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Junior Class
Adam Hoeft
Adam Hoeft was born to Jeffrey and Sarah Hoeft and raised in Oconomowoc, WI. He attended elementary and middle school at Holy Trinity Lutheran School in Okauchee, WI. He attended public high school, during which time he began to consider entering the public ministry. After graduating in 2019, he enrolled at Bethany Lutheran College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion, with minors in history and legal studies. During this time, Adam was involved with various musical ensembles on campus, including concert band, jazz band, and handbell choir. He was also involved in Bethany’s Mock Trial team, joining during the year after its inception. During his senior year, the Mock Trial team went to regional competitions for the first time. Adam currently serves as a coach for the witnesses on the team. Apart from his activities at Bethany, Adam enjoys reading, going for walks, and various tabletop games, a pastime he shares with his father.
Arthur Langhorst
Arthur Langhorst spent most of his upbringing in Kettle River, MN with his parents (Rev. and Mrs. Richard Langhorst) and seven siblings. He was homeschooled from 2nd grade up through high school, and later transferred from college in Virginia, MN to BLC in 2010. He graduated in
2013, from Bethany Lutheran College, with a BA degree in Communications. During his time at Bethany, he met his wife Constance (Bloedel) Langhorst. They have been happily married for ten years and have three sweet sons, Philip (9), Frederick (5), and Winston (1).
Philip enjoys going to school, piano, cooking, and baseball. He is good at math and likes to playcatch with dad. Frederick is tenderhearted and can usually be found writing his own themesongs on the piano or fighting off imaginary foes with a stick (lightsaber). Winston is learning all too fast how to walk and talk so that he can keep up with his older brothers.
Arthur enjoys the great outdoors, drinking coffee, singing, and playing cards/board games. His
wife is an accomplished musician. She plays piano beautifully and is skilled at encouraging her
students to love playing as much as she does.
While working for some great companies, BizWiz Marketing LLC and Bloedel Builders LLC,
Arthur began to prayerfully consider the ministry. He looks forward to his studies at Bethany
Lutheran Theological Seminary.
Middler Class
Peter Estrem Jr.
Peter Estrem Jr. was born to Peter and Flor Estrem and raised in the suburbs of Austin, TX. He attended public school for elementary school and middle school; afterwards, he was homeschooled for high school. Peter first began thinking about entering into the ministry during his confirmation classes. He received encouragement and guidance from his pastors at Hope Lutheran Church in Leander, TX. After graduating in 2018, Peter attended Bethany Lutheran College and graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in History. While at Bethany, Peter studied the Biblical languages Greek and Hebrew. He also participated in the fine arts programs offered at Bethany such as organ lessons, choir, band, and theatre. Peter enjoys spending his time drinking coffee, cooking, and exploring the outdoors.
Graham Parsons
Graham Parsons was born to Fred and Julie (Daul) Parsons in Fort Worth, Texas. The Parsons family moved throughout his childhood and eventually landed in Hampton, Virginia where he met his wife, Rachel, while attending public high school. Rachel and her family attended Resurrection Lutheran Church (WELS) in Chesapeake, Virginia and Graham attended with them. His many questions about the Christian faith were answered by two faithful pastors and he was baptized and confirmed in 2011, his senior year of high school. In 2016, Graham and Rachel both graduated from Old Dominion University; Graham with a B.A. in History and a B.S. in Applied Mathematics, and Rachel with a B.S. in Psychology. He and Rachel were married in June 2016, and shortly after moved to Bowling Green, Ohio. There Graham gave increasing consideration to training for the pastoral ministry while attending Abiding Word Lutheran Church (ELS). He began taking Greek in Ohio and continued his language education at Bethany Lutheran College upon moving to Mankato in 2019. Rachel currently cares full time for their two children: Elise Grace (2019) and Victor Edric (2022). Graham has been employed as a software engineer for over 5 years now and his hobbies include reading, backpacking, and repairing his family’s two dilapidated cars.
Senior Class
Skyler Hepler
Skyler Hepler was born to Scott and Kristi (Prazak) Hepler and raised in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin. He became a member of the ELS in eighth grade when a friend invited him to attend confirmation class at Abiding Shepherd Lutheran Church. From there he became more involved with church through the youth group and later as a counselor at Camp Indianhead, WI (now Camp Rise). Skyler graduated from Monona Grove High School in 2016 before attending UW-Madison to pursue a degree in engineering. During his first semester of college, Skyler began feeling called to the ministry. He dropped out after one semester before eventually transferring to Bethany Lutheran College in the fall of 2018. At Bethany, Skyler served as Chairs of the Religious and Internal Affairs Committees on Student Senate and was the president of Bethany’s Organization of Student Scientists, X-Terrain, Ultimate Frisbee and Juggling Clubs. He also participated in choir and the musical all three years and spent many hours counting migratory raptors at the Bethany HawkWatch. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology in May 2021. Skyler also met his wife Erin Kelly at Bethany on the winter Boundary Waters trip. Erin is from Brisbane, Australia where her family are members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. She is currently enrolled in Bethany’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Program. In his free time, Skyler enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and spending time outside birding and herping.
Caleb Strutz
Caleb Strutz was born to Nathan and Elizabeth (Wierschke) Strutz in La Crosse, WI. He was raised in Galesville, WI and Verona, WI, attending homeschool and St. Paul’s school in the former and Our Redeemer school in the latter. After attending Lakeside Lutheran High School, he went on to Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN and graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts in Classical Biblical Languages and a minor in Spanish. During that time, he was involved with Forum and spent a summer abroad in Argentina. At MLC he met his wife, Brianna Asik, and the two married on April 19, 2020, during the midst of COVID lockdown. Honeymoon plans to Argentina were foiled, so the two spent some of their first weeks of married life house-sitting a chicken farm. They welcomed their daughter, Lydia Magdalena, into the world on November 11, 2021. She continues to grow at astonishing speed. Brianna graduated from MLC in December 2022. They expect the birth of their son at the end of September. Caleb has a special interest in Hebrew, the liturgy, and BBC mysteries.
Caleb VonDeylen
Caleb VonDeylen was born to Marc and Monique (Archer) VonDeylen and raised in Friendswood, Texas. He went to Lord of Life Lutheran School up to the eighth grade after which he attended Luther Preparatory school in Wisconsin and then Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota. He graduated from there with a Bachelors of Arts degree. At Martin Luther College Caleb was involved in cross country, choir, intramural sports, and track and field. It was at the college that he met his wife, Sara. Sara graduated there with an early childhood degree and they got married shortly after her graduation. They have been happily married for over three years and have two children, Madilynn Hope VonDeylen, who turned two August 2nd, 2022, and Ezra James VonDeylen who was born August 2nd, 2022. Sara is a stay at home mom and Caleb is a waiter and bartender at Olive’s in Mankato. Aside from studying and serving people he enjoys running, games of any sort, and spending time with loved ones.
Vicars
Joel Hansen
Joel Hansen has been working with teenagers since he was one himself. Joel graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2003, and has since served as a teacher, staff minister in Green Bay, and program director at Camp Phillip. He is currently serving as the staff minister of youth at Bloomington Living Hope Lutheran Church. He is thrilled to have continuous opportunities to travel along-side God’s people as they live through their ever-changing adventures. Joel’s wife, Rachel, graduated with a teaching degree from Martin Luther College. Joel and Rachel have four children: Lucy, Judah, Caleb and Moses. These children keep the dinner table exciting, and bring their parents a special kind of joy. Joel has a large hobby collection. He enjoys roasting his own coffee (and drinking it), playing soccer and coaching it, basketball, disc golf, Star Wars, woodworking, reading, knitting and crocheting, and loves playing (and collecting) board games. One of his favorite hobbies is playing guitar and writing spiritual songs.
Matthew Lehne
Matthew Lehne was born to Tim and Teresa Lehne in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was raised in Lino Lakes with his two younger sisters until it came time for him to attend school. His family moved to Burnsville, Minnesota, where he got a third sister and attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School from kindergarten to eighth grade. He received his high school education at St. Croix Lutheran High School in West St. Paul, Minnesota, where he decided that he wanted to become a pastor. He went to Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. After taking a few years off, he entered Bethany Lutheran College for one year to refresh his skills in the biblical languages and is now attending Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. Matthew likes to travel and go for walks in nature. He is also a fan of storytelling and likes to spend his free time watching films.