Who is organizing this celebration?

Ada Beh attended another United Methodist church but stopped by one Sunday as Brooklyn was closer to her home. Rev. Dan Johnson came to her home shortly thereafter with a bag full of groceries. After that, she and her daughter knew that Brooklyn would become their home church.

Nancy Edson was living with her brother nearby and drove by the church several times before she decided to attend worship at Brooklyn. She had been Lutheran prior to attending. Nancy sat next to Jo Huyck and Jo introduced her to Rev. Diane Koob. Rev.  Koob called on her afterward—something that she found very cool. Not long after,  Dave and Nancy Strong invited her and Doug Edson to a pancake breakfast in Osseo. She became fast friends with Doug and soon Doug was the man of her heart. Doug and Nancy were married by Rev. Dan Johnson.

Tammy Ferris came to Brooklyn after moving to the area because her husband knew Bruce Erikson. He was a confirmation student at the White Bear Lake church when Bruce was pastor. Since then, Mark’s sister Jean Schleter & husband Dan & Dan’s family (Schleter) also joined the church. Don & Faye Rautio, previous members, bought Tammy’s grandpa’s cabin on Lake Vermillion. The Methodist church in Grand Rapids that daughter of Brooklyn Marva Jean Hutchens was pastor of recently sold the church to another church community where Tammy’s sister is the secretary. 

Leone Howe’s parents were Florence (Hamilton) & Steve Wadsworth. Florence’s parents were Olive & Abraham Lincoln Hamilton, who came to Brooklyn when they were married. Olive wrote plays and Leone has carried on with that talent. Leone is also related to the Norris and Lawrence families. There were 26 cousins and families of John Hamilton’s, Norris’s, and Laurence’s living in the area and many of them attended Brooklyn. Abraham was the Uncle of John Hamilton (of Jeanne Johnson’s family). All the Hamiltons were very active in the church including helping at funerals and caring for people in need. Leone’s husband is Ralph Howe. Ralph’s cousin, Audrey Howe, married Betty Whitnah’s brother, Lloyd Burquest. 

Michaela Healton’s parents, Bruce & Deborah Healton, joined the church when they moved to Minnesota from Illinois. They were Methodist and Brooklyn was the closest Methodist church to their home. Michaela has a brother, Alex, who is 21. She says that Brooklyn has the “best youth group in the state, possibly the world”. 

Grace Hubbard came to Brooklyn as an infant (1921) with her parents, Albra (Griffin) & Fred Hubbard. Grace’s family moved to the area from South Minneapolis and were Methodists prior to joining. Brooklyn was the nearest Methodist church, but at 3 miles in those days, it was none too near. After they attended their first service at Brooklyn, Rev. Soltau, his wife, and 3 daughters came to call on them. Her brother, Arthur Hubbard, is a son of Brooklyn. Her brother Erle attended Hillcrest in Bloomington after he was married where he was a pillar in the church for many years. Grace’s father repaired the church organ.

Jeanne Johnson traces her roots at Brooklyn back to her great-great grandfather, Joseph Norris. It is not know if he was a member. If so, Jeanne’s children could really be 6th generation members in the church. He signed some of the old record books that are stored in the chapel. He came from Maine, as did many other of the early settlers. Joseph’s son, Robert, married Elizabeth Longfellow. Their son, Daniel married Clara Hamilton. Clara’s brother, John Hamilton, was a treasurer of the church for 22 years but was never a member. Dan & Clara had six children including Elizabeth, who married Ernie Dorn.  Elizabeth’s sister, Martha Norris, became the first church organist. Jeanne married Chuck Johnson at Brooklyn with the Rev. Albert Schmidt officiating. Her daughter, Laura, represents the 5th /6th generation of members. Their Brooklyn heritage means a great deal to them as do the many life-long friendships that have grown through the years. They continue to feel the sense of community in faith as well as the care and concern for others that unites us all. 

Lora Lee Passek’s mother and aunts (young and not yet married) attended the Baptist church until it combined with Brooklyn. Her parents were Clara (Copeland) & Harvey Engvall. Clara and her sister, Lenora, were both members for 74 years. They joined the same day and died the same year. There was a time when many of her cousins were attending the church. Amre Kight is her 1st cousin. Her dad made the holder for the church’s 1st Advent wreath. She had 2 ministers officiate at her wedding: Reverends Stodghill & Norlemann and, as she was a choir member, had the full church choir sing at her wedding.

Chuck Purdham’s parents were Anna (Feck) & Elbert Purdham And his grandparents were Lunetta (Chapman) & Charles Purdham. Chuck has cousins in common with both Leone Howe and Jeanne Johnson as his father’s half sister, Edith, was married to Frend Hamilton. Chuck is married to Alice (Boquist), who grew up as a member of North Church. Chuck’s son David Purdham, his wife Mary (Welter) and David’s sons John and Michael Purdham are involved in the church. 

Betty Whitnah’s family attended the Baptist church until it combined with Brooklyn. Her grandfather, Nathanial Burquest, was choir director for Brooklyn at one time. Her father, Arden, was Sunday school superintendent for 40 years, taught adult class for all of those years, and sung in the choir (as did Betty’s brothers Burt, Lloyd, & Marshall). Betty & sister Delores sang also, when they were old enough. Lloyd married Audrey Howe from the Frank Howe family. Her son, Tom’s wife, Brenda (Edmundson) Whitnah, was a member before they married. Rev. Dennis Nyberg married Betty and her husband, Gordon.