Our Staff
Pastor Paul J. Seastrand, PhD, has since 1980 served congregations in the Montana cities of Livingston, Willsall, Missoula, Billings, and now Lewistown.  He has been Ecumenical Representative for the Montana Synod, a frequent teacher for the Northern Rockies Institute of Theology, served the ELCA on the Study of Ministry for the new Lutheran Church of 1988, was a board member of Augsburg Fortress Publishing, and a member of the ELCA-LCMS churchwide dialogue.  He is married to Susan who is a teacher at Ayers Hutterite Colony, and their children live in Billings, Denver, Oakland, and New York City. 

Lana Papp worked for 32 years for Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, NE.  Her husband, Bob, also worked for the Union Pacific as a electrician until he retired 1996.  Shortly after, along with Lana’s mother, Margaret Durham, they all moved to Lewistown which had been a familiar destination through the years to visit relatives.  Lana has worked as Administrative Assistant since 2000 and in addition volunteers her time with Thrivent, Hospice, Family Planning, and the Community Health Center. 

Barbara Harchenko is the organist for Zion Lutheran Church.

Pam Koterba is the treasurer for Zion Lutheran Church.  As part of her “other” life, she is a math teacher at Winifred High School.  She and her husband, Phil, have been married for 42 years, and have lived in Lewistown since the fall of 1997.  They have two children and 4 grandchildren, who are the joy of her life.  Pam is a loyal Bobcat, having received other Bachelor and Masters degrees from Montana State University.

Don Bost, Property Manager since 2002, grew up in Lewistown and graduated from the U.S. Navy (Seabees) School in Port Hueneme, CA.  A few years after his service in Vietnam and discharge, he started Bost Construction in 1976, whose commercial projects took his company all over Montana.  He also maintains Bost Properties rentals and development.  Among other affiliations Don belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, is a life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and NRA, and is current chairman of the Veterans Memorial Park Association.  Twice he has received the Businessman of the Year award from the Chamber, and was recognized for moving the Theodore Roosevelt Obelisk in Glacier Park.  He and his wife, Unni, have two daughters, Kristina and Lisa.

Kris Pederson is the Youth and Family Director and Choir Director.

Debby Shobe taught elementary school for 11 years before “retiring” to tend to three brand new babies of her own!  She volunteered to “fill in” as a temporary choir director for Zion’s children choir…that was 13 years ago!  Rainbow choir is open to all 2nd through 6th graders in our congregation and this year boasts 28 members.  Wednesday after-school practices are enthusiastic, energetic, noisy, and the highlight of the week for Debby, who’s still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up.  The goal is to sing at Sunday worship services every 2 to 3 weeks.  Sledding parties and Christmas hayride caroling are much-anticipated events each year.  (The kids get almost excited about it as their leader!)  Debby and her husband, Jayson, own an auction-real estate business as well as a Main Street art gallery.  Their babies are now 26, 23, and 20 years old. 

Lynn Franz is a stay at home Mom who loves to be involved in her church, her children’s activities during and after school, her community and her family.  Lynn attended college in Bozeman graduating with a degree in Health and Human development.  She has worked in auto parts, human resources, social work and now helps to manage a family business (All Weather Tech) in Lewistown with her husband Ken.  Lynn has been a Sunday School teacher and Nursery attendant at Zion since moving back to Lewistown in 2002.  Currently Lynn serves as the Sunday School coordinator for the Rotation Roundup at Zion Lutheran Church. 

Marvin Beck has been the custodian since May 2008.  Raised on the Montana Hi-line near Hogeland, for many years in Lewistown he has owned and operated Beck’s Radiator Service.  His volunteer work includes transportation driver for VA patients and community service through the Moose.