In memory Clergy

Theodore Dockter 1932-2022

The Rev. Theodore Dockter, Jr., 90, passed away Thursday, August 4, 2022, at Edgewood Vista in Fargo, North Dakota. A celebration of life service was held at Calvary United Methodist Church in Fargo on Saturday, August 27, 2022. Burial was at Sunset Memorial Garden in Fargo.

Theodore Fred Dockter, Jr. was born on June 26, 1932, at Wishek, North Dakota, to Theodore Sr. and Martha (Schultis) Dockter. Ted lived in Oregon until age 10, when his family moved to Jamestown, North Dakota. He graduated from Jamestown High School.

On August 4, 1951, Ted married Alice Fuehrer at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Jamestown. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, and his Master of Divinity degree at Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

Ted was licensed in 1953 and ordained elder in 1958 by the Dakota Conference of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. He and Alice served the EUB churches at Stickney, South Dakota (1958-1964) and Bismarck First, North Dakota (1967-1969). They then served United Methodist churches in North Dakota at Hebron-Taylor UCC (19691977), Mott-Newburg UCC (1977-1981), McCluskyGoodrich (1981-October 1988), Edgeley (October 19881992), and Page-Hope-Finley (1992-1996).

Valentine Rush 1949-2022

The Rev. Val Rush, 73, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2022, at his home. Funeral services were held Friday, November 11, 2022, at the United Methodist Church in Egan, South Dakota. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery at Egan.

Valentine Charles Rush was born on July 8, 1949, in Flandreau, South Dakota, to John J. and Evelyn M. (Valentine) Rush. In 1967, Val graduated from St.

Ted and Alice also had a heart for missions, and they often hosted missionaries who visited their local churches. Ted went on mission trips to Ecuador and Lithuania. He served at a camp at Lake Metigoshe in the Turtle Mountains, where he helped with carpentry, a skill he had learned from his dad. He also went to Switzerland to help with a child evangelism camp. He also directed the junior camp for 4th- to 6th-grade students at Lehr Bible Camp.

Ted retired in 1996, and he and Alice moved to Fargo. His retirement was filled with teaching Sunday School, leading the Silver and Gold Group at Fargo Calvary, and preaching for a year at a local church that was in need. In 2003, he was honored as Jubilee Clergy for 50 years in ministry.

He enjoyed bowling and playing pool with friends. He joined the Silver and Gold Coffee Group, which met weekly to share and laugh together, and he led devotionals and prayed with them until COVID stopped them from meeting.

Ted is survived by four sons: Dwight (Judy) of Portland, North Dakota, Ronald (Joni) of Weippe, Idaho, Douglas (Cheryl) of Dickinson,North Dakota, and Timothy (Debbie) of Fargo, North Dakota; one daughter, Deb (Trace) Gunsch of Titusville, Florida; 13 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three step-greatgrandchildren; and a brother, Vernon (Lindalin) Dockter of Delta, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, on December 26, 2008; his parents; and brother Melvin.

Mary High School in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and then Dakota State College in Madison, South Dakota, in 1972. He farmed and worked in insurance sales.

On September 10, 1977, Val married Teresa (Hessaa) Molskness. His call to ministry started while attending the Egan United Methodist Church at the age of 43. Several Egan church ladies asked Val to teach their adult Sunday School class. He loved and continued teaching God’s word, revealed through the Bible. Later the members of the Egan church encouraged Val to attend seminary and become a pastor.

It was not an easy decision, but in 1992, he enrolled at North American Baptist Seminary in Sioux Falls and graduated with his Master of Divinity degree in 1995. He received his local pastor’s license in 1993, was ordained deacon and probationary member of the Dakotas Conference in 1996, and elder and full member in 1998.

Val and Teresa served United Methodist churches in the Dakotas Conference at Garretson (1993-1996), GarretsonJasper, Minnesota, Salem-Pipestone, Minnesota (1996-1999), Bowman (1999-2011), and Winner (2011-2016). He retired in 2016, and they moved to a farm near Canton, South Dakota, and then to Sioux Falls. In retirement, Val served at Viborg and was a volunteer hospice chaplain and part-time

Lyla Siebrecht 1932-2023

The Rev. Lyla Siebrecht, 90, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Callaway Good Life Center in Callaway, Nebraska. A memorial service was held Monday, June 5, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Redfield, South Dakota, with Pastor Melissa Rowenhorst officiating. Inurnment followed at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.

Lyla Elaine Melloon was born on October 21, 1932, at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Charles Burdette Melloon and Orpha Sabina (Lindgren) Melloon. She grew up in the Sioux Falls area and graduated from Washington High School in 1950. She attended Sioux Falls College from 1950 to 1952 and graduated from Scarritt College for Christian Workers in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1954.

In 1956, Lyla earned her Master of Religious Education degree from Garrett Biblical Institute in Evanston, Illinois. She was director of Christian education at Grace Methodist Church in Blue Island, Illinois, from 1956 to 1958.

On June 23, 1957, Lyla married the Rev. Orland Sloat. Together they served Methodist and United Methodist churches in South Dakota at Northville-Mellette (19581961), Gregory-Fairmont-Iona (1961-1963), BrittonLangford (1963-1965), Dell Rapids-Garretson (19651968), Selby-Herreid (1968-1970), Selby (November 15, 1970-1972), Selby-Lowry UCC (1971-1972), Beresford First-Beresford Zion (1972-1976), Highmore-Harrold (1976-1981), Highmore (January 1-June 30, 1982), and Bruce-Volga PC (1984-1988). They divorced in 1989.

chaplain at the Avera Heart Hospital.

Val is survived by his wife, Teresa; three children: Aaron (Liz) Rush of Avon, South Dakota, Sarah Rush of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jonathan (Heather Rieger) Rush of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; eight grandchildren; and five siblings: James (Ann) Rush of Omaha, Nebraska, Margaret Rush of Sioux Falls, Jack (Gayle) Rush of Philip, South Dakota, Mary Jane (Brad) Hover of Kansas City, Missouri, and Richard “Dick” Rush of Omaha, Nebrasksa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother David Rush.

In 1978, Lyla felt the call to become a pastor and began serving the Community Church of Ree Heights, South Dakota, on a part-time basis. She was licensed to preach in 1979 and earned her Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary in 1984. She was ordained deacon and probationary member by the South Dakota Conference in 1985 and elder and full member in 1987.

Lyla served churches in the South Dakota Conference at Ree Heights (1981-1982), Hazel-Henry-Kellerton (19821985), Todd-Mellette Larger Parish (1985-1987), De SmetCarpenter-Esmond-Iroquois (1987-1989), Wall-Wasta-Quinn (1989-1991), Wall-Wasta (1991-1992), Custer-Fall River Larger Parish (1992-1995), and Britton-Pierpont Community (1995-1998). She retired in 1998 but continued serving the Pierpont Community Church of Pierpont until 2003.

Lyla married Harlan Siebrecht of Redfield on June 22, 1991, at Wall. He died September 30, 2016.

Lyla had boundless energy. When her children were young, she taught Sunday school and was a Girl Scout leader and den mother. She was active in the Women’s Society of Christian Service, United Methodist Women, and South Dakota General Federation of Women’s Clubs, serving as president from 1994 to 1996. Her hobbies included reading, embroidery, history, family antiques, houseplants, and quilting.