Melvina’s Chair

Melvina Aaberg (1926–2011) was the secretary of the seminary for 28 years. After the synod presidency became a full-time office, she was also the secretary for the synod president. During that time, she was the friendly face of the seminary and synod. When a call was made to the seminary or the synod office, the warm, kind voice of Melvina was heard. She understood the internal workings and administration of the seminary and synod and had everything in hand. Melvina was a mother to many of the seminarians, offering scones, kringla, lefse, and clementine cake. Her warm smile, encouraging hugs, counsel, and advice brought warmth and Norwegian kindness to the seminary.
A chair and a beautiful floral sitting area has been given in honor of Melvina’s many years of service to the synod and seminary by her family and friends. The plaque in the area reads as follows:
Melvina was a faithful secretary to the presidents of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod for 28 years, 1976–2004. This sitting area is given as a memorial by her family and friends. Blessed be her memory!
The sitting area is a reminder, as her daughter Marie noted, of the many years that she greeted us as we entered the seminary.