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Mary Loken - People of Faith
Mary Loken discusses the history of Luther Memorial Church of Springfield, Illinois, tracing its earliest days at the dawn of World War II, to its merger with two other Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) congregations in 2015. Mary Frisk grew up in Mason City, Iowa and pursued a long career in education, especially in the field of special education. She married Dennis Loken in 1963, and the couple moved to Springfield in 1965, joining Luther Memorial Church that same year. She is an insightful observer of her congregation's history, and passionate about its role in the Springfield community.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Joining Luther Memorial Church
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life and career, and story of Luther Memorial through early 1990s
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
History of Luther Memorial from mid-1990s thru its merger in 2015
Photos
Caption:
Lutheran Memorial Church in Springfield, Illinois as it appeared on August 3, 1942. The congregation was founded in 1941 in order to serve Lutherans in the southern part of Springfield. Parking was always a challenge for the congregation.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
August 3, 1942
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Luther Memorial Church as it appeared shortly after its completion in 1942. The building was completed in the midst of the war.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1942
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
“Our Progress,” read the caption from a church director. Pastor Peterman and Pastor Roger Hansen (Luther Memorial’s pastor at that time), break ground for the new church in 1961.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1961
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
The entire Luther Memorial congregation heads down the street for a ground breaking ceremony for their new church in February, 1961.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
February, 1961
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
An artist’s sketch of Luther Memorial Church, which was dedicated in January, 1962 after a successful fund raising drive.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January, 1962
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Mary Frisk and Dennis Loken were married at First Methodist Church in Mason City, Iowa on August 3, 1963.
Where:
Mason City, Iowa
When:
August 3, 1963
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Mary Frisk and Dennis Loken walk down the aisle at Mary’s home church, First Methodist Church in Mason City, Iowa following their marriage in August, 1963.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: August, 1963
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Dennis and Mary Loken were fairly new to Springfield, Illinois in 1966 when they had their photo taken in front of the couple’s Ford Mustang convertible in Washington Park.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1966
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Luther Memorial Evangelical Lutheran Church of Springfield, Illinois, as it appeared during the mid-1980s.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
mid-1980s
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Member’s children and grandchildren lined up with their Easter baskets for a Sunday School Easter Egg Hunt in the late 1980s.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
late 1980s
Ownership:
Photo appeared in the church director from 1991. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Bonnie Schattschneider served as church secretary in 1990, and was still working in that capacity until Luther Memorial merged with two other congregations in 2015.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2015
Ownership:
Photo appeared in the church director from 1990. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Carol (Wiese) Goldsmith, the congregation’s choir director in 1990.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1990
Ownership:
Photo appeared in the church director from 1990. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Pastor Jane Jenkins presiding over a baptism at Luther Memorial in 1990.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1990
Ownership:
Photo appeared in the church director from 1990. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Rosabel Rasmussen, 1990. Rosabel was the last living charter member, who passed in 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1990
Ownership:
Photo appeared in the church director from 1990. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Reverend Jane E. Jenkins, Pastor of the congregation in 1991. She served as the pastor at Luther Memorial from November, 1980 to August, 1994.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1991
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Bonnie (Drew) Froiland, the church organist, at the organ in 1991. She continued in that role until Luther Memorial merged with two other congregations in 2015.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1991
Ownership:
Photo appeared in the church director from 1990. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Mary and Denny Loken take time for a picture at Joyce and Bob Christensen’s residence in November, 1992 before heading to the Lutheran Social Services of Illinois’ annual Amicus Certis dinner at Park Ridge, Illinois.
Where:
Park Ridge, Illinois
When:
November, 1992
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
This stained glass window was added above the front entrance of the church in 1996. The window was created by Melotte-Morse Stained Glass Inc. of Springfield, Illinois.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
1996
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Luther’s memorial garden. The stone was dedicated to honor Heather Sandstrom, a high school student who was killed in an auto accident in August, 2000.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2000
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Dennis and Mary Loken with their son Alan, his wife Susan and their grandchildren Beck and Finn in the summer of 2005.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Mary Loken with her son Alan, his wife Susan and their grandchildren Beck and Finn.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Mary Loken and staff member Dan Petty enjoyed working with the students at the Regional Safe Schools Program in Springfield in 2010. Mary was the coordinator of the Safe Schools program at the time.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2010
Ownership:
This photo accompanied an article in the Springfield State Journal Register in 2010, May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.