Pastor Dick Lohman – This Is Your Life!

This Is Your Life was a reality show that aired on NBC on and off from 1948 well into the 80’s. The premise was simple. A celebrity would be surprised with a retrospective of their life. Guests from the celebrity’s past and present would speak from behind a panel, as the celebrity tried to identify who it was. The guest would then come out, greet the celebrity, and they would reminisce for a bit.

During the time when my father was pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, members of the 101 Club (a social group for couples whose combined ages didn’t exceed 101) threw such an event for him. I’m not sure of the exact date, but right around 1975. The M.C.’s script, complete with last-minute edits, must have been given to Dad after the fact, for I found it among my parents’ papers. From it, I’ve reconstructed the slide show, and have included pictures from the actual event. So…

Pastor Dick Lohman:

Undoubtedly, there has been curiosity and speculation regarding this port of tonight’s program. It is indeed unfortunate that we had to title it, “The Surprise Appearance of a Guest Celebrity” on the invitation card, but under the circumstances it was not only necessary – it was the only way. We knew that if it could have been publicized under its true title, we could have filled Fellowship Hall. One comment heard this past week was to the effect that, “Who could a guest celebrity be at Bethlehem except one of the pastors?” I’m sure that the person who made this statement had no idea how much uneasiness and anxiety his remark caused those of us who were planning this little surprise. It is difficult enough to keep a secret, and we had gone to great pains to tell only a few and to keep everyone else in complete ignorance.

The evening’s Master of Ceremonies

However, this chance remark was correct – the guest celebrity is a pastor, although hopefully he knows nothing about it. Therefore, without any further preamble – Pastor Dick Lohman, THIS IS YOUR LIFE! Would you please come up here in front and sit facing the members of the 101 Club while we show a few pictures. We think that these pictures and snapshots will help set the scene for what is to follow. Dick, these will bring back old memories from your childhood, so sit back and watch.

Richard Lohman was born at Fairview Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota on April 3, 1924. He is the youngest of three children, and the only boy. The eldest sister, Muriel, is married to a Baptist minister and lives in Chicago. The other sister, Priscilla (Mrs. Ray Jensen) lives here in Minneapolis. Dick grew up in south Minneapolis on 24^th Street and lived there until he went in the Navy at 17 years, after graduating from South High School.

This first picture shows our celebrity at age four months. Right from the start, he was happy and outgoing.

The next picture shows him in a youth chair at age six months. Once again, he is happy and smiling.

Here’s Richard at two years old. By this time, he is quite a boy.

Look at Dick at three with this tricycle. Boy, if we had that trike now it would be a real antique!

The three Lohman children in a family pose. Of course, Dick is on his best behavior.

Muriel, Priscilla, Richard Lohman

Here’s Richard with his dog. Dick is the one on the right, I think.

Richard and his Dad were real pals, and here they are together.

Gustav and Richard Lohman

Dick with a friend and a model airplane. This picture was taken in July, 1938, so he was about fourteen years old.

Another picture of Dick and his Dad taken in June of 1948. Probably they are deciding on what fishing bait to use?

Here’s Dick at seventeen.

And next, his high school graduation picture. Really a handsome guy.

Right after high school he joined the Navy. Here is the gob with his two sisters.

The sailor in his blues. The ground covering looks just about like it does now outside.

More Navy pictures:

Then a picture of his ship – the U.S.S. General Anderson. 

He was on this Ship from 1942 until 1945 – exactly three years to the day. The notation on this card [to his parents] was, “For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” 

It was on this ship that Dick and his buddy, Burton Anderson, organized a Christian fellowship group, and Dick was called “Little Minister.”

Dick was married while in the Navy, and here he is with his first wife, Connie.

Here’s a family picture of Dick, Connie, and their three children, Jean, Doug, and Paul. Connie died of bulbar polio in 1952

Another picture of Dick – a little pensive and serious, perhaps. A fine dedicated Christian young man.

The final picture – the Lohman Family – Dick, Char and their children. Jeffrey in right front, died of leukemia at the age of seven years.

Now, Dick, for some voices out of the past. 

1. You shouldn’t have any difficulty with this first one. MOTHER. Yes, it’s your mother, Mrs. Grace Lohman. We want you to sit right here beside your son, Mrs. Lohman.

2. The next voices might be a little more difficult to identify: MR. AND MRS. JEAN AND CLARENCE TAKVAM. [Referring to the day Dick was baptized] I understand that there were eleven babies baptized that particular Sunday, and Dick and Jean were two of them.

3. Dick, how about this voice? Sound at all familiar? [Dad was completely stumped. He had no idea who this was. Then out walks, not an old girlfriend from the past, but a current friend from church all dolled up and acting up a storm!] Oh, this is little ARLENE LEE, who lived across the street from you when you were 5-6 years old. Remember, on 32^nd Street? Pretty young for sweethearts, but she never married, so you must have made a lasting impression. 

4. How about an old friend? BOB HAGEN The friendship with Bob, Jean, and Clarence goes all the way back to the old Vine Church and early childhood.

5. Dick, this next voice goes back a long way. He remembers you from way back when, too. MR. DELBERT NYHOLM. Mr. Nyhold was Dick’s [science] teacher at the old South High School.

6. This next voice should be very familiar. Your friendship with him was a very close tie. BURTON ANDERSON. You were together on the U.S.S. General Anderson while in the Navy.

7. Here are two voices – a couple who have been very close through the years. HARRY AND EDNA NYE. These are old friends from Bethany Church.

8. Unfortunately, JERRY AND FLORY GRAY, who were next-door neighbors in St. Louis Park, were unable to come. However, they did send their greetings and best wishes.

9. How can you possibly not identify the next voices? MR. AND MRS. JENSEN – RAY AND PRISCILLA. Yes, it’s your sister, Priscilla, and her husband, Ray. She was one of the co-conspirators of this little secret together with your mother and Char. We did our best to get all the information together and not to let anything leak out. We are sorry that (your sister) Muriel couldn’t also be here. Ray and Priscilla come into the picture here because it was at this point after the death of Connie that you all lived together.

10. How about this next voice? Can you identify it? HJALMER ERICKSON. You worked together as printers at Lund Press. Hjalmer was also present at your ordination, and you served together on the board at New Hope Center.

11. Now for a very important voice – one that had a great influence in your life. MONA & HERB LUND. It was through Mona that you met Char, so this started you on a brand new pathway in life. Herb, too, is a good friend.

12. Of course, we can’t leave out the next voice and voices. CHAR AND THE KIDS. This is your family and your life. We are so happy that they could be here to help in this tribute to you.

13. Last, but not least, two voices for you to identify. DAN AND KATHY PETERSON. These are friends from Dick’s first parish in Butterfield, Minnesota. They now live in Burnsville, and Dick and Char see them frequently.

Now would you all come up front for a reunion with Dick. We hope that this has been a significant and meaningful event in your life, Dick!

Richard’s Memoirs

Remarks given by Richard Lohman (1924-2004) at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of his wedding (15 August 1953) to Charlotte (Hovick Thompson) Lohman (1925-2015), held on 17 August 2003.

15 August 1953 back: Richard, Charles, Charlotte front: Jeanne, Paul, Douglas

17 August 2003 Richard & Charlotte Lohman

Is this a great day or what?! We are sooo – grateful – for so much. We want to thank all of you for being here and sharing this day with us. This is a day of recollection and inclusion for all who have been part of our days.

We remember:

Warren, Char’s first husband, and Connie, my first wife, …

Warren & Charlotte (Hovick) Thompson

Richard & Constance (Stoep) Lohman

…Jeffrey and Chuck, our two sons, …

Richard & Jeffrey

Charles

…all of whom have died and have been distinctive and special family members, as well as the so many others who have passed through our lives.

The fact does not go unnoticed that our sisters’ husbands have all moved on, and we miss them and wish that they could be here today. (And maybe they are.)

And Char………… I owe my life to this gracious lady. Without her I would literally not be here and alive this day, or rather more accurately, for many years in the past. She has put up with me this half century. And I am truly, duly grateful.

Without a doubt, having Chuck, and then taking on three more young children, along with a grieving husband, was quite a challenge to say the least. And probably rather foolish.

Yet, Char is the most gracious, selfless, pleasant person. And with all that she has experienced health-wise these past three years, one would never know, when you see her or visit with her, that anything was other than okay.

We have had our ups and downs, and through all of it, she has been there, for me and with me, for our children and withthem as well. Char, you are quite a lady!

A little history (what I am going to say right now, many of you know):

Following the untimely and premature death of my first wife Connie in the fall of 1952, I had a visit from a young couple. The conversation, the content, and the subsequent results of that visit altered my life and that of our children in ways that I cannot fully describe. And we are all extremely indebted.

The visitors were my sister Priscilla and her husband Ray. Priscilla said to me, “If you find a house big enough for all of us, I will take care of Jeanne, Douglas, and Paul.” Well, as most of you know, Priscilla and Ray had six children of their own at the time. What an offer!! What generosity!! What an endowment!! And not many husbands would be so amiable to allow his wife to take on such an endeavor. Ray was quite a guy.

Priscilla, I have been, we all are, and will be forever appreciative. For, without any question, it was quite a challenge to keep house and a semblance of order for such a tribe. Plus, for you to prepare and serve meals to the twelve of us – nine of whom were under ten – was no small task.

There are many stories from those times. I am sure your children and ours can tell of some we have never heard before. They were trying times, but good times as well. That is part of our history – or should I say her-story. Grateful, grateful, I am, are we, for you.

And then, in the course of time, I was introduced to several young widows. In fact, during those days I began to visit “The House of the Merry Widows.” Char was one of that group. Mona (Hjortland Berg) Lund and Char lived together. We had many long, long conversations over the months. If we had time, we could share stories about our courtship, engagement, and marriage. But some other time.

For now, I have mixed feelings about being grateful that I have lived this long and that we have had these years. Because I can’t be grateful that Connie and Warren and Jeff and Chuck and all the others died prematurely before they had a chance at the full gift of life that God intends for everyone. However, I can say that since I have lived this long, I am grateful that there has been a presence – a spirit, the very gift of God, the Grace of God – with us throughout the varied steps we have been privileged to take. I am grateful that God – that the Spirit – walked with us during these many years.

From “The Works of the Chariot,” this quote: “When you take a step toward God, God takes more steps toward you than there are sands in the world of time.”

This is all gift – mystery, wonder, amazement – love and Grace leading us to gratitude. Our words of thanks are so inadequate in light of God’s amazing Grace.

I feel a hand holding my hand.

It’s not a hand you can see.

But on the road to the Promised Land,

This hand will shepherd me

Through delight and despair,

Holding tight and always there.

Grateful, grateful,

Truly grateful I am

Grateful, grateful,

Truly blessed, and duly grateful.

“Grateful” Words and Music by John Bucchino © 1996 John Bucchino

As for you, our children – Jeanne, Douglas, Paul, and David… A wise man once said: “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of those is roots, the other is wings.” We hope and pray that we have done this. But not always as we should have or would have liked.  Because, as a parent, there are some things that I wish I had done differently. Yet, as one of them said so graciously, “Parents do the best they know how.” Paul commented on a book that he had read a few years ago, “Each of us must complete our own parenting.” Mom and I want you to know we believe that all of you children have done that very well and we are indeed very proud of each one of you. We are also very appreciative of Cathy and Pat, our daughters-in-law.

My sister Muriel prepared a lengthy memoir for her grandchildren. On the title page she had these words: “No day is over – if it leaves a memory.” Wow! Do we have a multitude of good days and good memories to relive.

To close, finally…

We were in Norway in 1976, on August 15^th, our 25^thanniversary. Driving through the countryside we came upon a stave church, all made out of wood and held together with wooden pegs. As we looked over the stone fence and viewed the cemetery that surrounded the church, one inscription caught my eye. There, with the name Betty, were these words:

“Du ware so god. Takk for alt.” Translated: “You were so good. Thank you for everything.”

I said then, “Takk for alt – that is what I want on my tombstone.” That, I will say to God.

TAKK FOR ALT

But today, I say, “Char, you are so good! I love you. Takk for alt. Thank you – for everything.”

back: Nathaniel Lohman, Douglas Lohman, Martin Lohman, David Lohman, Paul Lohman front: Tyler Lohman, Catherine Pususta, Patricia Cosgrove, Charlotte Lohman, Richard Lohman, Jeanne Lohman