My Church

My Dream

2010-02-14T05:02:00.000-08:00

2/14/2010 6:53:36 AM
MY DREAM:

I had a very pleasant dream this morning. I was being bad. I was sinning. I was doing all the evils of society.

During this time, Jesus, came to me and asked me why are you abusing my temple? I didn’t realize that we a temples of God. So it was a very good dream.

GOD IS GOOD! We Christians are temples of GOD.

Happy Valentines Day. Sally & I went to see “OKLAHOMA” at John’s old High School, Topeka West, last night. Damion P. was the lead. The family attends our church here at OSLC.

I’m not much into musicals.

I’m also not a very romantic.

OH WELL..

myron@myownfaith2.com

My relatives, friends, etc.

2010-01-22T02:52:00.000-08:00

1/22/2010 4:14:30 AM
MY FAMILY, FRIENDS FROOM CHILDHOOD CONTINUES:

Good Morning:

To those who enjoy stopping by and blog with me on the web, THANK YOU!
To those who are critical of me in everything I do … TAKE A HIKE!

I for one would like to gloat a little bit. Maybe, just maybe our political world might be changing around to it’s constitution.

I PRAY FOR OUR COUNTRY DAILY.

ORELE & ALVINA (LENNING) HOLTER:

Orele was my father’s older brother. He married his 1st cousin.

I remember mom told me that they had the same # of children as us siblings.

Let me see if I can remember their names:

Leon
Reuben
LaValle
Carmen
Eugene
Carol

WOW! My brain is still working! I remembered!

Leon married Carol Sando
Reuben married ??
LaValle married Neva Benz
Carmen married Kenneth Heppler
Eugene married Jean Hovey
Carol married Loren Perry

I’m sure this family is large. Eugene Genie graduated with my older brothers I believe.

I remember Wes used to tell me that they once had an all HOLTER basketball team.

Wes
Ronny
Davey
Eugene
Dale

Imagine that!

I was just a little tyke when Orele died. I did not know Alvina. I understand she was committed to a mental institution. Maybe my cousins would read this and get back to me on that.

There’s a picture album posted on a turn style at my hometown church. The photos are priceless. Also there’s a pioneer museum in Bruce SD. There’s many mementos, photos, stories , etc. from the history of Bruce community.

If you ever get up that way, please be sure to visit the museum.

Guess I’ll post this on the web.

myron@myownfaith2.com

My relatives-more-

2010-01-19T02:27:00.000-08:00

1/18/2010 4:37:50 PM
MY FAMILY CONTINUES:

I’ve been trying to remember who I missed from the Skovlund family.

LEON SKOVLUND:

Leon married Donna Townsend. He died a few years ago. I think Donna lives in Sinai SD. I could be wrong. Donna’s younger sister, Margaret, was my classmate in Bruce High School … class of 1963

I’ll write about my classmates later.

I was able to attend Leon’s funeral at Grace Lutheran. His younger brother Harold took my picture of which is on our home page. Amazing!

So, that leaves two Skovlund’s left. Need help!

I guess I could so some genealogical research to get the total number. I might even do some Internet research from www.myownfaith2.com and possibly find more relatives.

ADOLPH GUSTAV HOLTER:

That would be my father. DAD passed away in May 1977-8 .. I think. I remember my brother called me at work. He said “DAD DIED”. I remember I had to sit in the break room to collect my thoughts. I was able to finish my shift at the post office and immediately told Sally when I got home.

We last saw my father over Easter, I think. I took a picture of MOM & DAD with John on the couch upstairs. This was the last photo of DAD. I think my mother has that photo in her room at Greenleaf assisted living center in Brookings SD.

We left for the farm home the next day.

DAD fell off a ladder painting the peak of our barn. My sister, Delpha, begged him to hire someone to do these projects. I’m still mad at DAD. John Reppe, Delpha’s son, found him at the foot of the ladder. He was very young. I’ve been told that he was trying to call the nurse or something. My mother ran to DAD and checked his vitals. He was unresponsive.

When I first arrived, I grabbed a paintbrush. My father left his mark in life. The paintbrush left a red trail to his death. I could NOT bear to see that!

Dad’s funeral was one of the largest at Grace for quite some time.

I’ll write more at a later date.

My Relatives

2010-01-18T04:59:00.000-08:00

My Own Church Post:
1/16/2010 6:37:52 AM

Page 13 (Cont:)

LEWIS & FRIEDA HOLTER:

A: I remember my Dad’s older brother, Lewis Holter. He was a fun loving uncle. Louie died in the early 70’s I believe. A car jack slipped on top of him while he was changing oil on his vehicle.. I think.

One time I was told to shock grain and load the shocks into a grain trailer. Being the rebellious young teenager I was, I refused. Uncle Lewis used his wonderful negotiations skills by making me the “field” manager. I worked with a new purpose. J

Uncle Lewis is buried with aunt Frieda at the Elmwood Cemetery in Bruce SD

NORMAN & VIVIAN HOLTER:

Uncle Normy was my “singing” uncle. His oldest son, Darvin, Darvey used to tell us that Normy would sing to the top of his lungs while working in the field. I personally never heard him singing out in the field, but I can believe it.

Normy would sing the annual Christmas song in NorVegun “I YAM so Glad this Christmas eve” I remember him singing and would admire him.

My last visit with uncle Normy was at their home in Estelline SD. My uncle had heart disease, I believe. Or it might have been kidney failure. Maybe my cousin Wally might tell a little more about his father’s health.

Anyway, I would always feel welcome visiting uncle Normy & Vivian’s home, located one mile south of us. Wally & I used to play together and get in trouble. I remember once we were about 5 or six. We got into some cement. Aunt Vivian had to wash the cement off us. Wally & I were childhood playmates. We went to the same grade school together & High School. We’re the best of friends also.

My Aunt Vivian currently lives in her home in Estelline SD. I last visited with Normy over Christmas 199?, the year escapes me. He died a few months later I believe. I’ll never forget that visit. We had cream and bread together and a fun visit talking about the old days on the farm. It was a pleasant visit.

MATILDA (HOLTER) ANDERSON:

Ed & Matilda Anderson lived in the BIG city of Bruce SD. I didn’t know them very much. Matilda was my Dad’s older sister, I think. I used to go to school with their children, Diane & LaVonne. We were not close.

ESTHER (HOLTER)& ROY STEWART:

Esther & Roy Stewart used to live 2 miles west of our farm. I didn’t know them. I remember mom used to tell me that she was a rubber-neck on the party REA phone line.
Our # was 7772.. I think. I know that our phone was four shorts. We would talk on the phone and the volume would decrease. We knew that aunt Ester would be rubber necking. The Peterson’s moved into the there home after they all moved to Bruce SD.

1/17/2010 7:26:22 AM

Good Morning.

The question was about my older relatives I believe.

OLIVER BERGH:

My maternal uncle Oliver was a Lutheran Pastor. He was the only son of Oscar & Julie (Branes) Bergh. I remember uncle Oliver very well. He dedicated his life to Jesus and the family spent many years in Japan as a Lutheran missionary. Oliver and his wife Judith spent a weekend at our home, many years ago. He died from heart disease I believe. High cholesterol runs high in the Bergh family. Oliver is my mother’s younger brother. Visit our website for more genealogical details.

OSCAR & MABLE (HOLTER) SKOVLUND:

Mable was my father’s oldest sister. She was born in 1900 I believe. She is buried in St. Petri, Bruce SD, and the same cemetery as my parents. Visit www.myownfaith2.com/bucket.htm for more information about my bucket list wishes.

Their youngest son, Harold, was my playmate, classmate, and friend back in my childhood. Harold and I used to participate in sports. He was a GREAT athlete! Too bad alcohol got the best of him. He can be reached at my visiting Danny’s lounge in Brookings SD. I try to visit with Harold whenever I make a trip up north.

Oscar & Mable had SIXTEEN children!

The family grew up in poverty. I remember one of the Skovlund family used to say that they would try to get to the chick house early in order to get to the eggs first. Talk about sibling rivalry
Oscar was the town drunk. I’ve been told that he’s come home from one of his drunken episodes and Mable would welcome him back with open arms.

I will try to remember the sixteen Skovlund children:

Olaf
Eve Harpestad
Melvin
Ralph
Floyd
Olga Hartley
Ester Boetcher
Baby died as infant (Marie?)
Audrey Ulvestad
Alden
Gerald
Adolph
Ellen Krogh
Harold
?
?
?

The only ones still alive today that I know of are

Harold
Gerald
Alden
Audrey

I could be wrong. Once I post this to the web, I’d appreciate some feedback.
Visit our website for more info.

1/18/2010 5:32:11 AM

OK… I guess I’ll post this on my blog

My Story of a Lifetime - Page 13 -

2010-01-16T04:37:00.000-08:00

Q: What do you remember about your oldest relative(s) you knew personally?

A: My uncles and aunts were all from the farm land NE of Bruce SD. I remember my uncle Lewis * Lewy* Holter. He died in the early 70's I believe. Louie & Frieda were our friends. My 1st cousin currently Davey farms our home place. I remember once I did NOT want to shock grain for the trashing crew. I was a young re bellious teenager.

I will write more later ... bye bye

My Story of a Lifetime - Page 13 -

2010-01-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

Grace Lutheran Bruce SD

2009-12-27T05:29:00.000-08:00

My Own Faith memories continues:

OK … I got the facts wrong.

Bryce Loomis did NOT marry an Eighmy. David Tillgren married Wilma Eighmy.
Thanks Joanne for straightening me out.

And Thanks to my LBI friend also for his positive replies to my blogs. I can certainly use the links he sends me.

If you want to see ALL my links, merely go to

www.myownfaith2.com/blog and choose the link you’d like to follow.

I have placed a PRIVATE link to only myself to vent. Thanks for allowing me that FREEDOM.

Now getting back to my childhood and all the FAITH based issues.

Do you believe in Angels? I DO !

I am amazed I am still alive to this day! I’m sure a guardian angel is looking over me. I have no idea what GOD has for me to this day. I’m almost 65 and I still ask GOD daily, “What would you like me to do today?’

I asked GOD that day also when I got off my knees in the privacy of my own bedroom.
Well, the bedroom was NOT that private back then. I had four “roommates”, my older brothers back then. My siblings follows:

Wes – 1937
Ronny – 1938
Dale – 1941?
Adelpha – 1943?
Myron – 1945
Julie – 1948?

The exact dates escape me. I’m merely trying to put my childhood in perspective.

So our UNHEATED bedroom was upstairs. The brother’s bedroom was the west end. My sister’s bedroom was the size of a closet. Delpha & Julie must have really loved each other back then. J

Interestingly, DAD hired a hired man, Floyd Skovlund, our 1st cousin, and he slept in the east room.

Talk about the BRADY bunch! We could make a movie! J

Our “NEW” church, Grace Lutheran, Bruce SD was located where Lynn Emmett currently lives .. (I think). I believe the corner lot is now Lynn’s storage area.

In the winter of 1969, Grace Lutheran burned down. I was home on leave from the USAF. Mom got a call from someone; the name escapes me who called. I remember MOM and DAD drove to see the flames shooting from the steeple. It was a sad time for all.

My sister Julie and John were just married weeks earlier, I believe.

My memories of Grace Lutheran were always one of fondness.
I was confirmed in that building and many others before me.

I’ll write more later.

myron@myownfaith2.com

My Childhood Church

2009-12-25T13:43:00.000-08:00

12/25/2009 11:00:23 AM

I guess It’s time to write a little more about my church.

Where was I?

Oh ya, upon first reading and rereading my first post, I wrote about St. Petri, my 1st church.

My cousin Wally even made a post, so that encourages me to write some more.

Currently, I’m reclining in my bathrobe in the presence of my family, Mark & Sally.
We are basically snowbound today. My duck feeding will have to be delayed.
Sally & Mark will open presents tomorrow from what I’ve heard.

How can you NOT think about Christmas without thinking of Christmas’s past and your church?

Did you know that my parents are buried in St. Petri Bruce SD? Yes, indeed, I plan to have a tombstone right next to my parents. The instructions are on my bucket list as posted on the web.

The full address is www.myownfaith2.com/bucket and merely click on the latest version.

On or around the 1950’s St. Petri merged with Grace Lutheran Bruce SD. I vaguely remember the move. I do remember going to church with my parents and sitting in the west wing, the St. Petri addition. I remember seeing my neighbors sitting with us. They were all St. Petri folks. The Grace Lutheran folks sat in the main part. I guess there were prejudices back then also. J

One Sunday morning I sat in the back row, with my classmate Sharon Rust. We were flirting with each other. Pastor Bersagel stopped right in the middle of his sermon and told us to behave. Imagine that !!

I was confirmed at the age of 15, which would be 1960 I believe. We had confirmation classes for two years straight. The classes were on a Saturday, if my memory serves me correct. I would like to play footsies with Sharon. We would flirt with each other. I loved Sharon back then. I still love her, some 59 years later.

Sharon went on to marry Jim Steffin and I married Sally. We still get together at Honey Days and laugh about those days.

In the summer of 1960, Keith Loomis and I and some of my friends attended NESODAK bible camp. Sharon also attended bible camp that year, if my memory serves me correct.

12/25/2009 12:22:03 PM

It’s later and I’m back from trying to move snow.

We’re currently watching the birth of Jesus on FOX/TV

Now getting back to my youth and my church.

After attending Bible Camp in the summer of 1960, my friend Keith got killed in a tractor accident. The story is Keith and another friend were horse playing around and the tractor rolled over him. I was not there. I remember Les Moe came over to my parents and asked them if I would be Keith’s pallbearer.

The first week of school, I had to be Keith’s pallbearer I remember David Tillgren was another pallbearer. I remember viewing Keith in the little closet room. David finally told me that we needed to go into the sanctuary and be seated.

The Loomis families were sitting in the St. Petri area. The pallbearers were seated in the front row on the left side. We were very sad. My friend and confidant from bible school was with Jesus.

I turned my life over to Jesus during that time frame. Before that death, I knew only of Jesus in knowledge from HAVING to go to church.

12/25/2009 2:16:03 PM

I have created a folder name on my laptop called “myownchurch” to eventually copy/paste my writings to this blog.

Where was I?

I was writing about my church and the relationship I have had with my Lord.

I was a freshman at Bruce SD in the fall of 1960 when I walked over to our church to visit Keith for the final time.

Later on in the privacy of my upstairs farm home, I turned my life over to Jesus. I remember reading somewhere in scripture, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, do I give to you. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace in my heart after reading the bible and that particular verse. I don’t even know the chapter/verse in scripture. If someone reading this, could you reply? .. Thanks.

So I turned my life over to Jesus, and if you want to call it being born again, so be it. Remember, I’m a Lutheran. I didn’t even know what being reborn meant. I just remember having peace in my heart. There was no bells, whistles or anything. Oral Roberts didn’t even place his hands on me to be healed!

I remember being confirmed without my good friend Keith. I think there was around a dozen or so of us being confirmed. I remember the Loomis family could not attend the confirmation Sunday, too painful. Keith’s older brother, Bryce, still lives in Bruce. Bryce married a local girl, an Eighmy., I think. Keith Loomis is buried at the Estelline SD cemetery. At some point in my photography life, I believe I have taken a picture of his tombstone. I have visited the cemetery, as I know a number of names. I might try to find his picture also somewhere.

12/25/2009 3:11:20 PM
MY CHILDHOOD:

All in all, my childhood was one of joy. It doesn’t get any better than this, like John Madden used to say

My church going was one of expectations from my parents. It was a formality. There was never a reason NOT to attend church, unless you could feign sickness. You’d better be sick too!

I remember once when I was out partying late on a Saturday, I got home around 5:30 AM on a Sunday. I thought I would be real quiet and sneak in to my bedroom.

MOM was awaiting for me with tears in her eyes. She was relieved to see me. I apologized to her. My mother is a goddess.

Two and ½ hours later my father was pounding the steps for me to get up. Church was in ½ hour. Needless to say, I was one tired young man. I have no idea what the service was like that particular Sunday.

I do remember I was riding around with Paul Anderson in Watertown SD or somewhere. We had an argument about our faith. I lost. No, I was not drunk. We used to drive around various towns looking for entertainment. Living in the country, we would drive for miles and miles. I never did find anything fun.

I realized later on in my life that finding entertainment was within my own heart. As long as Jesus was in my heart, why go anywhere? The Bible was right on the kitchen table. What more entertainment does one need?

12/25/2009 3:46:35 PM

I’ve rambled on long enough for now.

Merry Christmas to anyone reading this.

Remember to be nice to me on any replies…. OK?

Post to:

http://myownchurch@blogspot.com

St. Petri Bruce SD

2009-12-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

ST. PETRI LUTHERAN BRUCE SD:
12/6/2009 11:28:07 AM

It’s Sunday Morning and normally I’d be at church here in Topeka KS.
Obviously I’m NOT at church this morning. I’m still battling a cold. It just does not want to leave me.

So I thought I’d write a little more about my FAITH.

When I was attending my childhood church, I remember attending two funerals.
The first funeral was my uncle Orele Holter. I remember sitting next to my dad. He was crying. I looked up at him and was impressed. My father was my hero. I realized that father’s have feelings too.

The other funeral I remember attending was my uncle Oscar Skovlund. I remember his wife, Mable (Holter) Skovlund, accidentally bumping the casket cover in her grief. The casket cover closed and her family had to help her back to her seat.

Oscar was our alcoholic uncle. Mable was my father’s oldest sister. They had 16 children, all born from Mable! WOW !!!

Harold Skovlund is their youngest child. Harold is one year older than me. We were playmates back then. Lots of stories.

That’s about it for today.
.

Post this to:

http://myownchurch.blogspot.com

My 1st Church

2009-12-03T04:08:00.000-08:00

My own Church blog
12/3/2009 5:46:32 AM

Use this file named my own church blog to write everything about my faith.

GRACE LUTHERAN BRUCE SD:

During my childhood, I attended the only Lutheran church in the small town of Bruce SD. Being of Lutheran faith since birth, I was baptized as an infant. That’s good enough.

But WAIT !!

I almost forgot!

ST. PETRI:

My 1st church was a country church northeast of Bruce. I remember this church very well. I was baptized in this church. I remember going to church on Sunday and listening to the sermons. There was a blind pastor too, if I remember. I remember him losing his place while reading the Braille bible. My uncles, aunts and family members and friends are currently buried in the cemetery, one mile east of the church. My cousin, Davey, currently lives one mile to the south of St. Petri.

The church was moved around 1954-55, I believe.

I will write more about my 1st church later.

Visit our web for further details

The web address to visit is:

www.myownfaith2.com/blog and I’ll make a church link using my google account.

myron@myownfaith2.com

YMCA Bible Study

2009-12-02T02:50:00.000-08:00

Last night Jerry Chase & I were in the Petro Chapel to discuss the Bible. Where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of you .. JC

www.myownfaith2.com/ymca

My own Church

2009-12-02T01:56:00.000-08:00

NEW BLOG:
12/2/2009 4:01:44 AM

Thanks to google for allowing me to create another blog.
The URL is now named:
http://myownchurch.blogspot.com

In keeping up with so many websites, so little time, I’ve decided to use this address for the following purposes:

1) To declare the glory of God in the name of Jesus our Saviour.
2) To plug our main address www.myownfaith2.com
3) To speak only about my faith and what kind of actions I’ve been doing for Jesus.

The postal address will be:

5112 ½ SW 33rd ST
Topeka KS 66614

Any mailings about religion should be addressed to that address.

My main email address will still be mholter@cox.net

Any future videos, pictures, etc. will all be in regards to soliciting my faith.

In Christ,

Myron@myownfaith2.com