In Training

We moved to Storm Lake in 2001 where my parents lived.  On Sunday mornings if I didn’t travel with Mike, I would attend church with Mom and Dad, often sitting beside them.   My dad was independent and in charge.  He knew the way around the hymnal and how the service progressed.  He was ready for church to begin with the hymnal opened to the right page.

After about 4 or 5 years, I noticed that he was taking much longer, checking with the bulletin and finding the hymnal page number.  Sometimes I would try to help, pointing to the page number as he searched the hymnal.  I wanted to honor his dignity.  Sometimes I would find the page in my book and then trade books with him.

Life continued and there were circumstances with Holy Communion of receiving the bread and wine that needed more help and returning to the pew.

And then he and Mom would stay home, and the pastor would bring church to them.

And now my beloved needs help with the hymnal.

 Howard Rask

In life sometimes a person slips in and not until later the impact is realized.  We moved to Sioux City and Augustana the summer of 1992.  Perhaps a year later, member Howard Rask came to our home.  I don’t recall why he came.  I think he was an accountant and perhaps involved with budgeting at Augustana.

I remember Howard as tall and distinguished.  He stood erect.  He must have been in working retirement because he wintered in Texas and returned to Sioux City the rest of the year and did tax returns.  He kept his hair coal black. 

And back to his visit to our home…he asked what dreams or goals we had.  Mike said there had been a dream of a cabin in northern Minnesota, but it didn’t seem realistic with our budget.  Thoughtfully Howard listened and said things like….does it have to be in northern Minnesota?  Do you have to have a cabin?  What do you like to do at a lake?  Could you consider something closer?  You could start by looking at lots.  He also suggested we talk to someone else in Sioux City, Warren Baker.

Our evening ended cordially.  I don’t remember other conversations with Mr. Rask.  Indeed, we started looking around in the Spirit Lake, Iowa. There are many small lakes in the Iowa Great Lakes.  We were led to Loon Lake…about 10 miles south of Jackson, Mn and 10 miles north of Spirit Lake.  We found a bare acre for sale and by January of 1997 we purchased the lot.

In 1999 Mike was contacted by Augustana to do the committal service for Howard in Dunnell, Mn.