CHURCH LEADERS

MEET OUR STAFF

Pastor Melissa grew up in the Chicago area. She attended Augustana College in Rock Island, IL and received a M.A. from Loyola University. She spent a few years working at a church and a non-profit organization before discerning a call to be a pastor and then moving to Minnesota to attend Luther Seminary. She first fell in love with Montana when she completed her pastoral internship in Billings. Pastor Melissa began serving at ALC in October 2021. She enjoys every opportunity to spend time exploring the mountains, cycling, and working on baking the perfect loaf of sourdough bread.

MELISSA JOHANSEN
PASTOR

Annette Hart has lived in Montana all her life, but that doesn't stop her from adventuring out and seeing the world. Annette and her husband Gary have lived mostly in Laurel with stints in Great Falls, Big Sandy, Judith Gap, and Rapelje. Annette has worked in various education positions including special education, social studies, and school superintendent/principal. She retired to Livingston to spend time with her with her grandsons.

ANNETTE HART
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Nancy Curtis grew up in Wisconsin, and was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Wausau. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, and later earned her Masters Degree from Montana State University in Bozeman. In 1982 she moved to Livingston and joined American Lutheran. Nancy taught music in Montana for 38 years; 37 years as choral director for grades 7-12 in Livingston, and one year as an Elementary Music Methods teacher at MSU. She has served on the church council at American, directed the church choir and is now an accompanist for worship services. Nancy is enjoying her time in retirement, and is working part time at Bob’s Outdoor in Livingston.

NANCY CURTIS

ACCOMPANIST

MEET OUR CHURCH COUNCIL

Randy was born and raised in Livingston. After teaching in Ketchikan, Alaska for 22 years, he moved back to his hometown to begin teaching at Park High. After 18 years of teaching he recently retired. He has been a lifelong member of ALC, apart from his years in Alaska. Randy and Joan have two adult children. Joan was part of the Livingston School District as an elementary teacher for 10 years before her retirement. Randy enjoys hiking and traveling as well as puttering in the garden.

RANDY MOGEN
PRESIDENT

Lana and her husband Don joined American Lutheran Church in the early 80’s. Their two children were baptized and confirmed at American Lutheran Church. She has served as a Sunday School Teacher, Altar Guild, and Church Treasurer. She is active with WELCA on the church and cluster level. She has retired from Livingston Healthcare in Patient Financial Services with 38 years. She enjoys her family and grandchildren, camping, gardening, and quilting.

LANA SHEEN
VICE PRESIDENT

Jane was born and raised in North Dakota where she was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Oakes. She moved to Livingston in 1973 beginning her career as a high school teacher and joining ALC. She taught at Park High for 33 years and later at Montana State University. After retiring from teaching, she began working part time at Back Porch Quilts. She enjoys knitting, quilting and volunteering.

JANE HAUGEN

SECRETARY

Curt grew up in Nebraska and was confirmed in the First Lutheran Church in Fremont.
He is a graduate of the Univ. of Nebraska in Business and holds a master’s in
management from Roberts Wesleyan College. He spent his career managing claim
operations for State Farm Insurance. Curt and his wife Dee moved to Billings in 1988.
Although work took them away from Montana, sixteen years ago they started working
their way back to the place they loved and five years ago they returned to Livingston fulltime. Their oldest son and his wife live in White Sulphur Springs. They also have a
daughter in Denver and another son in Minneapolis, both are raising families. Curt has a deep love for the outdoors and a passion for training hunting dogs.

CURT GOSDA
TREASURER

Dana was born and raised in Livingston. He was baptized and confirmed at ALC. He owned a Blues Bar and literary lounge for nearly 30 years here in Livingston. He enjoys the out of doors and watching the Bobcats, Yankees, and Celtics.

DANA LATSCH

FINANCIAL SECRETARY

Over the years, much has comforted Lynnette about American Lutheran. The building, the people, the Sunday coffee and treats, and her years and years of membership. Lynette was baptized, attended Sunday school, confirmed, guided on her way to Christikon, and eventually went on through her journey of life and faith to Concordia College. She plodded her way through her first teaching job in Wilton, North Dakota and finally found her way back home again. Lynnette’s mother and father were also faithful parishioners of American Lutheran, and always loved this church along with others who sat in the same pews for years and greeted one other in the “Sharing of the Peace.” Lynnette notes that it has been a special gift to abide in a church that has helped define her life. She is looking forward to working together in another experience as a member of the church council.

LYNNETTE EVANSON

Dale Siegle was born and raised in Glendive, MT. Baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church, a great German, Lutefisk & Lefse congregation that enjoyed their coffee after the service. He came to Livingston in 1979, joining ALC. He worked as the Livingston office manager of the Montana Job Service for 15 years and later continued managing the Bozeman Job Service office for 10 years, retiring in 2003. He is currently a part time/seasonal fishing outfitter.

DALE SIEGLE

Leslie was born and raised in Missoula, MT and received her B. S. degree at the University of Montana. She began her teaching career in Hamilton where she met her husband Verne, also a teacher. Verne received his school administrative degree and they moved to Geraldine, Sidney and finally landed in Livingston where they have lived for the past 35 years. She has two children, Kelly and Jason. The family has attended ALC for those 35 years. Leslie is involved in WELCA, sewing quilt tops for the quilters, serves on the Mission Endowment committee and member of the council. Leslie enjoys being with her granddaughters when possible, golfing, her garden, playing cards and is learning how to play Mah Jongg.

LESLIE BEFFERT

I was born in Yankton, eastern South Dakota, and raised in Rapid City. I worked in the residential and commercial building industry for 50 + years. My wife, Holly, and I have 3 adult sons. Holly has been a lifelong member of ALC while I started attending in the early 1980's. I enjoy an occasional bird hunt, fishing, tying fishing flies, along with caring for the horses and pasture.

GERALD HAPPE

Dennis grew up in Havre, Montana where he worked on the family farm before making his way to Livingston. Dennis worked as a teacher for some years before he owned his own business. He is now retired. Dennis has been married to Kitty for 48+ years. They have four adult children (all were baptized at ALC) and six grandchildren (four were baptized at ALC). Dennis enjoys golfing as much as he can and keeps busy trying to get to as many of his grandchildren's activities as possible.