, but in about1941 Milton Bratrud my pastor from Sheyenne, ND, got permissionfrom my congregation, Kvernes, of Carrington, to move the horsebarn from our rural church grounds (no one was coming to churchwith horses anymore) to Red Willow Camp. It was used as the girl’sdormitory when I attended.

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David G. LuraUnited Methodist pastor, retiredUnited States Navy reserve chaplain, retiredOak Harbor First Reformed Church chaplain, part-timeOak Harbor Area Council of the Navy League chaplain, volunteer In 1961 or 1962 I attended a Leadership Training School at RWBC. That was my only camper experience as a youth. Upon graduationfrom Cooperstown High School in 1965 I became a camp counselorwhen Gaius Ausland was the director. After two summers ofcounseling I was his associate on-site director at Lake of the Woodsnear Baudette, MN for one season and was resident director of ParkRiver Bible Camp for the following 2 years when the 3 camps workedin association. When “PK” (Pastor Ray Klug) became director at RedWillow I spent the winter/spring of 1969 (including the blizzard)living in the Ofstedal Center and working with the Klugs. Due to the influence of the Lee family and Pastor Ed Schmidt inCooperstown and the profound immersion into a life of Christianfaith development at Red Willow Bible Camp and the following fiveyears in the Navy, I attended seminary training and served as apastor of the United Methodist Church for 32 years in Washington

My wife, Colleen, who worked several seasons at Lake MetigosheLutheran Camp, and I continue to stay connected with Lutherancamping at Holden Village here in Washington and at Lutherhaven onthe shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I am humbled and gratefulfor the many colleagues and friends I made at and since Red Willow. I am thankful to God for abundant blessings.

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Mike Veil1978-1981 Staff As a camper in 1977, my counselor, Steve Flo, had a very profoundimpact on my life. He was encouraging me to become a counselor intraining the next summer. We had many conversations about faith,commitment, and living a life for Christ. At the end of the week,when we got our village and staff pictures, he wrote a verse on theback, 1 Cor 10:31. 1 Corinthians 10:31 New International Version (NIV)31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for theglory of God.This verse has become my personal motto! As a staff member, it was the end of my time at RWBC (1978), and Iwas having a very difficult time dealing with going home and notbeing at camp for the remainder of the summer. The night beforeleaving, some fellow staffers prayed with me. I never really felt thelove of others praying for you right in front of you. I will never forgetwhat Dann, Cris and Lynda did for me that night. Forever grateful! The power of prayer!

Campers lives changed! It was normal to get mail from campersthroughout the summer and many times for years, Director, DeanNelson, said we should answer every letter from every camper. Because after their experiences at camp, we will support them afterthey leave. I have seen several campers become RWBC staffers,pastors, Christian teachers, and missionaries. I truly believe it wasthe support they got from the counselors and their experiences atRWBC. To this day I have several close friends that were mycampers over 30 years ago. I pray for the continued success of Red Willow and the lives that willbe changed!

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Susanne (Bordsen) NelsonSioux Falls, South Dakota Thank you for including me in the very special anniversarycelebration of Red Willow Bible Camp. Although I will not be able toattend the weekend event, I will share with you some of myreflections. In 1962 I was in my freshman year at Concordia College wonderingwhat I was going to do for summer employment. A booth about RedWillow was in the commons area and it caught my attention. Beingfrom Montana I had camped a lot in the summers. I started talkingto Gaius Ausland and before we finished talking, I had accepted acamp counselor position for the summer. Gaius was a verypersuasive person as everyone knows who has met him. He told meby doing this I would influence many young lives. So, I literallyjumped on board and served as a camp counselor at Red Willow for3 summers. The memories just flood back about the wonderful relationships weformed as camp staff.

Since it was the very beginning of permanent camp, we all acceptedour duties and took on special responsibilities as well. He asked usif anyone could be the camp nurse. I volunteered since I had taken aRed Cross class and knew something about it. The main call for thecamp nurse was to deal with homesickness of campers who hadnever been away from home before. That and all the blisters andbug bites kept me busy. Each of the cabin counselors wasresponsible for a cabin of 10 to 12 campers for the week. All of usstretched our abilities to cover all the necessary tasks so we wereprepared for what it takes to run a successful camp. It’s amazinghow different each week of camping was and I’m certain it helpedme land my first social work job. I can’t say enough how I admired Gaius and Sheila for devoting manyyears of their life to this effort. Congratulations to everyone supporting Red Willow continuing tobring richness and spirituality to people’s lives.

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Hannah Ness I started going to camp when I was 11 years old. My twin brotherhad gone the year prior, absolutely loved it, and convinced me tocome the next year. I was nervous to be away from home for thefirst time, but it helped to have my brother and his best friend there. When my first day at Creation Camp came, I was placed inSpiritwood, now called Esther. I remember thinking the walls wereso cool, they were blue, purple and lime green. I became goodfriends with many of the girls in my cabin and we were pen pals for awhile. Once my first week was over, I was ready to come back foranother week. I spent every summer since then going to camp as a camper,counselor in training, volunteer, or counselor. Camp didn’t just staya summer activity; it became an all-season activity. I went to asmany weekend retreats as I was able to attend, even working orvolunteering at them when I became too old to attend as a camper.

As a counselor, I loved to sit back and watch the kids and theirrelationships with the other campers grow. In the beginning kids arequiet but by the end of the week there are so many friendships thathave blossomed. It also was amazing one week I had a boy in myBible study who had never stepped foot in a church and somehowended up coming to camp. He asked such wonderful questionsduring our time together and really seemed to be enjoying the Biblestudies. A place like camp helped show him who God was and howamazing he is. The years spent at Red Willow Bible Camp have helped to shape meinto who I am. I have met so many wonderful people, made manymemories, and created so many wonderful friendships. I know thereare others who have stories like mine or even more amazing. Justthe impact on the children who attend makes this place important.

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Luanne (Machart) Lane I do not know what influence I had on the lives of others during thesummers of 1969 to 1973 when I had the privilege of working at RedWillow Bible Camp, but I do know those summers had a profoundimpact on my life. Those summers took me from my world of “small town” Lankin, ND,and truly helped give me a vision of the world in need of our Savior. Those summers were strategic in my spiritual growth – in my takingpersonal ownership of nurturing my intimate relationship with theliving God by my spending time in the word and in prayer. Even thissummer I have been struck by words of scripture tucked away in mymemory that bring back to mind the words of some of the songs welearned for the musicals. We spent a lot of time practicing for thebig event on Thursday nights – the words of some of those songswere powerful. I am pleased to have been a part of that. I appreciate PK and the strong, steady leader he was throughoutthose summers. I still smile at the memory of one staff orientationnight that we went to the resort as a group. I missed the bus back tocamp so had to walk, and there was ‘all-knowing’ PK sitting on a

parking post, smiling with a “Hmmmm, I see we’ve got a couple oflate comers.” PK had a tremendous responsibility of overseeing notonly the camp and campers, but also us – his youthful staff. He andhis family were truly used by God and set good examples for ouryoung eyes to observe and strive to be like. The time at RWBC helped give me the foundation for the life I livetoday. I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and have opportunities tobe involved in the lives of families as they raise their children – Ihave the privilege to share the sanity and hope that Jesus can bringto this fallen world. I am married to a man who is a teachingmissionary to SE Asia, providing seminary-level education to house-church pastors who have their Bibles and love their Bibles, but haveno formal training. It is cheaper for the kingdom of God to bringeducators there than to uproot families to come here for education,and much less of an adjustment for their families. I have 3 marrieddaughters (2 are pastor’s wives) and 6 grandsons. God has beenmost merciful to me.

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David Haven I am currently a pastor at Celebration Lutheran Church, EastWenatchee, W.A. My wife, LeAnn, is an elementary music teacher atMission View Elementary, Wenatchee, WA. I grew up on a farm only 15 miles from Red Willow and was a camperfor 3 years and a counselor for 2 more (1975 and 1976). ThroughBible encounters, conversation with others, activities, music,campfires, service, etc., the experiences at camp were veryinfluential in shaping my faith life. I also met my future wife at camp– LeAnn Stibbe. Coincidently, her sister Yvonne Stibbe, met herfuture husband, Tom Halstenson during the same years we were allon staff. I eventually became a pastor in the ELCA and have been anadvocate for camping ministry wherever I have served, Minnesota,South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Montana and Washington. Thereare so many fond memories of the Red Willow years. Here are a few: AS A CAMPER One summer I attended camp during the week that lightning struckthe darkroom and burned it down. That same week, I began to have

a crush on the girl with the broken leg – and eventually invited herto the Thursday evening banquet. Turns out, my future wife wasalso a camper that week, but she was not the girl with the brokenleg! I was given permission to leave camp one afternoon to play abaseball game down at the resort. When I returned, I discovered myfellow campers had disassembled the counselor’s bed andreassembled it up in the rafters of Sleepy Hollow. The counselor,though a bit upset, couldn’t help but marvel at the ingenuity of hiscampers. It was a tradition to meet with the counselor after the Thursdayevening campfire to decide whether to wear a “witness band” – aleather wristband that was intended to initiate discussion aboutJesus amongst friends (and presumably strangers). Though Ireceived one – and had good intentions about witnessing – I wasever grateful that weeks after camp were spent working in thehayfields, where I didn’t have to meet anybody! Just a shy Lutheran,I guess.

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A favorite thing to do during mealtime over the years was to catchsomeone leaning their elbows on the table, prompting the chant: “David, David, strong and able, get your elbows off the table. Roundthe table you must go, you must go, you must go. Round the tableyou must go. You were naughty!” AS A COUNSELOR Some amazing musicians were part of my first year on staff (1975)and the talent was evident in the musical we presented that summer– “He Lived the Good Life.” Evidently word got out because veryThursday evening the chapel was packed with folks from the area. We even got invited to perform in Fargo for one of the radio stations. During the “talent show” night, Tom Halstenson, Steve Herman, RobStuberg, and I dressed up as “greasers,” hopped in Tom’s Camaro,roared up to the steps of the chapel, got out and ran up the aisle tothe stage where we began lip syncing songs of the ‘50s. Initially notrecognizing us, there were some in the audience (including ourdirector) who thought we were a local gang.

Perhaps the most rewarding times were the three weeks out of everysummer dedicated to mentally challenged campers. On oneoccasion I was leading a Bible study on the topic of faith. As anobject lesson, I asked the question, “How do you know that the chairbeside you will be able to hold you when you sit down?” One of thecampers replied, “Nobody know, only god know!” A rather frightening incident, reminiscent of Garrison Keillor’s storyof the sinking pontoon boat filled with Lutheran pastors, occurredwith a group of “MR” campers. With the pontoon boat rocking a bitfront-to-back, they panicked, and all ran to the front, causing theboat to nosedive into the water. Counselors quickly guided themback to the center and stabilized the boat, preventing a flip! As a future “Outdoor Staff” leader, I had to obtain a bus driver’slicense during staff training and studied hard from a booklet given tome. On the day of the exam, another staff member drove me (andthe bus), to New Rockford to take the test. Unfortunately, I had beengiven the wrong book to study and failed the written exam, whichalso prevented me from taking the driving test. Fortunately,afterward I was given the right book to study and passed both teststhe following week in Cooperstown!

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In preparation for the summer of 1976, four of us were hired as the“outdoor staff” (leading trips to the Black Hills of South Dakota,Bighorn Mts. Of Wyoming, and canoe trips to Canada and NorthernMinnesota). Part of our staff training took us to the Black Hillswhere we joined a group from SDSU. For some reason, all of us fromRed Willow had understood that this was to be a survival experience– and were to take as little gear as possible – including no tents. After the first day’s hike, it began to rain, and much to our surpriseall the other campers began to set up their tents. They spent thenight high and dry, while we pieced together rain ponchos to ward offthe rain. We were prepared for every other adventure that summer! That same summer (1976), it seems that every trip involved a busbreaking down – which usually extended our trips a day or two. Oneof the hairiest breakdowns was just after navigating the hairpin turnsof the Needle’s Highway in Black Hills. With a bus load of campers,the clutch plate assembly came completely apart, preventing anyshifting. Fortunately, the brakes worked, and we were able to slowlylimp into Hot Springs where we found a mechanic – and the campersfound Hot Springs swimming pool.

Another breakdown occurred along I-94 near New Salem, ND. A localfarm family hosted 40 of us for the evening while the bus wasrepaired. They had a lot of hot dogs in the freezer, so we were allfed. It was during a trip to the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming when ourmedical training came in handy. About 5 miles into the hike to ourbase camp one of the campers sprained her ankle. Anothercounselor and I alternated carrying either her backpack or her on ourbacks. Upon arriving at our site, we were exhausted, only to discoveranother girl was shivering uncontrollably (we were at an elevation ofaround 10,000 feet and the temperature was about 25 degrees). Wequickly set up camp, got her sister and friend to snuggle close to herin the tent, made some hot soup and cocoa and eventually got herstabilized.

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Rick Frederick On the morning of June 17, 2016, a storm hit Red Willow Bible Campand the surrounding area. There were a number of trees down, andlimbs and debris everywhere. We had a group of 14 AMP! Campershere at the time. Thankfully no one was injured and no buildingssustained damage. As the campers woke and came outside, theysaw the mess that the staff would have to clean up, with less than 24hours before alumni would be arriving for the 90th anniversaryweekend. The campers asked the staff if instead of doing the fun stuff plannedfor their last day, could they instead help clean up the camp. Theyspent the next 3 hours raking, picking up branches, sweepingsidewalks, with several staying until 5 p.m. to continue helping bringthe camp back to normal. They put the camp and others beforethemselves!

In 2017 a family came back to this area to visit friends. They realizedthat spending hours on end with a group of adults might not be themost exciting experience for a young teen. So the friendsencouraged the parents to consider sending their son to camp tospend time with some kids his own age. They shared their love forRed Willow and so the parents sent him to spend a week at camp. At the closing campfire on Thursday, campers were asked to sharewhat made the week special for them. The young man was eager toshare and said that over the years he had some bad experiences withchurch. He and his family were attending very little, but after hisweek at Red Willow he had come to learn that God loved him just ashe is and that he had a Lord and savior who had died for him. Heshared that when he and his family returned home, he planned onattending church again. These were just a few of the "God Moments" that I had the honor towitness. Red Willow has made a difference in the lives of over 3,200resident and Day Campers in the 4 summers I have served here. MayGod bless Red Willow into the future as it seeks new ways to offer aspecial place a-part for encountering God.

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DeAnna Frederick Right from the start Red Willow Bible Camp welcomed us into thefamily. Rick and I hit the ground running with summer staff trainingin full swing as well as the 90th anniversary celebration planned andready to execute. I have wonderful memories of meeting people that have been touchedby this place and what it has meant for them in their lives. I leavehere with my heart touched as well. There is something about thebeauty and the wide open spaces. The warm breeze off the prairie inthe summer and the sun shining on the lake. I truly felt at peace here. I have had the pleasure of making many new friends, sharing life'sstories and growing together in Christ. I am ever so thankful that Godcalled us to this place, to allow us to learn and grow and touch othersin their faith journey. May God's face continue to shine upon this place for many years tocome.

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BIBLE CAMP RED WILLOW · 2019-12-09 · story of the beginnings of the Bible Camp work, recall many wonderful memories of friends who gave their help and cooperation, of interesting