Meet our Board Members
Governing Board of Directors
Jerry Saude
Chair
Chairperson Jerry Saude retired in 2019 from the ND Department Of Trust Lands in the Surface Management Division after 28 years. He is also active in the Sons Of Norway and tends to a hobby farm with the help of his family. Jerry and his late wife, Sonna Anderson, have two sons and they are members of First Lutheran Church in Bismarck.
Steve Andrist
Vice Chair
Steve Andrist retired at the end of 2020 as the Executive Director of the North Dakota Newspaper Association after a long career working for community newspapers. He has served on the Board of Directors at Missouri Slope since 2017. Steve also serves on the board of the ND Consensus Council and is co-chair of a new journalism non-profit called the North Dakota News Cooperative. Steve and his wife Barbara have three sons and seven grandchildren. They are also members of the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Bismarck.
Darrell Nitschke
Secretary/Treasurer
Paul Gurholt
Paul Gurholt was born on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. His parents sold the farm and moved to Watford City in the early 1960s. Paul graduated from Watford City High School, went on to college at UND, and graduated with a degree in education as a mathematics major. Paul then taught school in a small town in Minnesota, worked in construction in the summer, and eventually moved to Bismarck to start his own construction company. He built many homes in the Bismarck area and did light commercial construction work. Paul was married for 44 years until his wife passed away in 2012. He has three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Paul is an active member of Bismarck’s Lutheran Church of the Cross and sings in the church choir. He also sang as a member of the barbershop chorus for 26 years. Paul has volunteered as Camp of the Cross’ lead contractor, rebuilding many buildings, and has done work in Medora, ND, as a volunteer. A lifetime highlight for Paul has been the building of three additions at Church of the Cross in Highland Acres. Paul manages to assist Missouri Slope with construction guidance once in a while, and he serves on both the Missouri Slope board and the Missouri Slope Foundation board of directors.
Stacy Krumwiede
Stacy Krumwiede is a small business owner. She co-owns the Staiger Consulting Group which is an association management and government affairs company. She has served on the Board of Directors on Missouri Slope since 2016. Stacy and her husband Mike have three children and are members of Lutheran Church of the Cross in Bismarck.
Rev. Mark Narum
Rev. Mark Narum serves as Senior Pastor/Head of Staff at Trinity Lutheran here in Bismarck. He enjoys helping people ponder what God might be up to in their lives. Rev. Narum also serves on the Board of Ministry on the Margins. He is married to Jan and they have three sons, a daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Shelley Porter
Shelley Porter is a retired registered dietitian who was employed at St. Alexius Medical Center for 35 years, followed by a short stint at Augusta Place until deciding to become a full-time volunteer. She and her husband, Jim, have a daughter and son. Shelley enjoys gardening, quilting, exercising at the YMCA, and warm weather. She is a member of Sunne Lutheran Church in rural Wilton.
Sue Rydberg
Susan (Sue) Rydberg, early in her adult life, sold radio and television advertising and managed KQCD TV in Dickinson. She later returned to school and graduated from Bethel College in St. Paul, MN with a degree in Business Administration. Shortly after graduation, Sue moved to Lakeland, FL, to help her aging mother. After her mom passed, she returned to the cities and worked for Polaris Industries in Medina, MN. In 2021, Sue moved to Bismarck to be closer to family. She has two daughters, three granddaughters and two great granddaughters. Sue is a member of Faith Lutheran Church where she is on the Worship and Music Committee, sings in the choir and Sounds of Faith and edited the church cookbook. Her hobbies include quilting, knitting, gardening, and puzzling. Sue enjoys leading a bible study once a month and assisting Chaplain Angie by reading scripture and serving communion at Missouri Slope services.
Bishop Craig Schweitzer
Bishop Craig Schweitzer was elected as bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod and began serving on September 1, 2020. He has served on the Board of Directors at Missouri Slope since 2016. Bishop Craig serves in various leadership capacities for the Western ND Synod of the Evangelical Church in America, the Disciplinary Board of the ND Supreme Court, the Housing Board of Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, and continues to remain active as a musician in a variety of settings. Bishop Craig and his wife, Wendy, have two daughters.
Pam Sharp
Pamela Sharp is a native of Watford City, ND. She attained a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from the University of Mary. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). In addition, Pam earned a master’s degree in management from the University of Mary. Pam dedicated 32 years to a career at the State of North Dakota serving in several financial positions. The last 15 years of her career in state government, she served as the Director of Office and Management and Budget and served under three different governors – Governor John Hoeven, Governor Jack Dalrymple, and Governor Doug Burgum. Since retiring from the State of North Dakota, Pam stayed involved in state government through her role as a lobbyist and consultant. Now fully retired, she enjoys spending more time with family and grandchildren and enjoys serving as a board member for Missouri Slope, as well as with Missouri Slope Foundation.
Martin Well
Martin Well is a Senior Loan Officer at Farm Credit Services in Mandan. Martin and his wife Lisa have two daughters and one grandson. Hobbies include spending time outdoors, enjoying the shooting sports, and time at the farm. They are members of House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Bismarck.
Foundation Board of Directors
Jon Green
Chair
Jon Green retired in 2018 as the Executive Director of Altru Health Foundation in Grand Forks, ND. He always has been active in his communities with board and chairperson involvement in United Way, YMCA, an emergency food pantry, and church council and other church committees. Currently at Missouri Slope, Jon is the board chair of the Missouri Slope Foundation. He volunteers weekly with his wife at Missouri Slope’s Assisted Living and provides staff and leadership training for Missouri Slope. Jon is passionate about Missouri Slope’s mission of providing health and spiritual services to those in need.
Vicki Kunz
Vice Chair
Vicki Kunz retired as the Risk Manager for MDU Resources Group, Inc., after serving 20 years. She previously worked as a paralegal manager over a 20-year period for three separate law firms in Bismarck. Her past board governance experience includes four years as the Chief Governing Officer of the board of directors for the North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance, and chair for the board of directors to the North Dakota Community Foundation, the Bismarck-Mandan Community Foundation, the Missouri Slope Area-wide United Way, and the North Dakota Safety Council. Vicki also held several other leadership roles in national, state, and local organizations. She and her husband Dennis have two married children and five grandchildren. They spend their time with family, golfing, and traveling. They are members of St. Anne’s Catholic Church. Vicki also has ties to Faith Lutheran Church, which has been her family’s church for 50 years.
Pamela Sharp
Secretary/Treasurer
Pamela Sharp is a native of Watford City, ND. She attained a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration from the University of Mary. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). In addition, Pam earned a master’s degree in management from the University of Mary. Pam dedicated 32 years to a career at the State of North Dakota serving in several financial positions. The last 15 years of her career in state government, she served as the Director of Office and Management and Budget and served under three different governors – Governor John Hoeven, Governor Jack Dalrymple, and Governor Doug Burgum. Since retiring from the State of North Dakota, Pam stayed involved in state government through her role as a lobbyist and consultant. Now fully retired, she enjoys spending more time with family and grandchildren and enjoys serving as a board member for Missouri Slope, as well as with Missouri Slope Foundation.
Dan Churchill
Dan Churchill is a Bismarck native and a third-generation pharmacist. He is a 1996 graduate of St. Mary’s High School and a 2003 graduate of NDSU’s School of Pharmacy. He is owner of Churchill Pharmacy and Professional Pharmacy, the long-term care pharmacy that serves Missouri Slope. Dan is a board member of the North Dakota Pharmacy Service Corporation and past president of the North Dakota Pharmacists Association. Dan and his wife Heather have five children. He enjoys St. Mary’s and NDSU football games and summer weekends at the lake.
Kelsey Fern
Kelsey Fern holds a degree in Social Work from Minot State University and transitioned from a career in social work to entrepreneurship. As a small business owner, she is dedicated to fostering healthy relationships within the community and creating strategic partnerships to enhance the lives of residents at Missouri Slope. Kelsey is committed to supporting the care and well-being of residents while working to create sustainable growth and opportunities for Missouri Slope’s facilities and its community.
Carol Friesz
Carol Friesz retired after 34 years of owning and operating an interstate freight transportation company. Prior years included employment with the Morton County Social Services and Auditor’s Office. Carol proudly served with the North Dakota National Guard 191 MP Unit. Her community service experience includes area clubs, school organizations, AARC, Girl Scouts, community projects, church functions, and always finding opportunities to be involved in fundraising and collaborations. Carol and her husband Wayne are members of First Lutheran Church in Mandan, ND. Together, they have five children, two grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and a dog. They enjoy traveling, community service, and spending time with friends and family at their lake home.
Paul Gurholt
Paul Gurholt was born on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. His parents sold the farm and moved to Watford City in the early 1960s. Paul graduated from Watford City High School, went on to college at UND, and graduated with a degree in education as a mathematics major. Paul then taught school in a small town in Minnesota, worked in construction in the summer, and eventually moved to Bismarck to start his own construction company. He built many homes in the Bismarck area and did light commercial construction work. Paul was married for 44 years until his wife passed away in 2012. He has three children, six grandchildren, and one great-grandson. Paul is an active member of Bismarck’s Lutheran Church of the Cross and sings in the church choir. He also sang as a member of the barbershop chorus for 26 years. Paul has volunteered as Camp of the Cross’ lead contractor, rebuilding many buildings, and has done work in Medora, ND, as a volunteer. A lifetime highlight for Paul has been the building of three additions at Church of the Cross in Highland Acres. Paul manages to assist Missouri Slope with construction guidance once in a while, and he serves on both the Missouri Slope board and the Missouri Slope Foundation board of directors.
DaLana Mayer
DaLana Mayer joined the Foundation board in 2024. She is a member of over 50 years at Faith Lutheran Church in Bismarck. A graduate of Bismarck High School, DaLana studied at North Dakota State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Agriculture. Her role on the Foundation board is significant for DaLana, as her father was on the M50 board for Missouri Slope in years past. As a youth, DaLana actively participated during the holidays when Faith Lutheran youth visited Missouri Slope to sing for residents. Other family connections have included care for her grandfather and uncle who were residents at Missouri Slope. Interesting facts about DaLana include that she and her husband Todd own a small herd of cows and that she has a multi-decade involvement in bowling (30 years), where she has served on the Fargo-Moorhead US Bowling Congress board and as FM USBC league treasurer and president.
Darrell Nitschke
Darrell Nitschke is the Western Regional Director for Congressman Kelly Armstrong. He has served on the Board of Directors at Missouri Slope since 2019. Darrell and his wife Carol are members of First Lutheran Church of Mandan.
Darren Schmidt
Darren Schmidt has consistently maintained that community engagement is a means of enhancing its well-being, which is a contributing factor to his involvement with Missouri Slope and his membership on other local board of directors, such as those related to dance and golf. As a native of Bismarck, after obtaining his Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of North Dakota, Darren felt compelled to return home. Since 2008, he has been a licensed real estate agent and is currently the Broker/Owner of Oaktree Realtors. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Darren actively participates in the Bismarck Rotary Club, further expanding his contributions to the community.
