Pastor celebrates 50 years in the ministry

Even before the Rev. Russell Howen became a pastor he liked to pretend he was one.

"When I was about three or four we had a pastor who was a pulpit pounder and I got up in the aisle and mimicked him," Howen said. "We joked that that was my first idea of being a pastor."

Howen, who celebrated 50 years in the ministry with a luau at Trinity Lutheran Church this weekend, said religion has been a part of his life since he was very young.

"One of the things about my family is we went to church every Sunday and when we went home we talked about it," he said. "Much of our life was around the church. You really looked forward to youth activities at the church."

Howen, now 75 years old, was ordained at 25 and has led parishes in Nebraska, California and as interim pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Gardnerville.

He spent 31 years as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Martinez, Calif., where he had a community access television program and was named Martinez Man of the Year in 1992.

Howen's largest congregation was in Norfolk, Neb., and was made up of about 900 people.

"I think every place I have been I've loved," he said. "I have felt the love of the people."

Howen said he loves preaching and counseling people who need help, and that "pulpit pounding" is not his style.

"I would classify myself as being a 'person' person," he said.

He remained active in church league sports most of his life, playing basketball until he was 62 and softball until he was 64. Even then, Howen only gave up because the teams were disbanded for various reasons, like losing their time slot at a gym.

Howen retired to South Lake Tahoe 10 years ago, and moved to Minden in 2001 after marrying his second wife. For the last 10 years, Howen has been filling in as a pastor wherever he's needed.

"The first 40 years I was working in the ministry and the last 10 years I just got older," he said, laughing.