Vonda Erbele

Hi Cyber Friends:
For those of you checking this blog I bet you thought I dropped off the face of the earth! I have had a summer of some travel and family being here. The weekend of June 26 -27 Streeter had an all High School Reunion. It was good connecting with old friends some I had not seen in 40 yrs. I was the keynote speaker at the community wide worship service. It all went very well with an alumni choir, etc.

June 29th thru July 5 I was in Minneapolis. Our denomination had their national quadrennial conference in Minneapolis. Kent, Kendra and the girls flew in from Charlotte and we had some good family time with Korissa, Darenn & boys and also with John, Heather & family. It was a good time of restoring and renewing family relationships.

From Minneapolis the Husband’s and I took a three day trip to DeSmet, S. Dak. (home of Little House on the Prairie) and the Black Hills. We had a good time and then back to Streeter to spend time with extended family. Kent had to fly back earlier and Kendra and the girls were able to spend a little more time with me. I took them back to Minneapolis to catch a plane to Charlotte on July 19. I then spent another week with Korissa. She was heavily involved in the National Galactosemic Conference
(the genetic disorder of Everett). Darren was at a large art show in Bellvue, Wash. so I assisted her wherever I could and was able to get in on the conference. I learn a lot about Galactosemia

On July 26 we traveled back to Streeter and Korissa continue to Minot to meet Darren (Darren is from Minot). Later that week they came to Streeter. Darren had to leave for another art show in the twin cities. But Korissa stayed awhile longer and was the guest musician at an Interdenominal Women’s Retreat in Lehr, N. Dak. She returned to Mn. on Aug. 9th.

On Aug. 17 I had cancer surgery on my nose…currently have 14 stitches.

I do some pulpit supply and sub-teacher for my home church adult Sunday School Class. I still miss Billings…the alive church scene and the ministry I was involved with over the years. The adjustment to my single life is difficult.

I would welcome hearing from you or better yet come and visit. I have extra bedrooms.
Trust you are all doing well and my prayers are with you…I covet yours

Sustained by His Grace,
J. Dale

Greetings everyone!
It has been awhile since I have updated the blog.
I am still living in Streeter and traveling some.

May 13 thru 21 I was on an Alaskan Cruise. There were 48 of us in our group mostly from Mt. However, the Norweigen Star (cruise ship) carried 2,700 passangers plus 800 crew members. Quite an experience I would recommemnd it for everyone. The scenery is indescribable truely the last frontier. I was able to spend about 5 hrs. with my cousin Teri and Evelyn Erbele pastors in Ketichan. We docked at four differenct locations. (Vonda would have enjoyed it and I sure missed her…still trying to make the best of each situation without her).

On the way back home I had a two day regional overseers meeting in Billings. There are 6 of us helping our Supterintendent oversee matters in our conference. (I oversee the Dakota area and also serve as Chairman of our Church Planting Board.)

When I arrived home John and Korinda Luhmann and tribe visited for two and half days on their way to Langdon to attend John’s youngest sister’s graduating from High School.

I have several speaking engagements this summer…churches, all High School reunion, plus helping at a camp. June 29 thru July 2nd I will be in Minneapolis for our quadrennial Evangelical National Conference. Kendra Husband and girls will be vacationing at that time in Minneapolis and Kent will join them later. It will be nice to be together with Korissa & Darren Olson and also John and Heather Erbele and all the grandchildren…all living in Minneapolis. (Sorry the Luhmann’s will not be there)

The Husbands and I will take a few days in July to travel to the Black Hills and then to Streeter and back to Minneapolis.

Any time you are in my area…please stop by I like to have people around.

Blessings to all of your who read this!

J. Dale Erbele

Greetings Everyone:
It has been a hard long winter in N. Dak. Fortunately I was able to escape from some of the snow and cold visiting my children.

March 24th marked the second anniversary of Vonda’s death. There are days it still doesn’t seem real. It has been a rathr melancholy week.

March 7 - 9 I traveled to Billings Mt. for Conference Board meeting and after the mtgs. decided to travel on to Missoula to visit the Luhmann family and even got to spend one day skiing. (Iwas the oldest man on the slopes)

The end of April and 1st wk. in May I will be back in Langdon assisting in the church. May 13 -24 I will join my good pastor friend Allen Solheim and a group on senior on an Alaskan cruise.

When I am in town I teach a class on “Islam in the 21st Century” at the United Methodist Church.

It is lonely here in Streeter so if you every come this way do stop by and visit. I can even accommodate overnight guests.

Blessings to you all!

J. Dale Erbele

P.S. My extended family seems to be doing fine.

Greetings Cyber friends:

It has been awhile since I updated the blog. Here it goes. I left Dec. 26h (after a three day blizzard) to visit my children and take a class.
I traveled to Minneapolis to visit Darren, Korissa, Emerson (now 4) and Everrett (20 mo.) He is the special needs child with his strict diet but doing well. John and Heather are struggling in their marriage…do pray for healing and reconciliation. Heather want out of the marriage. Everyone is hurting…lift them up in prayer! John has a job working for the “Strength Team” as their marketing and booking agent. Thankful for the job that he can do out of the home.

I traveled on to Charlotte, N.C. to be with Kent, Kendra and their three girls. They are busy but doing fine. Home schooling…Kent computer programer…Kendra also a pianist in another church…their church has 4 services so she can choose to be involved in her home church and help out else where. From there I traveled to Columbia, S.C. to attend a week long class on “Islam in the 21st Century” at Columbia International University. (I want to prepare myself and instruct others about the challenging and frightening days ahead)

On the way home I stopped in Columbus, Ohio to visit Vonda’s younger brother (Darnell and his wife Chris). Back to Minneapolis to spend some more time with my children and grand children and then homeward bound.

The last two weeks in Feb. I will be at our Church in Langdon N. Dak. Back home again for one week and then on to Billings for Conference Board meetings. The last week in April and first week in May I will be back in Langdon. May 13 to May 24 I will be going on an Alaskan cruise with one of our pastors Alan Solheim (most of the people are from our conference).

I have a lot of snow here in Streeter. It is easy to get “cabin fever” and it can be lonely and depressing. Thankful for family and friends.

Blessings to all!
J. Dale Erbele

Dear Family and Friends:

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you. This is rather a melancholy Christmas for me. Vonda was such a Victorian Christmas Decorating Queen making this season so special for family and friends. In all our celebrations over the years we tired to honor the event of Christ entering this world as our King of Kings and Lord of Lords! I have such rich memories of all the family, church and community celebrations…how quickly those days ended!! Enjoy them while you can!

I am settled in Streeter but nowhere really feels like home yet. The community has received me well and I have had numerous occasions to be together with extended family. Thanks you all!
I was a part of the Community Choir. We gave a Christmas musical presentation to the prisoners at the Jamestown prison and last evening (Dec. 23) to the community. All total with children and youth…53 people were invovled. For a small community this was quite an accomplishment. This community does a lot of things together - PTL.
I also taught an adult Sunday School class for three weeks during the advent season.

This morning (Dec. 24th) I was planning on leaving for Minneapolis to spend some time with two of my Children and their families. (Korissa & Darren and John & Heather). However, due to the extreme weather conditions (snow and blizzard) I am staying put for another 2 or 3 days. (Some things never change in N. Dak.) After New Year’s I plan on driving to North Carolina to spend time with Kent and Kendra. On Jan 11 - 15 I will be take a class at Columbia International University on “Islam in the 21st Century”. (Hopefully God will open some doors so I can share this information with others). I hope to be home the end of January.

I am still trying to adjust and figure out my new identity and nitche in life. The following reading sums up the reality of life.
“One or the other must leave
One or the other must stay
One or the other must grieve
That is forever the way.
That is the vow that was sworn
Faithful ’till death do us part’
Braving what had to be borne,
Hiding the ache in the heart.
One, howsoever adored,
First must be summoned away.
That is the will of the Lord
One or the other must stay.

So goes the journey of life. Thankful for each day of life. Miss my children and grandchildren and old friends…but thankful for my new friends.

Thanks for thinking of me and my family and some of the struggles they are going through. Be blessed in 2010

Sustained by His Grace,

J. Dale Erbele

Hi cyber friends:

I left Nov. 8th for our Annual Conference session in Glendive Mt. and then on to Billings. Several matters to attend to in Billings…one being I am a long distant land lord. It is good to have someone in the house. I have a lease to own agreement. They are waiting for their house to sell in Seattle…so I guess we all have to be patient. I then visited our new church in Helena Mt. (I am still chairman of the Board of Church Planting). From there on to Missoula to spend time with the Luhmann tribe for Thanksgiving and beginning of advent…incredibily busy house hold (to busy). They have also taken in a neigborhood couple whose house burned the beginning of Nov. On the way back I stopped and met people in Billings, Fallon, Glendive and Beach. My sister, niece & family provided an evening meal before I returned home last evening (Dec. 5th).

I havd been invited to sing in a Community Choir in Streeter. Doing a Cantata to be performed in the Jamestown Prison on Dec. 20 and for the community on Dec. 23. On the 24th I will travel to Minneapolis to spend some time with Darren and Korissa and John and Heather. Then on to Charlotte, N. C. for the new year. From Jan. 11 - 15 I will be enrolled in Columbia International University (Columbia S.C.) in the Islamic Study Department taking a week of classes on Islam and all the implications it has for the Church and America at large.

This is a hard time of the year for me. Over the years this was such a high festive time for friends and family. Vonda was the Victorian Chritmas Decorating Queen every room in the house had her Christmas touch. The open house was always a favorite for everyone. I have no ambition to put up any decorations since no one will be home from the family and I will be gone most of the time. (I will enjoy the decorations of other families). Sure get melancholy at this time of the year and miss all the great Christmas celebrations we had as a Church Family and our own Family.

I do want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!! Because of Christmas we do have hope!
Trust the New Year will be good to you. I am still trying to adjust and find my nitche in life…

Thanks for extending grace to me and keeping me in your thoughts and prayers. If you come my way do stop by and visit…you are even welcome to spend the night. I have extra bedrooms.

Blessing to all of you and trust you too are being sustained by His Grace!

J. Dale Erbele

Greetings everyone:

Some quick information on my life. On Oct. 5th - 16th I was with a tour group (two buses)traveling across the country ending in Washington D.C. and points of interest in between. It was led by one of our pastors and I knew about 2/3 of the poeple from Mt. and N. Dak. It was a bitter/sweet experience making the trip alone and also seeing the sights and sounds that Vonda and I had shared.

I will be spending the next three weeks in Mt. We are have our Evangelical Church conference in Glendive this coming week. I will then travel on to Billings. (My home there has been l”eased to own”. A family from Seattle has leased it until hopefully their home sells in Seattle) So this helps but I have become a long distance landlord. I will travel on to Helena to visit our new church plant. ( I am still our conference director of Church Planting) Then on to Missoula to spend Thanksgiving with the Luhmann’s.

John and Heather are going through a very difficult time in their life and we all covet your prayers for their marriage, family and ministry.

I am getting more settle in Streeter and still struggling as to what “feels” like home. I guess without Vonda it will never quite feel like home.

I do have some ministry opportunities. Serving our Conference Supt. as an assistant working with the Dakota Churches. Last week my daughter Korissa Olson from Minneapolis and her accompanist Karen Atwood from Minot and I were the special guest musicians and guest speaker at the Streeter United Methodist Harvest Festival celebrations. Great celebration!

To all who check on this blog I pray a covering of blessing over your life!

Sustained by His Grace,
J. Dale Erbele

Hi Everyone:
This may not work. Trouble getting messages through this blog. I am mostly settle in Streeter. Spent 11 days in MIssoula in Aug. And another 10 days in Minneapolis in Sept. supporting John and Heather in a most difficult time they are going through.
Kendra and Korissa were here in August to assist in my house decor…greatly appreciated. Currently the house is being painted. Come and visit me or drop me a card or sent me an email. Box 188 121 Florence St. S. Streeter, N. Dak 58483. Cell 406-670-9738 E-mail:jdale@westconf.net.
I have some ministry opportunities but mostly living here by my lonely self and sorting a library of materials.

J. Dale Erbele

Greetings to all! And I trust you are having a Blessed Easter…Resurrection Sunday.

“Because He lives I can face tomorrow”. I can face tomorrow but it is not easy. Last year on Good Friday Vonda went into a coma and passes away on Easter Monday morning. Since Easter was early last year the dates do not correspond but the event does. She died on March 24th. Nevertheless this is a difficult weekend with all the visions of her struggle as we stood helpless by as she passed from life into death.

The children were all home (except two spouses and three grandchildren) the last week of March. It was painful sorting through all the stuff of life and dividing it up among the children and deciding what I will be taking to N. Dak. We got a lot accomplished…the house is all tore apart…each making their piles of stuff to get later or have it shipped. (Joihn & Kroinda were able to take some to Msla…but the rest flew) Much was also given to chairities. Now I am living in the midst of chaos…has to get worse before it gets better.

Sunday I leave for our “Ministry Staff and Spouse Retreat” in Cody Wy. We have 73 registered. Vonda so enjoyed pampering the pastor’s wives.
Her touch will be greatly missed. This will be my last time in this role. June 30 I will transition out of my position and assume some lesser roles to assist the next Supt. Hope to be moved to N. Dak. by the middle of July.

I have also committed myself to a missions trip to Brazil June 22 -28. A team of 9 people will be going…including John & Heather and John and Korinda.

From all indication my Litotripsy (blasting of kidney stones) on March 31 was successful. More x-rays will be done next week.

Our conference office will also be moving. The conference office will be consolidated into the Faith Evangelical Church by June 15th . This is another added pressure getting all those matters in order.

Taking one day at a time and sustained by His Grace,

J. Dale Erbele

Dear Cyber family and friends:

Time marches on…March is a very painful reminder of what we were going through last year in watching Vonda lose her battle for life. She died on March 24th and the emptiness and pain I feel is still very real.

On Monday we had a special session of Annual Conference to elect a new Conference Superintendent. Rev. Steve Strutz senior pastor of our Faith Evangelical Church in Billings was chosen as our new Supt. I will continue to serve until June 30th. Steve will assume his duties July 1st. This will take considerable pressure off of my life. My limited responsibilies will be serving as Chairman of the Conf. Board of Church Extension…dealing primarily with planting new churches.

Sometime in July I will be moving to Streeter, N. Dak. I have purchased an older smaller home. Now I will have to get my house ready for selling and dispose of a lot of the “stuff of life”. All of my children wil be here the week of March 23 to assist in the settling of this estate…there are inheritance items that they will all take…and I know what I will take to enhance my living in Streeter…the rest will be put on a grage sale or given to charity.

This will be another major life changing endeavor for me…sometimes I get emotionally exhausted just thinking about the uncertainty that lies ahead. I live one hour at a time and try to make the best of it. Covet your prayers!

Sustained by His Grace,

J. Dale Erbele