+ Richard P. Martensen + Funeral, September 20, 2013

Richard P. Martensen

April 30, 1944 - September 17, 2013

Funeral services for Richard Martensen, age 69 of Oakdale, Nebraska, will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 20, 2013, at Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh, Nebraska. Pastor David Kuhfal will officiate, with burial in the Oakdale Cemetery. 

Military Honors will be conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7603 and American Legion Post 170, both of Tilden, and the Nebraska Army National Guard Honor Team. 

Visitation will be Thursday, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Brockhaus-Harlan Funeral Home in Tilden, Nebraska. 

Richard died Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh, Nebraska. 

Richard P. Martensen, son of Peter and Caroline (Beck) Martensen, was born April 30, 1944, at Tilden, NE. Richard attended rural school District #47 near the family home and later attended Zion Lutheran School in Pierce, NE. He then graduated from Neligh High School in Neligh, NE. Upon completion of high school, Richard continued his education at Wayne State College, and also served in the Nebraska Army National Guard for six years, before receiving his Honorable Discharge. 

On August 20, 1967, Richard was married to DeAnna Dragoo at Neligh. The couple was blessed with four children: Lisa, Jeremy, Travis, and Jenna. Richard and DeAnna lived in the same house near the Elkhorn River for 46 years, where they farmed until he retired in 2008. Besides farming, Richard also worked as a crop adjuster for Farm Bureau Insurance. 

Richard was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Neligh, served on the Neligh Rural Fire Board, was a 40 year member of American Legion Post #170, and served as president of the Neligh-Oakdale Warrior Booster Club for four years. During the winter, he also did consulting work on a weekly basis for “Coyote Hunters Extraordinaire”. In his free time, Richard enjoyed watching football on all levels, fishing, coyote hunting, golfing, R-V’ing, traveling to Germany, having coffee and visiting with friends, but most of all, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. 

Richard is survived by the love of his life and life partner, DeAnna Martensen of Oakdale, NE; daughter, Lisa and Jason Mercer, and their children, Dalton and Lane of Omaha, NE; son, Jeremy and Staci Martensen and their children, Riley, Tanner, and Macoy of Honey Creek, IA; son, Travis and Sarah Martensen of Omaha; and daughter, Jenna Martensen and James Horne and their soon-to-be child, Richard’s grandson, Kadyn Richard Horne; sisters, Hilda and Carl Lehman of Billings, MT, and Lorine and Cecil Fields of Leigh, NE; sister-in-law, Deb and Jay Davis of Bellevue, NE; brother-in-law, Doug and Connie Dragoo of Oakdale; as well as many other friends and extended family. 

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; and sister, Florine. 

Confirmation Retreat 2013

Eight Confirmands, April Buck and Pastor Kuhfal had a great time on the Confirmation Retreat at Camp Luther in Schuyler, NE.  We studied why we do in our worship on Sunday mornings.  Click on the picture below to see more pictures and videos from the retreat.

Sermon - September 8, 2013

To listen to the sermon click on the picture below.
Preacher: Pastor David Kuhfal
Text: Luke 14:25-35

Sunday School Rally Day

Sunday, September 8th will be Rally Sunday for Sunday School.  Students will start in their new classes.  Third Graders will receive their Bibles in church, there will be a children's sermon, after church we will have a potluck with children's games.  It all starts with Sunday School at 9:15AM.  Join us! 

A Simple Way to Pray Bible Study Starts Sunday!

Sunday, September 8 we will be starting a new Bible Study on Prayer called "A Simple Way to Pray."
When asked by his barber and good friend, Peter Beskendorf, for some practical guidance on how to prepare oneself for prayer, Martin Luther responded by writing this brief tract.

A Simple Way to Pray is a fresh modern translation bringing us Luther's practical instruction, using Luther's I.T.C.P. method of prayer. This method anchors prayer in the catechism or other biblical texts, but allows the Holy Spirit to prompt thoughts via the Word, which may be chased more freely by the mind at prayer.

Instruction: Lord Christ, You instruct me here that I am to listen carefully and heed the word of my pastor when he speaks Your Word. The pastoral office is profound; my pastor is not only charged to watch over my soul, but You also call him to account for his service to me. Finally, You tell me in this text that I am to be a joy to my pastor and not a pain, and this for my own spiritual benefit.

Thanksgiving: Jesus, I thank You for my pastor. In fact, I thank You for the pastor who baptized me, and all pastors who have served me in my life as a Christian. Thank You for all the sermons that have clearly shown me my sin and delivered to me the free forgiveness of the Gospel because of Your sacrifice for me on the cross.

Confession: Lord, I confess that so often I fail to pray for my pastor. I fail to be gracious to his family. I do not pay attention to his preaching. I have gossiped and failed to love and defend him and “put the best construction on everything.” I deserve to have my faithful pastor taken away. Forgive me my many sins, and help me to do better. Help me especially to be a joy to my pastor and to encourage him in his difficult office.

Prayer: Savior, bless my pastor with faithfulness to Your Word. Cause him to grow in knowledge of Your Word. Give him courage and strength for his tasks. I thank You for (name) and for all faithful pastors. Grant success to the work of our seminaries. Bless our professors and students. And give my pastor joy. I ask all this for Your sake alone. Amen.