This scholarship fund was established in 2015 by Esther Raasch (b.1933) upon the death of her husband, Virgil (1928-2015).
Virgil DMLC ’54 served as a teacher, organist, and choir director for 41 years at three different WELS congregations: Zion-Mission SD, St. Matthew-Benton Harbor MI, and Emmaus-Phoenix. At Zion and St. Matthew, he served as principal as well.
Esther (nee Lueker) DMLHS ’51 taught one year at St. Luke-Kenosha WI after two years of study at Dr. Martin Luther College. She also taught briefly at Grace-St. Joseph MI and in the public school in Mission SD. For most of her life, she worked in insurance, banking, and local government.
“In thankfulness for all the God-given blessings,” Esther said, “it was our desire to establish a scholarship which would help support future called workers to share the gospel.”
Income from this fund is distributed to two recipients each year. One recipient is an MLC education major who excels in playing organ. The other is a preseminary student who demonstrates financial need.
