Pastor Charles Boeder

PASTOR CHARLES FRANCIS BOEDER was born in Litchfield, Meeker County, Minnesota on April 23, 1933 to Frank H. Boeder and his wife, Viola Weinkauf. He was baptized on May 14, 1933 in the home of his parents on the farm near Corvuso, Minnesota where he was raised and attended a small country school through the seventh grade. He continued his education at St. John Lutheran School located 10 miles west of Hutchinson, Minnesota for the eighth grade and confirmation. He graduated from Dr. Martin Luther High School, New Ulm, Minnesota in 1951; Northwestern College, Watertown, Wisconsin in 1955 with a BA degree; and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary at Mequon, Wisconsin in 1958 with a BD Degree. His first assignment was in the Wisconsin Synod to a dual parish at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Hale, Michigan and Our Savior Lutheran Church at Glennie, Michigan. He was ordained at Hale, Michigan on November 23, 1958. He served there until 1970. In 1972, he accepted a call to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone, Minnesota. On May 5, 1973, Pastor Boeder was united in marriage to Donna Belle Jepsen, a widow and the mother of five children. Following their marriage, they lived on a farm southwest of Pipestone until June, 1993, when he accepted a call to Redeemer Lutheran Church in Flandreau, South Dakota. In 1996, they moved into Pipestone. After his retirement on June 30, 1999, he served as vacancy pastor at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, Minnesota for 2-½ years. Since then, he has filled in as pastor for four more vacancies and preached in many churches when pastors went on vacation.

Pastor Boeder was a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Since January, 1973, he was also a member of the Pipestone Kiwanis Club. Pastor Boeder was interested in many things. He was a student of theology, having attended Lutheran schools for 12 years from the 8th grade through the Seminary. He was interested in history, especially ancient Biblical studies. In 1966, he spent over five weeks travelling through the lands mentioned in the Bible. Agriculture was of interest to him since he worked on his parents' farm every summer until he was 25 and after his marriage, he managed his wife's and his own farm until the present time. While he lived in Michigan he obtained his private pilot's license on July 23, 1968. While living in Minnesota he encouraged the Kiwanis Club to sponsor a fly-in at the Pipestone Airport to provide free plane rides for youth ages 8-16. About 80 youth participate every other year in September and the rides are provided by members of the Experimental Aviation Association. Travel was always of interest to him. Before he married he crossed the Atlantic two times and visited countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. After marriage he and Donna Belle crossed the Atlantic twice and visited seven different countries and found the villages where their ancestors had lived. In the United States they visited many National Parks and state capitols. They also enjoyed several cruises. Pastor Boeder loved music. He was a member of the Chorus in high school, college, and Seminary. He directed the choir while living in Michigan and he was a soloist at hundreds of funerals and some weddings as well.

Pastor Boeder was rushed to the Pipestone County Medical Center and passed away unexpectedly there on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at the age of 89.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Donna Belle Boeder of Pipestone, Minnesota; four stepchildren, Steven (Mary Jo) Jepsen of Madison, South Dakota, Julie (Gayln) Short of Albert Lea, Minnesota, David (Laura) Jepsen of Kennewick, Washington, and Timothy Jepsen of Pipestone, Minnesota; ten grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one sister, Bonnie (Allan) Schmidt of Litchfield, Minnesota; four nephews; and two nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents and his stepson, Douglas Jepsen.