Mark Calhoun, Pastor
My Favorite Hobbies: hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, snow skiing, mountain biking, photography, and amateur film-making.
My belief about seasons: There are two ~ Winter, and waiting for winter.
One of my favorite topics: Greek words. Ask me why the next time you see me.
You can contact Mark at : mcalhoun@polsonumc.org or read is theological musings at: www.calhoun.typepad.com
More About Mark»
Patty Ferdinand, Pianist
When Patty Ferdinand was born, God blessed her with the gift of music. She believes that music is the universal language and thus has been able to communicate with many people in all walks of life.
Patty grew up on a farm in Berthoud, Colorado. On her fourth birthday, she received her first piano lesson from “Aunt Monty” (no relation), a professional musician with whom Patty lived.
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Mason Niblack, Choir Director
Mason… bio coming soon.
Rachel Phelps, Beautification Engineer
Rachel… bio coming soon.
Peggy Milner, Lay Leader
Favorite Hobbies: reading, embroidery, listening to Christian music.
Favorite Bible Verse: 1 Cor. 13:13. Love is the answer to helping this world!
What I like about PUMC: Our Pastor Mark and the great messages he gives every week, the great people there who are so friendly, the willingness of our congregation to step in and help at the church or to help those in need, the electronics and the music of our choir and special music at times, our sanctuary, coffee house and our beautiful prayer room, the youth center designed by the kids. I guess there isn’t anything I don’t like. I feel at home there. Email: c-pmilner@hotmail.com
More About Peggy»
Betty Thomas, Administrative Council Secretary
Where I got my Texas Accent: Why, I was born and raised in Texas. I chopped and picked cotton and helped with the cattle.
My favorite Hobbies: I like to read, listen to music of all kinds, plan events, and fly to see my grandchildren.
More About Betty»
Claudette Beckendorf, Board of Trustees Chair
My Service Dog is Named: Sugar.
I enjoy: quilting, golfing, playing tennis, reading.
More About Claudette»Gary Teggeman, Financial Secretary
I am passionate about: Banana Crème Pie.
I like to: Travel! I spent 30 years on the road traveling, and now that I am retired, I still like to get down the highway. I always have a trip planned going someplace, such as camping or rafting, international, or visiting friends and family.
My Favorite Books and Authors: History, Ferrell Sams, and especially Ivan Doig.
I am: A project oriented guy that charges forward when a goal is presented. Examples, Mens group, Community meals, Cherry Festivals, parking lot re-do, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc.
I might be found: building a cedar strip canoe, hiking in the mountains, skiing with the blacktail bombers, or rafting on a local river.
Email: Gary020@Centurytel.net
More About Gary»
Doug Lichte, Mission/Evangelism Co-Chair
More About our Mission Work, Here.
My barber is: Myself, of course (and sometimes, the kids)
Why does my wife know more than I do?: Because she is the web-mastress. She can put anything she wants on this page.
Why I like PUMC: Where else can you find a coffee shop in the back of the sanctuary, listen to the pastor talk about snow skiing during the sermon, and plot with the mission team to change the world.
Sonya Lichte, Mission/Evangelism Co-Chair
In my spare time: Wait. What? People have that? Like…. real people?
My Hobbies: Okay, I admit it. I actually have hobbies. I ski, knit, read, write, dream and rant (on occasion).
My Passion: Seems to change with the season, but I’ve been known to be passionate about educational reform, childbirth reform, yummy food, my children, and doing my part to make a positive impact on the world.
My Little Secret: At this moment, there are 6 books on my bedside table. Each of those 6 books has a bookmark somewhere in the middle…. The Red Tent, The Bible, Naked Spirituality, The Story We Find Ourselves In, Staying Connected to Your Teenager, and Lavender: A Grower’s Guide.
More About Sonya»
Nancy Teggeman, Spiritual Formation Chair
My Passion: writing and painting, because there is a creative contentment in both activities that fills my needs. Time flies when I am in my creative “zone.”
Favorite authors: Sena Jeter Naslund (“Ahab’s Wife”), because of her incredibly rich writing style;
Kathryn Stockett (“The Help”), because her first novel is powerful, timeless, and full of unforgettable characters; and William Shakespeare, because of his unparalled genius and wit, unmatched in modern literature.
What I enjoy about PUMC: the friendliness, the warmth, the willingness of people to step up to the plate, the openness and tolerance; the choir (so fun), the unselfish outreach, the kids in The Ark, the freedom to express yourself, including doubts and questions, Wednesday Noon Reflections, the casualness, the laughter, the pastor and his family, the courage to try new things, the “Holy Grounds,” the invitational atmosphere, the ongoing interior decorating, the feeling that the congregation “has my back,” and so many other things. I look forward to Sundays.
More About Nancy»
Dee Walker, UMW President
Dee was born and raised in Miles City, Montana, and graduated from high school in 1952. She and Ron were married 1953, and moved to Bozeman in August of that year. They were blessed with the births of their four children: Janet (lives near Las Vegas) and Jim (passed away in 2009), daughter Coralee (lives in Great Bend, Kansas), and daughter Barbara (passed away in 2002). They have 11 grand children, 19 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.
More About Dee»
Valerie Lindstrom, Administrative Council Member at Large
Favorite Hobbies: Hiking, Skiing, Reading and Writing
I Wish I: Lived closer to my grandchildren.
I Am Passionate About: the location I live in! I love Flathead lake, the mountains. Spending time in the outdoors motivates me and infuses me with strength and energy. I am also passionate about making a difference where ever I can.
More about Valerie»
Elva Gessaman, Administrative Council Member at Large
Elva…
Julie Calhoun, Worship Arts and Technology
Favorite Hobbies: skiing, singing, sleeping, reading, traveling in the family camper, watching my boys play soccer, and researching interesting details about movies I am watching (check out www.imdb.com !)
I wish I: had the courage to pierce my nose.
Favorite Author: Okay… I admit it. I LOVE Stephenie Meyer and I am a die-hard Twi-mom. Team Edward, by the way.
Passionate about: Advocacy… change has to begin somewhere. I recommend www.one.org , www.bread.org , www.umcor.org , and www.onedayswages.org
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In 1941, Patty moved with her parents to the Arapahoe-Padlock Ranch in Thermopolis, Wyoming. There she was organist for the Episcopal Church. After graduation, Patty passed a civil service examination, which led to her first assignment with the Bureau of Indian Affairs as assistant to the Superintendent of the Tahola Indian Agency in Hoquiam, Washington. She was also employed at the Hanford Atomic Energy plant in Richland, Washington.
It was in 1950 that she met a Horse Heaven wheat rancher in Prosser, Washington. Vern Richman and she married, and were blessed with one daughter and four sons. It was at this time that Patty taught private students in piano, organ, and accordion. She also was choir director and musician for the Methodist churches of Benton City and Prosser. She also played in a dance band. She was a staff member of the funeral home in Prosser for many years. Vern passed away in 1983. In 1987, Patty married Bill Tucker, a native of Polson. She fell in love with Montana, and it was then that the couple decided to retire in the Polson area. She continued to entertain with her music. She delighted in presenting programs for the residents of nursing homes and assisted living in Polson and Ronan. For her volunteerism, she was named Volunteer of the Year in 1995.
Each year, Patty looks forward to attending the International Convention of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. She has served as Grand Musician of the Ladies’ Auxiliary for twenty-two years, and like the energized bunny, she just keeps going and going and going! In 2007, she was inducted into the order’s international hall of fame.
Three years after Bill died, Patty met Jerry Ferdinand. At a fund-raiser for the Elks, Patty was the “honky-tonk” piano player, and Jerry, the bartender in the “saloon” for Western Days. It was through Jerry’s encouragement that Patty accepted the position of musician for the Polson United Methodist Church in February of 2007. Patty looks forward to serving in this capacity for many years to come. Music has always been and will continue to be an integral part of her daily routine. She reaches so many people through her God-given talent and thanks Him daily for giving her this ability.
Powered by Hackadelic Sliding Notes 1.6.5Gary serves Polson United Methodist Church in several capacities, all of which give him much joy and grounding. He is retired from a career in animal health and veterinary distributor sales which began at the University of Nevada, Reno. Gary is a born Texan with roots in Kansas, Northern Nevada, and Seattle. He is an Army veteran and former pilot with Commercial rating. Gary’s wife Nancy is also active in the church and they have two children, Chris in Kalispell and Molly Marie in Seattle. Chris is married to Michelle and they enjoy their daughter Bella. Nancy and Gary are thrilled to have Bella enrich their lives. Polson is a great home for Gary thanks to the mountains, the rivers and lakes, and especially his friends.
When Gary was a child, his dad had him recite 23rd Psalms, along with his prayers. “I continue to rely on it every day.”
Powered by Hackadelic Sliding Notes 1.6.5Dee worked for thirty-five years in the accounting field, retiring in 1997. After her retirement, they moved into their 34’ motor home and for the next 11 years they traveled the United States.
At the age of forty-one, Dee fulfilled a lifelong dream and learned to fly a plane, obtaining her private pilot’s license in 1977, and for the next five years enjoyed “soaring with the eagles.”
Ron and Dee gave up the “R.V.” lifestyle and came to Polson to enjoy retirement in 2008. Their first Sunday here, they visited the Polson United Methodist Church. They were greeted so warmly by Pastor Esther Angel and several of the church members that by the second Sunday, they were hooked and have been attending ever since, becoming members in 2010.
Dee enjoys singing in the choir, U.M.W., and all the activities of the church, while Ron enjoys the Adult Sunday School class, Men’s Group, and making the coffee.
Powered by Hackadelic Sliding Notes 1.6.5Valerie was born in Polson, raised in Arlee and returned to Polson 46 years later, in 1993, to live on her beloved Flathead Lake. Raised on a farm at the base of the Mission Mountains in the Jocko Valley, instilled in Valerie an appreciation for mountains, open space, the sights and sounds of nature and fresh crisp air. She feels fortunate to live where she can hike, downhill and cross-country ski, bike, boat or just drink in the views while sitting beside the lake. She earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from The University of Montana in 1965. Throughout the past 40 years she has written news and feature articles and published newsletters as a volunteer and for pay. Valerie married Art Lindstrom in Missoula in 1969 and they lived in Missoula; Frenchtown; McMinnville, Oregon; Alta, Wyoming, and Driggs, Idaho before moving to Polson. Art passed away Aug. 28, 2008.
While raising two children, she worked various jobs: television traffic manager, wrote and acted in television advertisements, advertising firm executive, real estate company administrative assistant and for seven years at The University of Montana’s News and Publications Office was an administrative assistant and newsletter editor. Since moving to Polson Valerie has volunteered with and been involved in the creation of numerous human service organizations in the community and county. At the Polson church she has served on various committees and organized numerous events. Her passions include working with kids and with ecumenical organizations to make a difference in our world.
As a child she began attending the Methodist Church in Arlee, continued at First United Methodist Church in Missoula after her children were born, and joined the Polson church in 1994. Music is an important part of her life. She played piano for church in Arlee from 6th through 12th grades and in Frenchtown for the Lutheran Church. Today she enjoys singing in the church and community choirs. Valerie currently serves Polson United Methodist Church as Administrative Council Member at Large.
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