The Church Council “shall have general oversight of the life and activities of this congregation, to the end that everything be done in accordance with the Word of God and the faith and practice of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.”
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Members of the MVLC Church Council
PRESIDENT Kevin Dahl
► Kevin and his wife Sonja have been members at Mountain View for over 30 years. They have two adult children, Eric and Jessica, who were both baptized and grew up in the church. Kevin is a teacher and coach at Edgemont Junior High and Sonja is a Registered Nurse.
Kevin has been involved in a variety of roles at Mountain View. He serves as a worship assist, has served previously as council president, been a youth leader, and most recently served as chair of Pastor Eric’s call committee.
Both Kevin and Sonja enjoy playing golf, traveling, and being outdoors.
Kevin believes serving in leadership is a privilege and is both excited and hopeful for where God is leading Mountain View Lutheran Church.
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VICE-PRESIDENT Bob Yost
► I grew up in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and attended Pacific Lutheran University where I met my wife Ann. I received a Bachelor of Business Administration and spent my working career as a CPA for 46 years, retiring in 2017. Ann and I have been members of Mountain View Lutheran Church for 45 years and our three adult children all great up at MVLC.
I have enjoyed a variety of roles at MVLC in the past, including President of the Church Council, treasurer for 12 years, and served on various committees. I am currently Chair of the Fiscal Board of the SWWA Synod and just completed a stint as an interim treasurer for the SWWA Synod as well. My wife, Ann, was also instrumental in the operation of the Edgewood Nourish Food Bank on campus.
I also have a passion for volunteer work, including serving on various hospital boards in the Puget Sound area.
My children are scattered around the US and Ann and I enjoy visiting them and particularly our two grandchildren in Arizona. I enjoy golf and working in my yard, particularly my garden.
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TREASURER Jason Cornell
► Jason, along with his wife Aidan, grew up in Tacoma. They met in high school in 1998, were married in 2005, and have been members of Mountain View since 2007 when Aidan was baptized. Their son Tristan was born and baptized the following year in 2008 and son Camdon in 2010. Aidan serves as a mentor within Rock Ministry and both boys actively participate in MVLC youth activities.
Jason began serving on Church Council in 2016, eventually serving as the congregation’s Vice President before transitioning to Treasurer. He graduated from Eastern Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and holds a Master’s Certification in Project Management.
After spending 14 years at Boeing, Jason was called to pursue a life of service in the non-profit world and is the Site Director for the Step by Step Foundation in Puyallup. He also serves as an Executive Board Member at Mountain View Community Center, is on the Advisory Council at the Step by Step Foundation, and represents the Mt. Rainier Conference of the ELCA Southwestern Washington Synod to Pacific Lutheran University.
The Cornell Family enjoys camping in our fifth-wheel trailer. They average at least five trips per year and spent much of the 2020 pandemic home schooling from their trailer. In addition to camping, the family enjoys sports, video games, volunteering, and relaxing in the backyard.
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Fred Albert
► My wife Meleney and I have lived in Edgewood for 38 years and been members of this community of faith for 35 years. We have three adult children: Chris, Carin, and Jeff.
Through Carin and her husband Ryan, we have been blessed with two grandchildren: Grace and Jude. Recently Carin and Ryan have moved to Edgewood, so we are able to be part of their lives.
I’m retired and have a wide range of interests that range from helping my wife around the house (puttering), brewing, beekeeping, volunteering in various activities including building soup kits at the food bank and volunteering at Mount Rainier National Park, being part of MVLC Peace & Justice Ministry Group, and more recently joining the Men’s Bible Study on Saturdays.
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Mary Beth Dahl
► Mary Beth grew up in Puyallup and Edgewood, attending Karshner Elementary School, Edgemont Junior High, and Puyallup High School. Her parents, Art and Lucille, joined the church in the early 1960s, and she remembers attending worship service, Sunday School, and Christmas pageants in the Chapel.
After three years of study at the UW, Mary Beth finally graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Southern Maine. College and work and various events took her away from her faith life for a long time, but she is deeply happy to be back.
Mary Beth has been a member of the congregation at MVLC since 2018, and has served as communion assistant, lector, greeter, and usher (still in training), as well as “backstage” stints with the kitchen experts. This spring she started learning to play handbells.
Recently retired from many, many, many years of full-time work, mostly in the legal field, she’s adjusting to new ways of looking at life and freedoms and possibilities. This is an exciting time for the mission and ministry of Mountain View Lutheran Church. Mary Beth is honored to have the opportunity to be more involved in its service.
With God all things are possible.
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Jenny Grayum
► Jenny is a long-time member of Mountain View Lutheran Church. She and her three brothers began attending church here with parents Barb and Ed back in 1977. Baptisms, youth groups, Christmas plays, Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible Schools, community work, and weddings have all been a part of her Mountain View journey. In 2005, she and Michael Grayum married at Mountain View. They have two school-aged children, Kate and Brian, who were both baptized at the church. Jenny has a degree in Sociology from Seattle University where she ran college cross country, and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington. She has worked in Ohio and Washington DC on anti-hunger programs, and continues to work in social services in Washington.
Jenny has been involved in a variety of roles at Mountain View over the years, including teaching Sunday School, mentoring in Rock Ministry, being a Deacon with her mom and assisting with Seafarer Advent Adventures. She is excited and honored to serve on the Council. Jenny’s passion for bringing people together and helping inspire positive change, are what motivated her to be on Council. She takes this council responsibility very seriously and is excited to support the congregation while also personally growing and learning.
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Karen Hansen
► Karen and her husband Rick joined Mountain View Lutheran Church in 1980. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, Washington on August 19, 1972. Their four children (Gina, Angela Olson, Erik, and Darren) attended Sunday School and were confirmed at MVLC. They have three granddaughters who live in Edgewood, one grandson who lives in Switzerland, and four granddogs.
In addition to getting a BA in Education and an MA in Education Administration at Pacific Lutheran University, Karen did doctoral work at Seattle Pacific University. Karen retired after 40 years in education, most of them in education administration in the Puyallup School District, and the first few years teaching and doing administrative work in the Renton School District and at Renton Technical College.
Karen and her husband are avid powerboaters and like to spend their summers cruising throughout the Broughton Islands in British Columbia aboard the Dawn Marie. Since the borders closed a couple summers ago, their cruising is limited to the beautiful waters of Puget Sound. Karen is Vice President of the Shipmates women’s organization at the Tacoma Yacht Club, secretary of the UFKB&S Finnish Lodge, a PEO, and a longtime Rotarian. As an avid reader, Karen is a member of three book clubs and is an active volunteer in various other community organizations.
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Skip Harrison
► Skip and his wife Janice have been members of Mountain View Lutheran Church for more than 30 years. They have 2 grown children and two grandchildren living in Tacoma. Skip grew up in Winnetka, IL and came to the Pacific Northwest to attend and graduate from the University of Puget Sound. He works at National Barricade in traffic safety.
Skip enjoys reading a good book, boating, fishing, hunting, and spending time with family and friends.
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Megan Hutton
► Megan and her family came to Mountain View when they moved to Edgewood in 2013. She grew up in Renton in the Methodist Church and Lee in Montana in the ELCA. They met at Pacific Lutheran University on a blind date, while studying broadcast journalism and English literature. Lee and Megan married in 2006. Lee is a train conductor with BNSF. Their kids Colin, 13, and Alison, 10, attend Puyallup schools. The family are big fans of the Cornerstone group! The friendships, game nights, group events, Sunday school, and camping trips really make Mountain View feel like home.
Megan is the General Manager of Pierce County Television with a twenty-year career in video production and is a two-time Emmy winner. She enjoys helping with the sound board, supporting the Cornerstone family group, and participated on the Alive Committee, and Call Committee for Pastor Eric. Service to the congregation and strengthening our church community is very important to Megan. Church has always been her second family.
The Huttons like to visit National Parks, camp, cook, read, play soccer, rock out to music, cheer on the Kraken, and work in the garden.
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Dan Lysne
► Dan and his family have been members at Mountain View Lutheran for five years. Dan and his wife Mari are alumni of Pacific Lutheran University. Dan studied finance and education at PLU and completed his PhD in educational leadership at University of Washington. Both Dan and Mari work at the same middle school that their children Jonas and Elsa attend. Dan has recently served on the pastoral call committee, youth ministry coordinator interview team, and worship and music committee.
Dan and his family enjoy reading, travelling, music, spending time with friends, and enjoying theatre together.
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John Meagher
► John and his wife Karin have been members of Mountain View Lutheran Church since 2002. Both Karin and John are teachers at Federal Way High School, of which both of their children have/are attending.
John graduated and played football at Western Washington University in Bellingham Washington. He was the head football coach at FWHS for 25 years before retiring from that position in 2019. He is now the head golf coach and assistant track coach at FWHS.
John enjoys golfing, traveling, “Traegering,” and watching his kids play the various sports they are playing.
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Becky Schaefer
► I have lived in Puyallup for the majority of my adult life, however I claim Eastern Washington as home by way of San Diego. I earned a BS from Washington State University, where I met my husband Chris. I fell into research as an undergraduate, and now work in pediatric clinical research. I am a mom and a scientist, with a strong desire for facts, and open-mindedness. I love training animals, cuddling with our Doberman Duke, and getting my hands dirty in the garden.
My husband Chris and I grew up active in different denominations, but could not accept each other’s church. Around the time our oldest was born in 2013, we agreed the Lutheran Church was a good compromise. The people and the music are why we chose Mountain View as our home base, baptizing our three children here. Our family is active in Cornerstone and Rock Ministry. I served on the most recent call committee for Pastor Eric. It was a great opportunity to serve the church in a way that would benefit our community for years to come.
Go Cougs!
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Ken Swanson
► My name is Ken Swanson, and I’m returning to the Church Council after a break. My wife Sandi and I have been members here at Mountain View for about 20 years. We are constantly thankful for the loving faith community we found here.
Our son and daughter-in-law live in Oregon. They have given us four beautiful grand babies. We get great joy from spending time with them.
I grew up in Southern Idaho, and later Southern California. I came to Washington following my second tour in Vietnam.
I am a graduate of the University of Washington. I retired from the Seattle Police Department as a detective, and spent another nine years as a criminal investigator for the Pierce County Prosecutor.
Since retirement I have returned to painting and drawing, primarily working in watercolor and charcoal. I also enjoy taking classes at the University of Washington, and serving the church.
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CONTACT
► CONTACT members of the MVLC Church Council at churchcouncil@mtviewlutheran.org.
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COUNCIL MINUTES
2023 COUNCIL MINUTES
► READ the 011723 meeting minutes.
► READ the 022123 meeting minutes.
► READ the 032123 meeting minutes.
► READ the 062023 meeting minutes.
► READ the 071823 meeting minutes.
► READ the 081523 meeting minutes.
2022 COUNCIL MINUTES
► READ the 010422 meeting minutes.
► READ the 011822 meeting minutes.
► READ the 021522 meeting minutes.
► READ the 031522 meeting minutes.
► READ the 041922 meeting minutes.
► READ the 051722 meeting minutes.
► READ the 061822 meeting minutes.
► READ the 071922 meeting minutes.
► READ the 081622 meeting minutes.
► READ the 092022 meeting minutes.
► READ the 101822 meeting minutes.
► READ the 111522 meeting minutes.
► READ the 121322 meeting minutes.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
► READ the 020920 meeting minutes.
► READ the 081920 meeting minutes.
► READ the 012421 meeting minutes.
► READ the 052321 meeting minutes.
► READ the 112121 meeting minutes.
► READ the 013022 meeting minutes.
► READ the 052222 meeting minutes.
► READ the 112022 meeting minutes.
► READ the 052123 meeting minutes.