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Long-time members of Christ Lutheran Church interviewed for this story: Ralph Kruse, Duane and Sharon Popken, Wayne and Julie Beitelspacher, Cliff and Verda Koerselman, and Bill and Rosann Osterbuhr.

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on the Plymouth County Fairgrounds. At one time, there were four organists in the congregation. Marlys Renken retired as one of those organists in 2018 after 65 years. Rosanne is the sole organist today. She was excited that the anniversary service included a new arrangement of a hymn written years ago by their former pastor, Peter Boe. The new arrangement was done by John S. Dixon, an English composer who enjoys church history. He wanted to give the arrangement as a gift after visiting Christ Lutheran this spring. Three former pastors participated in the music during the anniversary service, which also included a soloist and organ duets. As demonstrated by the need to hold classes in a chicken house, Sunday School has always been important. That carried forward through financial and prayerful support of seven sons and one daughter of the congregation who went into full-time ministry. In addition, scholarships are presented to high school graduates who are going on for more education. Verda said no history of Christ Lutheran is complete without telling the story of Onno and Mary Johnson. “They were awesome,” she said. Onno was hired as the church janitor in 1947, and the couple lived across the road from the church. Over the next 30-plus years, he and Mary became much more than janitors. They didn’t have any children, but “the whole church was their family. They loved kids.” Ralph said, “Onno used to walk through the field to the cemetery to raise and lower the flag every day. He would ring