St. James Lutheran Church Pastors
District Missionary, Rev. C.W. Seville, conducted the 1st service March 7th, 1920 with 20 members in the church building of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The membership was composed of “some of our best townsfolk and the Council is composed of ten very able business men and leading farmers. St James Lutheran Church starts off with a very bright future”
(Columbus News, March 11, 1920).
Rev. A.O.A. Urban March 1920–Aug 1920
Rev. Marlin D. Haferman Aug 1920–May 1922
Rev. Frederick C. Scholtz June 1922–Dec 1923
Rev. George Koehler Dec 1923–May 1924
Rev. Shelhardt June 1924–Sept 1925
Rev. George Koehler (Returned) Oct 1925–Feb 1926
Rev. Webster H. Clement* Oct 1926–Feb. 1952
(*Dual Pastor with Redeemer Lutheran in Livingston)
In the interim (1952 – 1953) Rev(s) John Shannon, Robert Bartels & Emil Dockter
Rev. Ralph C. Sandgren July 1953 - April 1956
Pastor John Mendis Nov 1956 - Dec 1960
Rev. Ralph Loges April 1961 - May 1964
Rev. Daniel Lee Bohline June 1964 - 1967
Pastor Gary Brenna 1967-1969
Rev. Earl Erickson* 1970 – May 1977
Pastor Howard White* July 1977 – 1979
Pastor Bruce Jenkins* 1979 -1983
Pastor Chuck Sider* 1983 -1987
(*Dual Pastor(s) with Immanuel Lutheran in Absarokee)
(Nov 1987 – Motion to split the two congregations)
Pastor Scott Jurgens 1988 – April 1992
Pastor Mark Lingle Sept.1992 – Dec 1994
Pastor Mike O’Hearn Dec 1994 - Dec 2005
Pastor Bill Dohle April 2006 - May 2011
Pastor Tonia Fisher Jan 2012 - Present
District Missionary, Rev. C.W. Seville, conducted the 1st service March 7th, 1920 with 20 members in the church building of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The membership was composed of “some of our best townsfolk and the Council is composed of ten very able business men and leading farmers. St James Lutheran Church starts off with a very bright future”
(Columbus News, March 11, 1920).
Rev. A.O.A. Urban March 1920–Aug 1920
Rev. Marlin D. Haferman Aug 1920–May 1922
Rev. Frederick C. Scholtz June 1922–Dec 1923
Rev. George Koehler Dec 1923–May 1924
Rev. Shelhardt June 1924–Sept 1925
Rev. George Koehler (Returned) Oct 1925–Feb 1926
Rev. Webster H. Clement* Oct 1926–Feb. 1952
(*Dual Pastor with Redeemer Lutheran in Livingston)
In the interim (1952 – 1953) Rev(s) John Shannon, Robert Bartels & Emil Dockter
Rev. Ralph C. Sandgren July 1953 - April 1956
Pastor John Mendis Nov 1956 - Dec 1960
Rev. Ralph Loges April 1961 - May 1964
Rev. Daniel Lee Bohline June 1964 - 1967
Pastor Gary Brenna 1967-1969
Rev. Earl Erickson* 1970 – May 1977
Pastor Howard White* July 1977 – 1979
Pastor Bruce Jenkins* 1979 -1983
Pastor Chuck Sider* 1983 -1987
(*Dual Pastor(s) with Immanuel Lutheran in Absarokee)
(Nov 1987 – Motion to split the two congregations)
Pastor Scott Jurgens 1988 – April 1992
Pastor Mark Lingle Sept.1992 – Dec 1994
Pastor Mike O’Hearn Dec 1994 - Dec 2005
Pastor Bill Dohle April 2006 - May 2011
Pastor Tonia Fisher Jan 2012 - Present