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  • Home
  • Storylines
  • Archives
  • Diaconate
  • Global Service
  • Campus Min/LSM
  • Todays & Tomorrows
  • Stories
  • Sources
  • CLWR International Care
  • Videos to come!

Lutherans in Global Service: ELCIC and Predecessors

A Lutheran Palestinian, born in Jerusalem, recently became the first woman ordained in the Holy Land.' The BBC coverage is available at the link and more pictures of Canadian connections are available here.         Photos: FLICKR LWF/Albin Hillert 

BBC Coverage of the Ordination

Above, ELCIC Bishops together, Jerusalem , 2023

Generally, in the 1950s and 1960s "the West" sent "out" and "the East" brought "in"

Left is a feature on Missionaries in "The Shepherd". Below are graduates from Waterloo Seminary

Left is a feature on Missionaries in "The Shepherd". Below are graduates from Waterloo Seminary

 


Left is a feature on Missionaries in "The Shepherd". Below are graduates from Waterloo Seminary

Left is a feature on Missionaries in "The Shepherd". Below are graduates from Waterloo Seminary

Left is a feature on Missionaries in "The Shepherd". Below are graduates from Waterloo Seminary

 


The list of Missionaries for the ELCIC and Predecessor Bodies is in Development

Names of the Graduates (above) who studied in the 1950s and graduated in the 1960s.

Names of the Graduates (above) who studied in the 1950s and graduated in the 1960s.

 


List expected by Valentine's Day

Names of the Graduates (above) who studied in the 1950s and graduated in the 1960s.

Names of the Graduates (above) who studied in the 1950s and graduated in the 1960s.

Names of the Graduates (above) who studied in the 1950s and graduated in the 1960s.

 


Check out the Laurier Archives photos on the Caribbean students trained in Waterloo in 1961

Check out the Laurier Archives photos on the Caribbean students trained in Waterloo in 1961

Check out the Laurier Archives photos on the Caribbean students trained in Waterloo in 1961

This picture is taken on "Seminary Hill" in Waterloo, Ontario. Seen here is the large group of students who came for advanced degrees in ministry as there was not yet a seminary in the Caribbean.   L to R , back row: Richard Smith, Paul Jagdhar, Victor Munro, Basil Budhu, James Dookram. Front row: Desmond Hamlet, James Masih-Das, Winston Bone. 


From 1958 to 1971 Rev. Barry Lang and Deaconess Alice (Bald) Lang served in Guyana as missionaries.

More photos and Bio Content

Here is the "British Guiana" Album from the ELCA Flickr

Check out the Laurier Archives photos on the Caribbean students trained in Waterloo in 1961

Check out the Laurier Archives photos on the Caribbean students trained in Waterloo in 1961

In this photograph Pastor Winston Bone is shown greeting the local congregation in Guyana. Winston Bone studied for seminary in Waterloo graduating in 1961.  The Lutheran Church in Guyana (The ELCG) is older than its Companion Synod - the Eastern Synod of the ELCIC. 


The program to bring Caribbean seminarians to Canada was initiated by J. Ray Houser, Waterloo Seminary Dean and organized through the ULCA (and then the LCA). The Rev. Geoffrey Tannassee married Marion Wettlaufer from Waterloo and after they established in Guyana, Rev. Geoffey died in a plane crash. The Revs. James Dookram and Victor Munroe continued to serve  in the Canada Synod. 


In 1980 Pastor James Dookram "enunciated four guidelines" for Canadian Lutheran involvment in World Mission. 

Any mission projects should be: 

1). indigenous to the local community - strong and local, 

2) ecumenical - so as to be well resourced

3) planned for local self-reliance

4) wholistic - mindful of whole human being needs

The impact of this presentation is clear because this story was featured in Mission and Merger by Roy Grosz. J. Frederick Neudoerffer was also a consultant on  this section of the book by Grosz.



Search for Images in Guyana

Global Service in Photos - right click Images and ask for "open image in new tab"

In 1938 Madel Nostbakken (seen here) was one of many Canadian missionaries in Global Service. 

Madel was posted to Abba with a language assaignment. She helped the community and local pastors Rev. André Garba and Rev. Paul Darman to 

translate the Bible into a 116 page book in Gabaya by 1968. This image is one of 101 images called the "NLCA Mission to Cameroon on flickr see: 

Cameroun, Central African Republic, or the Sudan. See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/elcaarchives/albums/72157615727354981ht

Mission Service Adjusting to Changed Contexts and Understand

2017 Feature in Canada Lutheran

2017 Feature in Canada Lutheran

2017 Feature in Canada Lutheran

Considering Shifts

2017 Feature in Canada Lutheran

2017 Feature in Canada Lutheran

A Missionary Responds

2017 Feature in Canada Lutheran

A Missionary Responds

Writings of Note - click on the underlined portion

by Paul Nostbakken

by Paul Nostbakken

by Paul Nostbakken

Reflections on a Church in Mission


https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2002&context=consensus

by Ferdy Baglo

by Paul Nostbakken

by Paul Nostbakken

Augustana Lutherans in Canada 


https://archive.org/details/N027281/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theater

by George F. Hall

by Paul Nostbakken

by George F. Hall

The Missionary Spirit in the Augustana Church

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234817396.pdf



by Don Sjoberg

Where to find Information

by George F. Hall

One in Mission: A Compassionate Church


https://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol30/iss2/7/


by Don Sjoberg

Where to find Information

Where to find Information

Augustana in Canada - People and Places 


https://augustanaheritage.augustana.edu/Augustana%20in%20Canada.pdf


Where to find Information

Where to find Information

Where to find Information



Canadian Contexts and World Engagement

 

In 1973, seen here, Zimbabwean theologian Rev. Ishmael Noko and family were welcomed to Canada and study at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon,  by Dr. Martin Leesburg and long-time missionary to South Africa Doris Nelson. The image was the cover of the January 1973 issue of The Shepherd and the story was featured in the regular segment "The Exciting Edge."  


Rev. Noko studied at the University of South Africa in Pretoria and the University of Zululand before completing a Master's degree at Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon. From 1974-1977 Noko completed his Ph.D. at McGill with a Dissertation entitled "The Concept of God in Black Theology: An Appreciation of God as Liberator and Reconciler."  

In 1982, Ishmael Noko was called from the University of Botswana to lead the Department for World Service of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). In this capacity he worked in international refugee services related to the churches and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.


In 1994, Noko was appointed  the General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a position he held for 16 years. In this LWF Assembly photo (credit Dirk Zimmerman), Dr. Noko is pictured with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) Executive Director  Karin Achtelstetter who at the time was  the LWF Communication Director.

LWF Flickr for more Albums and Images

Photos of Canadian Missionaries from the ELCA Archives

  

Picture includes Jeanette Aadland (nee Quenzer). "Jeanette Quenzer, Canadian, greenish dress and white sweater, from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. She taught at Monono 1961-63" from https://www.flickr.com/photos/elcaarchives/5032878527

Image from Karen McCann Hett.

ELCA Archives

www.elca.org/archives

    Photos of Canadian Missionaries from the ELCIC Archives

      highlight the http info, then right click and "go to"

      Re Jeanette Quenzer (later Aadland) https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mccannkin/misc/NGchiii.html (pdf)

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      Re Palmer Anderson http://www.ctsfw.net/media/pdfs/CTMTheologicalObserver19-5.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Jose Hernan https://alchurch.ca/ministry/colombia (pdf)

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      Re Carol (Ostrem) Ariza https://messiahcamrose.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/December-Messenger-2020 (pdf)

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      Re Ferdy Baglo Seventy-five years of Augustana work in Canada by Ferdy E. Baglo . (pdf)

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      Download Ferdy Baglo's book "Augustana Lutherans in Canada: https://archive.org/stream/N027281/N0272 (pdf)

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      Re Ferdy Baglo The Media History of Tanzania http://tanzania.mom-gmr.org/uploads/tx_lfrogmom/documen (pdf)

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      Re Ferdy Baglo https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08838157609386408?journalCode=hbem19 (pdf)

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      Re Ferdy Baglo Radio Voice of the Gospel : AR BV656.B3] Radio Voice of the Gospel (pdf)

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      Re Magda (Johanson) Baglo https://broadcastdialogue.com/corona052820/ (pdf)

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      Re Magda (Johanson) Baglo https://augustanaheritage.augustana.edu/TheAugustanaMinisterium_Part2.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Hilding. Bernhard Bengston Google Search by Name (pdf)

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      Doris (Furrer) Bengston Search "Doris M. Bengtson, age 80, died March 23, 2002. Served in France" (pdf)

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      Re Erich A. Berendt https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2002/03/23/people/erich-a-berendt/ (pdf)

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      Re Erich A. Berendt https://sites.ualberta.ca/~german/BiographicalDirectory/LutheranChurchforPDF (pdf)

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      Re Troy Beretta http://archives.wcc-coe.org/Query/detail.aspx?ID=53495 (pdf)

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      Re Anne (Riemer) Beretta https://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol30/iss2/7/ (pdf)

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      Re Katharine Bergbusch https://svlc.ca/ewExternalFiles/June%202020%20Newsletter_Website.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Joyce Bergh Search "Joyce Bergh, a teacher and missionary to the Church in Colombia" (pdf)

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      Re Ray Blacklock https://issuu.com/camrosebooster/docs/20220607_booster (pdf)

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      Douglas Daeschel Obituary https://larsonfuneralhomes.com/douglas-t-daechsel/ (pdf)

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      Re Bill and Doris (Diemer) Dahl https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~mccannkin/misc/NGchiii.html (pdf)

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      Re Felix Doering https://scholar.csl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1029&context=stm (pdf)

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      Hedwig (Sterzer) Doering Obituary "Hedwig Irmgard Doering SEPTEMBER 17, 1916 – JUNE 24, 2016" (pdf)

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      Adella Doering Obituary https://www.abbynews.com/obituaries/adella-marie-doering/ (pdf)

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      Re Harold Engen https://libarchives.wlu.ca/downloads/evangelical-lutheran-church-of-canada-fonds.pdf (pdf)

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      Dorothy (Vinge) Engen Obituary https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/3025051/Dorothy-Engen (pdf)

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      Re Greta Mona Lavenny Ekstrand (later Mathewson) https://www.mattatallvarnerfh.com/obituaries/133182 (pdf)

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      Re Lori Endress https://elcic.ca/2010/04/01/elcic-members-encouraged-to-pray-for-those-affected-by-p (pdf)

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      Luther & Berit Eriksson https://wmpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WMPL-Canada-History-1944-1995.p (pdf)

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      Re Velma Foreman https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/cambridge-on/velma-foreman-6290817 (pdf)

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      Re Lydia Hanson (later Foster) Search "Full text of "The Japan Christian year book" (pdf)

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      Re Ralferd Freytag https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1093&context=consensus (pdf)

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      Ralferd Freytag Search "Ralferd Freytag Born March 16, l926 in Napoleon, Ohio - Died June 16, 2020" (pdf)

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      Autobiography of Olga (Storlie) Guttormson Google "SHIPS WILL SAIL AGAIN BY OLGA GUTTORMSON" (pdf)

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      Re Ernest and Kathi (Gallman) Haab https://digitallibrary.uleth.ca/digital/collection/sanl/id/202 (pdf)

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      Re Ernest and Kathi (Gallmann) https://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol15/iss1/2/ (pdf)

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      Re Delores Hall https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2002&context=consensus (pdf)

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      Re Elizabeth E. Hartig https://archive.org/stream/thecanadiannurse64cnanuoft/thecanadiannurse64cnanu (pdf)

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      Re Hilda Hauert http://braunmemorialhospitaltest.blogspot.com/p/detailed-history.html (pdf)

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      Re William Hesselgrave Obituary Search "Rev. The William S. Hesselgrave November 14, 2003" (pdf)

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      Lucille (Larson) Hesselgrave Search "Lucille M. Hesselgrave, age 84, died Thursday, December 18, (pdf)

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      Re Lionel Hopkins http://elbowlutheranbiblecamp.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2013-02.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Lorne Hovdestad https://snaccooperative.org/view/10649864 (pdf)

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      Re Paul Jacobsen https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36891041/the-ottawa-citizen/ (pdf)

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      Re Rosemary (Weldon) Jacobsen https://canadalutheran.ca/letters/cameroonian-legacy/ (pdf)

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      Re Floyd E. Johnson https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/234817396.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Genevieve Silcox (later Johnson) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/101974170/genevieve-johnson (pdf)

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      Re Greg and Marla Kiel https://corporate.pickering.ca/PLHCWebLink/0/edoc/174107/NA2001_07_06.pdf (pdf)

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      H. H. C. Kleiner - Andhra Search "1963 The Times of India" (pdf)

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      Re H. H. C. Kleiner https://www.accollegeguntur.com/about.php (pdf)

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      1982 Audio Frederick (Fritz) Knebel Search "Item AAAB4467 - Rev. Frederick Knebel interview" (pdf)

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      Re Frederick (Fritz) Knebel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75690394/knebel-fred-obit/ (pdf)

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      Re Rev. Sr. Margaret Kreller https://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol15/iss1/2 (pdf)

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      Re Margaret Kreller https://images.ourontario.ca/Laurier/2280923/data?n=1 (pdf)

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      Re Margaret Kreller https://svlc.ca/ewExternalFiles/Apr%202020%20Newsletter_website.pdf (pdf)

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      John Kunkel Obituary https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-251672/KUNKEL_REVERE (pdf)

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      Re Elisabeth (Bergbusch) Kunkel https://store.winnipegfreepress.com/photostore/photo-details/171374/ (pdf)

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      Re Wilmer Kurtz https://mppl.org/prospect_day/Prospect_Day_January_1970.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Connie Landstrom SEARCH Connie Landstrom World Mission Messiah Camrose (pdf)

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      Re Barry and Deaconess Alice (Bald) Lang http://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol15/iss1/2 (pdf)

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      Re H. W. and Patricia (Youretz) Leutkehoelter Search "Patricia Ann (Youritz) Luetkehoelter May 20, 1 (pdf)

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      Re Nels Loberg https://wmpl.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/WMPL-Canada-History-1944-1995.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Peter E. and Elna Mae (Nielson) https://bielsinbrazil.blogspot.com/ (pdf)

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      Re Albert (Bert) and Frances McNair https://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol15/iss1/2 (pdf)

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      John & Alice Melvie Search"Obituary of John Melvie It is with deep sadness that we announce" (pdf)

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      Hymn Translator Arnfield Morck http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/m/o/r/c/morck_ac.htm (pdf)

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      Bios Arnfeld & Irene Morck Danish American Repository › P C Jensen Files › Morck, Arnfeld Christian (pdf)

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      Re E. Edwin (Elmer Edwin Nabert and Joan (Pauli) Nabert https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi? (pdf)

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      Dr. Doris Nelson, Search "Dr. Doris Armilda Nelson of Edmonton, formerly of Camrose," (pdf)

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      Re Grace Nelson Search "Grace Ingulsrud’s Return to Japan By Michelle Christianson" (pdf)

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      Re Stephen J. Nelson https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/5292 (pdf)

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      Extensive ELCA Collection on the Neudoerffer Family - See Below on this web page (pdf)

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      Honorary Degree to J. Frederick Neudoerffer https://images.ourontario.ca/Laurier/105486/data?n=4 (pdf)

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      Luthergiri Schools Search "Lutheran Church in America. Division for World Mission and Ecumenism" (pdf)

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      Dr. Amy Rohrer Neudoerffer https://www.uecf.net/books/The_Telugu_Mission.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Nurse Anna Rohrer Neudoerffer Search "Anna Neudoerffer nee Rohrer In the year 1915 our departed (pdf)

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      Oral Interview with Thedora Neudoerffer https://ead-pdfs.library.yale.edu/37.pdf (pdf)

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      Re Margaret Nissen https://centralmuseumsab.ca/view/47/margaret-nissen (pdf)

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      Madel Nostbakken Search " Language vitality through Bible translation" (pdf)

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      Doreen Nostbakken Obituary Search "NOSTBAKKEN, Doreen Ardys Vinge 1930-2019" (pdf)

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      Re Gerhard and Helene Ostrem http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/WLU/003069206pf_0007.pdf (pdf)

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      Gerhard & Helene Ostrem Search "AbT Synod Columbia Mission and Celebrations-2012-04-Fall" (pdf)

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      Re Martha Pederson https://www.westknews.com/obituaries/martha-louise-pederson/ (pdf)

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      Re Eric and Miriam Pederson Search "Rev. Eric Victor Pedersen went home to be with his Lord on Feb 4 (pdf)

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      Re Inez Hedman (later Mrs. Roy Philpot) https://archive.org/stream/N027281/N027281_djvu.txt (pdf)

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      Camrose Booster feature on Erhard Pinno https://issuu.com/camrosebooster/docs/20220607_booster (pdf)

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      Re Lorene Pinno https://burgarfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/145/Lorene-Pinno/obituary.html (pdf)

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      Re Eric and Jean (Niergoth) Reble http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/WLU/0026974551T.PDF (pdf)

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      Re Hans and Lore (Loriel) Rubarth https://www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca/obituary/4412034 (pdf)

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      Re Martin Ruccius and mission in Liberia https://www.academia.edu/41168361/A_History_of_Phebe_Hospit (pdf)

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      Re Winona Ruccius https://htlcmpls.org/website/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/newspaper.pdf (pdf)

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      Mission Update from Brian Rude https://www.embracingelsalvador.org/brian-rude/ (pdf)

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      Re Obituary of Ray Scheske Search "On a peaceful Monday, June 7, 2021, Raymond Albert Walter Scheske (pdf)

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      Re Fran Schmidt and Peru https://elcic.ca/2012/04/13/elcics-longest-serving-missionary-to-retire/ (pdf)

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      Herman Simrose Obituary https://www.jonesparkview.com/obituary/herman-simrose (pdf)

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      Re CLBI Scholarship in the name of Alice Stolee https://clbi.edu/studentaid/ (pdf)

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      Stolee Family Fonds at the Alberta Provincial Archives Search "Fonds paa-6671 - Stolee family fonds" (pdf)

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      Constance Stollee Search "Constance Stolee; they were married in 1928 and had five children" (pdf)

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      Mildred Tengbom Obituary https://www.grandstrandfh.com/obituaries/Mildred-H-Tengbom?obId=1026802 (pdf)

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      Luverne Tengbom https://www.grandstrandfh.com/obituaries/The-Rev-Dr-Luverne-C-Tengbom?obId=2956731 (pdf)

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      Re Anne MARIE Tveit https://burgarfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/7450/Anne-Tveit/obituary.html#con (pdf)

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      Re Dan and Marie (Gronlund) Vinge https://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/28978/ (pdf)

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      Sigvard Von Sicard obituary https://sigvardvonsicard.muchloved.com/ (pdf)

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      Judith Moore-von Sicard Search "Beyond the Narrows: Cultural Reflections from My Missionary Life" (pdf)

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      Henry Voss https://calgaryherald.remembering.ca/obituary/henry-voss-1065687383 (pdf)

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      Ruth (Heber) Voss Obituary https://calgaryherald.remembering.ca/obituary/ruth-voss-1065687491 (pdf)

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      Delila (Wilke) Weind Obituary https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-190446/WE (pdf)

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      Re Hubert and Marcy Willrich https://scholars.wlu.ca/consensus/vol15/iss1/2 (pdf)

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      Announcement re Hubert and Marcy Willrich https://www.newspapers.com/clip/34077430/the-leader-post/ (pdf)

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      David Wold Obituary https://burgarfuneralhome.com/tribute/details/7080/David-Wold/obituary.html (pdf)

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      Dr. Lila Youck Sagness Youck Sagness (pdf)

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      Neudoerffers in India - Ronnings in China

      Ernst Neudoerffer (Sr.)

      Anna Elizabeth (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, b. 1887, Registered Nurse

      Ernst W. Neudoerffer (Ernst Jr.)

      Ernst Neudoerffer Sr was born in 1849 in Germany and he completed seminary through the Basel Mission. (see Cronmiller, p. 160).  In 1875, he travelled to Santa Leopoldina, Brazil. He spent 7 years as a missionary in Brazil. 


      The family left Brazil soon after August was born. Ernst Sr. . entered the roster of the Canada Synod in 1883,  He s

      Ernst Neudoerffer Sr was born in 1849 in Germany and he completed seminary through the Basel Mission. (see Cronmiller, p. 160).  In 1875, he travelled to Santa Leopoldina, Brazil. He spent 7 years as a missionary in Brazil. 


      The family left Brazil soon after August was born. Ernst Sr. . entered the roster of the Canada Synod in 1883,  He served the congregations at Zurich, Normanby (28 years) and Ayton, Ontario. His second son Julius ministered in Pennsylvania.(Grosz, Mission and Merger., p. 210).

      Ernst W. Neudoerffer (Ernst Jr.)

      Anna Elizabeth (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, b. 1887, Registered Nurse

      Ernst W. Neudoerffer (Ernst Jr.)

      Missionary Ernst is seen here in his 1951 portrait for the "Gallery of Presidents of the Seminary" in Waterloo (Neudoerffer 1927-1930) Born in Brazil, Ernest, or as he sometimes wrote it "Ernest" Neudoerffer spent his boyhood in Ontario. Canada and he was ordained by the Canada Synod in 1900 before leaving for India. .


      While a missionary i

      Missionary Ernst is seen here in his 1951 portrait for the "Gallery of Presidents of the Seminary" in Waterloo (Neudoerffer 1927-1930) Born in Brazil, Ernest, or as he sometimes wrote it "Ernest" Neudoerffer spent his boyhood in Ontario. Canada and he was ordained by the Canada Synod in 1900 before leaving for India. .


      While a missionary in India, Ernst worked alongside Dr. Amy Rohrer. and his brother August before the arrival of Anna Rohrer who would become his wife.


      He was first called under the Board of Foreign Missions of the North American General Council See; Minutes


      Another colleague in mission in India was Miss Martha Strempfer. The  fathers of Strempfer and Neudoerffer were both Canada Synod pastors. 


      In 1931, after serving at the Lutheran Schools in Waterloo, Dr. Neudoerffer returned to India with Mrs. Marie Neudoerffer..

      Anna Elizabeth (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, b. 1887, Registered Nurse

      Anna Elizabeth (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, b. 1887, Registered Nurse

      Anna Elizabeth (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, b. 1887, Registered Nurse

       Called to the Mission Field in India in 1915 and there serving until 1927 , Registered Nurse Anna Elizabeth Rohrer trained at the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia, She married Rev. Ernst Neudoerffer Jr. on January 6, 1917 at Rajahmundry, Madras, India, 


      . This FLICKR picture is from the ELCA (October 1920).


      Ernst and Anna had daughter

       Called to the Mission Field in India in 1915 and there serving until 1927 , Registered Nurse Anna Elizabeth Rohrer trained at the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia, She married Rev. Ernst Neudoerffer Jr. on January 6, 1917 at Rajahmundry, Madras, India, 


      . This FLICKR picture is from the ELCA (October 1920).


      Ernst and Anna had daughters Ernestine and Theodora. 

      Anna died having a later-life childbirth. Her synodical obituary is found at http://images.ourontario.ca/Partners/WLU/0027082891T.PDF


       Her campus obituary: https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=thecord


      In this letter, CH Little writes to his mother that the daughters of Anna and Ernst are keeping care of their dad after their mother's death. 


      Marie Neudoerffer Image from Laurier Archives

      Anna Elizabeth (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, b. 1887, Registered Nurse

      Anna Elizabeth (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, b. 1887, Registered Nurse

      . The Eastern Canada Synod Necrology Report for 1967 announces that: 


      "Mrs. Ernst Neudoerffer (nee Marie Fuchslin), wife of the Rev. Ernst Neudoerffer, D. D. died in India, October 22, 1966 at the age of 84. 


      Following their marriage in 1930, she accompanied her husband to India where he continued his missionary service as principal of Luth

      . The Eastern Canada Synod Necrology Report for 1967 announces that: 


      "Mrs. Ernst Neudoerffer (nee Marie Fuchslin), wife of the Rev. Ernst Neudoerffer, D. D. died in India, October 22, 1966 at the age of 84. 


      Following their marriage in 1930, she accompanied her husband to India where he continued his missionary service as principal of Luthergiri Seminary, Rajahmundry. Until 1947, when they retired, she served the seminary community in the health program. She had served previously as a nurse in World War I and later as nursing superintendent at the Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. She had been born in Switzerland. upon reitrement in 1947, the Neudoerffers made their home in Kotagiri, S. India, where she is now buried." signed Karl J. Knauff.

      Theodora Neudoerffer

      Dr. Amy Belle (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, M.D.

      August F. A. Neudoerffer

      Theodora, the  youngest daughter born to of Ernst Neudoerffer was commissioned a Missionary Nurse to India in 1935 by the ULCA after the General Synod and General Council merged.


      . She trained at Toronto General before serving 30 years at Kugler Hospital in Guntur, India, (part of the Joint Council with Rajahmundry served by Theodora's fam

      Theodora, the  youngest daughter born to of Ernst Neudoerffer was commissioned a Missionary Nurse to India in 1935 by the ULCA after the General Synod and General Council merged.


      . She trained at Toronto General before serving 30 years at Kugler Hospital in Guntur, India, (part of the Joint Council with Rajahmundry served by Theodora's family).   She moved home to Kitchener in 1978. See Mission and Merger by Roy Grosz, pp 207-210..

      August F. A. Neudoerffer

      Dr. Amy Belle (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, M.D.

      August F. A. Neudoerffer

      August Neudoerffer, younger brother of Ernst, moved to Canada from Brazil as a child. He completed his Public School education in Normanby/Neustadt, Ontario. He was ordained in 1905 after seminary in Philadephia. 


      In India in 1914,he married Amy Belle Rohrer (Medical Doctor).  He served in India for 32 years.  Their son, J . Frederick (Fre

      August Neudoerffer, younger brother of Ernst, moved to Canada from Brazil as a child. He completed his Public School education in Normanby/Neustadt, Ontario. He was ordained in 1905 after seminary in Philadephia. 


      In India in 1914,he married Amy Belle Rohrer (Medical Doctor).  He served in India for 32 years.  Their son, J . Frederick (Fred),  was assigned to  be supervisor over the mission field his parents cultivated while J. Frederick was growing up.

      Dr. Amy Belle (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, M.D.

      Dr. Amy Belle (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, M.D.

      Dr. Amy Belle (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, M.D.

      Dr. Rohrer was sent to India in 1907, She is pictured here in the 1914 history book on the Teulgu Mission written by Dratch and Kuder. She carried on a medical practice as one named as a woman missionary in the 2nd Generation by Mission founder Christian Frederick  Heyer. 

      Dr. Amy preceded her sister to India and worked alongside Ernst in 

      Dr. Rohrer was sent to India in 1907, She is pictured here in the 1914 history book on the Teulgu Mission written by Dratch and Kuder. She carried on a medical practice as one named as a woman missionary in the 2nd Generation by Mission founder Christian Frederick  Heyer. 

      Dr. Amy preceded her sister to India and worked alongside Ernst in the early years before he became her brother-in-law. Amy married August Neudoerffer in 1914 (Cronmiller p. 223).


      Befoer travelling to India, Dr. Amy served at the Lutheran Orphanage at Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA, She trained as a medical missionary with the intention of travelling to India. With the support of the North American General Council, she  and studied Medicine while living at the Mary J. Drexel Home and Motherhouse in Philadelphia. 


       J. Frederick Neudoerffer ishe child. 





      J. Frederick . Neudoerffer

      Dr. Amy Belle (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, M.D.

      Dr. Amy Belle (Rohrer) Neudoerffer, M.D.

      While his cousin Theodora  was in India as a Missionary Nurse, J. Frederick Neudoerffer (seen here with his Uncle Ernst) graduated from Waterloo - where his Uncle Ernst had been head of the school. Image from the ELCA FLICKR.


      J. Frederick had been born in Rajahmundry, India, and he went on to lead the Lutheran Church in America Division fo

      While his cousin Theodora  was in India as a Missionary Nurse, J. Frederick Neudoerffer (seen here with his Uncle Ernst) graduated from Waterloo - where his Uncle Ernst had been head of the school. Image from the ELCA FLICKR.


      J. Frederick had been born in Rajahmundry, India, and he went on to lead the Lutheran Church in America Division for World Missions and Ecumenism  leaving behind files (documents and images) stored in the ELCA Archives.


      Dr. J. Frederick Neudoerffer corresponded at length with Roy Grosz for the book Mission and Merger and reflected upon the changes that happened in missions and with missionaries.


      1891 Ronnings and China

      1891 Thea Ronning (Later Landahl) to China

      1891 Thea Ronning (Later Landahl) to China

      Winner of the PROSE Award for Media & Cultural Studies : BOOK QUOTE:

      "When the Reverend Halvor Ronning, his sister Thea, and fellow missionary Hannah Rorem set out in 1891 to found a Lutheran mission and school in the interior of China, they could not have foreseen the ways in which that decision would ripple across generations of the Ronn

      Winner of the PROSE Award for Media & Cultural Studies : BOOK QUOTE:

      "When the Reverend Halvor Ronning, his sister Thea, and fellow missionary Hannah Rorem set out in 1891 to found a Lutheran mission and school in the interior of China, they could not have foreseen the ways in which that decision would ripple across generations of the Ronning family. Halvor and Hannah would marry, and their son Chester, born in Hubei Province in 1894, would spend over half his life in China as a student, teacher, and a Canadian diplomat. Chester’s daughter, Audrey, studied at Nanking University during the Chinese Civil War and later spent decades reporting on the People’s Republic of China for the New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and many other publications. 


      “During the last century,” [book author] Audrey Topping notes, “a member of our family was there for almost every event of importance.” China Mission presents a personal history of her family’s ties to their adopted home and the momentous events that radically changed one of the most powerful countries in the world. 


      1891 Thea Ronning (Later Landahl) to China

      1891 Thea Ronning (Later Landahl) to China

      1891 Thea Ronning (Later Landahl) to China

        Introduction by the author Gracia Grindal of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, "Torbjørg (Thea) Nilsdatter Rønning (1865-1898), was born on a farm outside the town of Bø in Telemark, Norway. Thea and her two brothers, Nils Nilson and Halvor Nilson, immigrated to America in the 1880s. All three distinguished themselves in God's servi

        Introduction by the author Gracia Grindal of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, "Torbjørg (Thea) Nilsdatter Rønning (1865-1898), was born on a farm outside the town of Bø in Telemark, Norway. Thea and her two brothers, Nils Nilson and Halvor Nilson, immigrated to America in the 1880s. All three distinguished themselves in God's service." 


      E. Clifford Nelson in The Lutherans in North America (Revised Edition, 1980) points out, as does Grindahl, that the Ronnings were formed in the Norwegian Lutheran tradition later identified as the Hauge Synod.  "In 1890 an independent Norwegian Lutheran China Mission Society was organized. Early missionaries were Daniel Nelson, Halvor N. Ronning and his sister Thea, the pioneer vanguard of the many American Lutherans who served in China." (p. 280). 


      Thea married Carl Landahl. Following Thea's death Carl remarried and the Ronnings and Landahls remained close.


      Nils Nilson Ronning, bother to Thea and Halvor also attended the Redwing Seminary in Minnesota (Hauge Synod) . He went on to have a distinguished career as a writer., editor and publishing including work for  the Augsburg Publishing House of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. Particularly, he advanced the preservation of Norwegian pioneer heritage in North America. His book Fifty Years in America  can be read online here.


      See also the Scholarly article Travel Narratives, Popular Religious Literature, Autobiography: N. N. Rønning's Contribution to Norwegian-American Culture by Øyvind T. Gulliksen and the Excursus on Thea and Nils by Mark Granquist in A New History of Lutherans in America, 2015.


      1891 Halvor Ronning to China

      1891 Thea Ronning (Later Landahl) to China

      1891 Hannah Rorem (later Ronning) to China

       The Ronning family left China in 1899 after eight years in the field for "furlough." They narrowly missed perishing in  the "Boxer Rebellion" some considerations of which  are available through the  Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.


      For a brief biography in the Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity, see: 

      Halvor N. 

      Ronning:

       The Ronning family left China in 1899 after eight years in the field for "furlough." They narrowly missed perishing in  the "Boxer Rebellion" some considerations of which  are available through the  Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.


      For a brief biography in the Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Christianity, see: 

      Halvor N. 

      Ronning:: Pioneer Norwegian-American Lutheran missionary in China"  

      https://bdcconline.net/en/stories/ronning-halvor


       The Hauge Synod seminary at Redwing, Minnesota where Halvor and Nils studied (while Nils and Thea determined to head to China)  is described by E. Clifford Nelson (The Lutherans in North America, 1980, p. 289), as being more "pietistic and lay-oriented"


      While home in North America on furlough the Ronnings connected with the Norwegian Lutherans from Bardo (USA) who were looking to move to Canada. They established  Norden  (later known as Bardo) in Alberta. 


      In 1907 Hanna died in China and and Halvor returned to North America with their children to Bardo, Alberta, where they joined the congregation.


      In 1912 Halvor married Gunhilda Horte, The Ronnings and Horte's were among the founders of the Lutheran congregation in the community they named  Valhalla, Alberta.Later Chester would marry Inga Horte Gunhilda's sister. 


      The Bardo congregation produced many missionaries.  More details are available in the  publication for the 75th Anniversary of the congregation at Bardo. as found at https://archive.org/stream/P011258/P011258_djvu.txt

      1891 Hannah Rorem (later Ronning) to China

      1891 Thea Ronning (Later Landahl) to China

      1891 Hannah Rorem (later Ronning) to China

       Image Source: "China Mission: The Chester Ronning Story," a 1980 film by Tom Radford for the National Film Board of Canada (www.nfb.ca). 



       For more on Hannah Rorem see: https://www.arisefromthedust.com/hannah-ronning-missionary-to-china/  


      "When word got around that Hannah and Thea had started a foundling home, dozens of castoff infant gir

       Image Source: "China Mission: The Chester Ronning Story," a 1980 film by Tom Radford for the National Film Board of Canada (www.nfb.ca). 



       For more on Hannah Rorem see: https://www.arisefromthedust.com/hannah-ronning-missionary-to-china/  


      "When word got around that Hannah and Thea had started a foundling home, dozens of castoff infant girls were left at the mission gate." 


      Hannah (Rorem) Ronning died in   Phin Chin, China with seven children left in the care of her husband  Halvor. The Mission in China relied on the approach of the women and Thea and Hannah were both gone at this point. It is essential to read the early stories of them women and not simply the ordained men.


      See also 

       

       

      The Ronning and Rorem Letters

      1894 Chester Ronning born in China

      1894 Chester Ronning born in China

       Watch this video made with the cooperation of the Ronning Family to learn more about the changing perspectives of Hannah and Halvor. 


      From "Family Reunion in China" February 12, 1984 New York Times Magazine by Audrey Ronning Topping:

        "The next day, we walked along the top of the great city wall of Fancheng's twin city, Xiangyang. It was 

       Watch this video made with the cooperation of the Ronning Family to learn more about the changing perspectives of Hannah and Halvor. 


      From "Family Reunion in China" February 12, 1984 New York Times Magazine by Audrey Ronning Topping:

        "The next day, we walked along the top of the great city wall of Fancheng's twin city, Xiangyang. It was on this wall that Hannah and Halvor had found their first abandoned baby girl. I heard the story first from my Grandfather, who married again and lived to a ripe old age in Canada. After church one morning in 1893, as he and grandmother strolled along the wall, they noticed a dog sniffing a pile of red rags. Suddenly they heard a piteous cry. Halvor ran ahead, kicked the dog away and knelt over the bundle. He saw a trembling, blue- faced baby girl not more than a day old. She had been left to die. Hannah picked up the infant and rushed her home. Halvor baptized her Lydia, and she grew up as one of the family. When word got around that Hannah and Thea had started a foundling home, dozens of castoff infant girls were left at the mission gate. 

      1894 Chester Ronning born in China

      1894 Chester Ronning born in China

      1894 Chester Ronning born in China

      .See the entry for the Canadian Encyclopedia available at https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chester-alvin-ronning


       The New York Times Obituary upon the death of Chester A. Ronning. can be found at the publication on Section 1, Page 34, January 1, 1985, 


       The LA Times obituary indicates that after teachers training Chester "R

      .See the entry for the Canadian Encyclopedia available at https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/chester-alvin-ronning


       The New York Times Obituary upon the death of Chester A. Ronning. can be found at the publication on Section 1, Page 34, January 1, 1985, 


       The LA Times obituary indicates that after teachers training Chester "Ronning returned to China to teach at a school his father had founded, but was forced to leave during the upheaval at the end of the Great Revolution in 1927. He became president of Camrose Lutheran College that year.." 


      A blogpost on is here on the making of China Mission: The Chester Ronning Story.


      The actual film by the National Film Board can be seen digitally at  https://www.nfb.ca/film/china_mission_the_chester_ronning_story/


      Inga Marie (Horte) Ronning

      1894 Chester Ronning born in China

      Inga Marie (Horte) Ronning

      University of Alberta Historian Brian Evans wrote the book on Chester and Inga Marie (Horte) Ronning,closing common gaps left by many biographers who failed to notice that Inga was on the global journey too. .A YouTube video is available at 

      https://youtu.be/dLAmpp0OQuI?t=5



      Inga Marie Horte and Chester Ronning first met in 1908 in Dorenlee 

      University of Alberta Historian Brian Evans wrote the book on Chester and Inga Marie (Horte) Ronning,closing common gaps left by many biographers who failed to notice that Inga was on the global journey too. .A YouTube video is available at 

      https://youtu.be/dLAmpp0OQuI?t=5



      Inga Marie Horte and Chester Ronning first met in 1908 in Dorenlee near Camrose in 1908 after Chester and his siblings were brought to Alberta from China by their father Halvor after the death of their mother Hannah. 


      Inga Marie was the youngest sister of Gunhilda Horte whom Halvor took for his second wife in 1912.


      Chester and Inga Marie married in 1918. She became a missionary to China and a partner in foreign service.

      Talbert R. Ronning

      1894 Chester Ronning born in China

      Inga Marie (Horte) Ronning

      Talbert Ronning served in China, the years are difficult to discern,


       They were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as residents of the USA. It does not seem that they were ever located in Canada. 


      Talbert Rorem Ronning is another successful son of Halvar Ronning. He completed his M.A. Thesis on  The Hauge Synod Mission Enterprise in

      Talbert Ronning served in China, the years are difficult to discern,


       They were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as residents of the USA. It does not seem that they were ever located in Canada. 


      Talbert Rorem Ronning is another successful son of Halvar Ronning. He completed his M.A. Thesis on  The Hauge Synod Mission Enterprise in China, by Talbert R. Ronning, 1930. for Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN in 1930. In 1931 he married Ella G. Gryting who after returning from China would complete her own M.A. at the Kennedy School for Mission. He is described as an "LUM Missionary" by some sources, he was a pastor for St. Timothy's Chicagop. 


      A photo in China Mission indicates Talbert and Ella  had at least one child in China (1932).


      See also the Book Christianity in China online to search


      Chicago Tribune Obituary for Talbert Ronning


      Regarding Talbert and Ella in China in the 1970s, read this New York Times article 

      https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/20/archives/jesuits-say-china-has-not-asked-them-to-return-order-eager-to.html

      Ella (Gryting) Ronning

      Audrey Ronning (later Topping ) Writer

      Audrey Ronning (later Topping ) Writer



      Ella G. Gryting earned an M. A. from the Kennedy School of Missions, Hartford Seminary.

         

      She had been a missionary at Sinyeh Honan, China. The citation for her thesis is: Ronning, Ella Gryting. “A Study of Experiences of Chinese Children and their Implications for Religious Education.” MA thesis, Kennedy School of Missions, 1947.


      She does not appear to have been in Canada.

       





      Audrey Ronning (later Topping ) Writer

      Audrey Ronning (later Topping ) Writer

      Audrey Ronning (later Topping ) Writer

       Dr. Audrey Topping (PhD,), is the oldest child of Chester and Inga Ronning, and an award winning writer. She studied at Nanking University during the Chinese Civil War and later spent decades reporting on the People's Republic of China for the New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and many other publications. Image and more available here.


      "Du

       Dr. Audrey Topping (PhD,), is the oldest child of Chester and Inga Ronning, and an award winning writer. She studied at Nanking University during the Chinese Civil War and later spent decades reporting on the People's Republic of China for the New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and many other publications. Image and more available here.


      "During the last century," Audrey Topping notes, "a member of our family was there for almost every event of importance." China Mission presents a personal history of her family's ties to their adopted home and the momentous events that radically changed one of the most powerful countries in the world. 



      Audrey Ronning (later Topping ) Writer

      Paul Ronning in Madagascar

       By Audrey Topping While  The crowd led us around the wall and down a narrow street. ''Clear the way,'' called the elderly man. '' Lao Fuzi is back. They want to see the old church.'' Finally we found it, hidden behind a wall that had been built in front of it. It was a pathetic sight, only a shell of its former self. Laundry hung on pole

       By Audrey Topping While  The crowd led us around the wall and down a narrow street. ''Clear the way,'' called the elderly man. '' Lao Fuzi is back. They want to see the old church.'' Finally we found it, hidden behind a wall that had been built in front of it. It was a pathetic sight, only a shell of its former self. Laundry hung on poles from gaping holes that had once been adorned by stained- glass windows. Lumber was stacked against the outer walls, but we could see the cross carved into the cement under the eaves. The altar and pews were gone. In their stead was a carpenter's workshop. We were terribly upset: ''Look what they have done to grandpa's church!''The elderly man who had led us there wrung his hands and smiled apologetically. ''We are sorry about the church,'' he said, ''We are using it as a workshop to build houses for the poor.''''Who are you?'' I asked.''I was a student of your father's. I went to his school. I have known your family all my life.''I called Dad over to take a picture of the two of them. Tears came to the old man's eyes as he grabbed Dad's hand and welcomed him back to his birthplace.Then others came forward. ''I remember your mother, she saved me.''''I went to school with you.''''My mother was your baby amah.''They all wanted photos with Lao Fuzi. Dad was deeply touched.''Don't worry about the church,'' he told them. ''It doesn't matter. It is being put to good use. Remember, Jesus Christ was a carpenter's son!''That night we celebrated Dad's 90th birthday. Family, friends and officials gathered around circular tables brimming with symbols of long life. The centerpiece was a butter-sculptured crane. The chef himself presented the last of the 16 courses: longevity noodles that hung over a foot long when held on high with chop sticks. 


      Paul Ronning in Madagascar

      Audrey Ronning (later Topping ) Writer

      Paul Ronning in Madagascar

      Paul Ronning is connected to the book "History in Africa" with a citation to:  

      On Finding Madagascar Materials: The ELCA Region 3 Archives in Minnesota

      Jeffrey Kaufmann

      History in Africa

      Vol. 29 (2002), pp. 487-496

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