The St. John’s Ladies Aid Society was founded in 1900 with 20 charter members. There were no written minutes until 1925. These were written in German and will be found in this book.

The function of the ladies aid was to provide an opportunity for the ladies of the congregation to have a day of fellowship, Bible study, and provide services to the church when needed. Throughout the years they have done a great many tasks and contributed to the welfare of this congregation. They have purchased many items such as Bibles, Sunday School hymnals, hymnals for the congregation, Bible Dictionaries, Good News for Shut-ins, all the kitchen appliances (of which most have been replaced at least one time) and utensils; gave toward the organ and building funds, repairs, remodeling and decorating the parsonage a number of times, and kept up the cleaning and repair of the school in cooperation with the congregation. It is of interest to note that the altar, pulpit and baptismal font were purchased by the Aid in 1910.

These were done with monthly dues, projects, donations and memorials from deceased member’s families. Projects were dinners, bazaars, bake sales, cook a book sales, vanilla, spices, cards, wrapping paper, and napkin sales to mention a few. With proceeds from these, various mission and charitable organizations were sponsored along with home uses. The Lutheran Hour Sponsorship plan was adopted in 1961. The Concordia Seminary Guild was supported starting in 1963. The Lutheran Medical Mission Society was helped from 1961 - 1976. The providing of Portals of Prayer free for member’s home devotion was begun in 1958. Then in 1976 it was extended to include some large print Portals of Prayer. Altar flowers are funded by the Aid for special services and on communion Sunday. This has been done since 1955. The children in VBS have been given ice cream for the last day’s treat since 1954. We have been providing Christmas gifts to servicemen and shut-ins since 1956.

The circuit pastor’s monthly study club is served lunch when it meets here. Members celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary are given devotional books. Pastor’s vestment gowns have been given to the two sons of the congregation, Wilbur Neumann and Richard Klein. Richard was given stoles at his ordination celebrated here in 1971.

Ladies Aid members in 1900 - 1910

Working for the Pancake Supper - 1977

There are also annual functions such as serving the mission fest dinners or lunches. There is a Christmas party when visitors and/or spouses are asked to celebrate with us. A gift of money is sent to a charity such as Bethesda Lutheran Home, American Bible Society, Lutheran Children’s Friend’s Society or The Lutheran Hour. A clothing drive is also held in the fall and occasionally a quilting day or two is held for World Relief. This is done in cooperation with the LWML group. Last year 15 quilts and 13 layettes were sent.

Other services rendered are lunches or dinners served for ordination, dedications, funerals, installation receptions and any other special occasions. Gifts of food, money, and clothes were sent to Europe during the war period. Relief was given to a family who were victims of a tornado.

Activities that we have had include trips to Bethesda Lutheran Home in Watertown, Wisconsin, Northern Colony near Eau Claire, participation in a few World Day of Prayer services held in local churches. We also had the pleasure of veiwing slides of Canada where Pastor Klein has been serving. A display of tracts and literature put out by the American Bible Society was put out at the Spencer Centennial and is now kept in the narthex for anyone who desires to help themselves.

Notes of interest are several. The first meetings were, of course, in the German language until 1933.

Then a mixture of German and English until 1936. The meetings were held in homes and at the church, whichever the hostess preferred until sometime between 1936 - 1940. Sugar and coffee ration cards were sent for in 1942. Two pounds per month of sugar was our quota. Prices set for dinners served were subject to some inflation as the rest of our economy has been. In 1941 25 cents and 15 cents, in 1961 25 cents per plate if the food was supplied, if not the price was $1.50. It increased to $2.50 in 1970 and to $3.00 in 1976. One Mother-Daughter banquet was held in 1963. A father-son banquet was held the next year. The constitution was revised, in 1960 and 1976. One surprise baby shower was given for a pastor and his wife, in 1974. The fortieth anniversary was celebrated with a service and then a chicken dinner was served. All members were asked to donate and the Aid prepared and served the meal. At the 75th anniversary they had 2 special meals and sold anniversary plates. The Aid usually had some kind of welcoming shower or gift for a newly arriving pastor and his family. Pastor Ruhbusch served as a vacancy pastor 1968 - 1969 serving also the Aid. The flower beds beside the church entrance until the new addition was built on in 1961 was the responsibility of the Aid. The Aid was part of a committee to take care of the landscaping around the new building.

As this interested person went through the records to prepare this report she was amazed at what has been accomplished through this organization. I hope every person who has ever wondered what purpose or gain can be accomplished in being a member will read very carefully. It wasn’t just one group that accomplished all this but several people over many years.

It’s not to be a glory seeking group but to serve. And that is what the Aid has done. The purpose of going into some lenghth of the services rendered was not to brag but to be somewhat of a messenger to those who wonder how they can serve in their church. I feel it is quite apparent that our church would not be quite as blessed as it has been these 100 years had it not been for these many dedicated members of the Ladies Aid Society.

Ladies Aid of 1953

LADIES AID

Row 1: Mrs. Leota Schwantes, Mrs. Olaf (Mildred) Manthe, Mrs. Alvina Seefeld, Mrs. Augusta Justman, Mrs. Emil (Norman) Luepke, Mrs. Paul (Francis) Seefeld, (Vice-president)

Row 2: Mrs. Dave (Barb) Ault, Mrs. Robert (Esther) Stroetz, Mrs. Gerhardt (Isabelle) Klein, (treasurer), Mrs. Eugene (Arlene) Marten, Mrs. Virgil (Gloria) Seefeld, (secretary), Mrs. John (Pat) Miller Jr., (President), Mrs. Bernard (Doris) Krause, Mrs. Maynard (Elda) Neuman

Not pictured: Mrs. Ray Klein, Mrs. Lester Bruesewitz, Mrs. Gerald Schwantes, Mrs. Wilmer Hopfensperger, Mrs. Clarence Dean, Mrs. Gerald Neumann, Mrs. Wilbur Mellenthin, Mrs. Ron Seefeldt, Mrs. Ron Bruesewitz, Mrs. William Marten, Mrs. George Oelrich, Mrs. Dorothy Neumann, Mrs. Elsie Mellenthin, Mrs. Bertha Fischer