wegener

Rev. Ralph & Bernice Wegener

(prepared by Annie Jarrell)

Ralph and Bernice are comfortably retired at their home in Forest Grove. They have raised their extended family, seven children, fifteen grandchildren living (two died in their teens), and nineteen living great grandchildren. If the whole tribe got together, including in-laws, there would be sixty-three people. Two children live in Alaska, two in Washington, one in Georgia, one in Texas, and one in California.

To keep this happy, bonded, extended family close, Bernice writes a monthly E-mail letter so the entire family in us-to-date on the comings and goings of each other.

The churches Ralph served in his career were at Tyndal, South Dakota, Aberdeen, South Dakota, his most favorite church, and Port Angeles, Washington (it was here his first wife died), and finally to Juneau, Alaska for eleven years. He and Bernice retired in 1979.

Ralph was born in the parsonage in Poonia, Colorado in 1917. He lived there less than two years when his family moved to Culbertson, Nebraska.

A BIT OF BACKGROUND: His Grandfather was a Master Farmer, a German who owned, originally, land in Kansas with an oil well. Fortunately, when Ralph inherited the farm he was able to sell it before the oil well went dry.

His Mother was an English lady; his Father, German and a District President for Synod. According to Ralph, Mother was a good woman and this marriage meshed very well.

Ralph went to St. Paul College in Concordia, Missouri and graduated in 1941. He married in 1942 and they had four children:

1. Clarice (Reese)

2. Lynn

3. Kent

4. Loren

Bernice was born on Cemetery Road behind St. Peters Lutheran Church south of Cornelius. She went to grade school at St. Peters Lutheran School there and then to Forest Grove High School. Her grade school teachers were Richard Moeller and Kiefhoffer, names some of you will recognize.

Bernice was twice widowed, first by James Myer who was killed in World War II, and second by Alvin Vining, a mechanic who was killed in a truck accident. She has three children:

1. Mary Myers

2. Carol Vining

3. Stephen Vining

Bernice was working as a bookkeeper for the District Office, whose offices were at Concordia College in Portland when she met Ralph. They were married in 1965 and she and her children went to live at Port Angeles, Washington with him, then on to Juneau, Alaska, a tour they both enjoyed.

Working at their hobbies and remodeling their home has kept them busy for these last many years. Ralph has a shop where he does woodworking and produces very beautiful stained glass art. Also he is an avid gardener. Bernice loves flowers, but quilting is her passion as we all are aware. She has worked many years with our other quilting ladies at Mt. Olive. Both Ralph and Bernice like to travel and fly.

When we asked what the highlights of Ralph’s ministry were, he said his ministry at Aberdeen, South Dakota, and more recently, to witness the baptism of an adult and his daughter at our Church recently. Being able to support Pastor Bolken is also another plus. Feeling grateful to witness how the Lord has worked through him to do so many important things has been rewarding.