Hazel and Albert Borson Scholarship Fund

Hazel (1914-2007) and Albert (1903-1991) Borson were lifelong members of Hope Lutheran Church. They enjoyed life on their farm and were committed to activities and groups of our church, as well as to Lutheran higher education. The Hazel and Albert Borson Scholarship is awarded to a college sophomore with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher who is attending a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Agnes Rye Scholarship

The Agnes Rye Scholarship was established in 1996 in memory of Agnes Rye (1905-1995). Agnes was an aunt of Donald Rye and her profession was nursing. According to established criteria, the recipient is to use the scholarship given in Agnes' name to further their education in a post-secondary institution in a health-related field.

The Gary B. Johnson Scholarship Fund

The Gary B. Johnson Scholarship Fund was established in 2021. Gary grew up on the family farm of his parents Gordon and Alta Johnson, with brothers Glen and Gary. A strong belief in hard work and being involved in church, school, and community activities sparked a feeling of giving back. According to the established criteria of being a full-time student and maintaining a 2.0 GPA. Interest from the fund will go to a student attending a post secondary institution in a business-related, an agriculture-related, faith-related, or a health-related career.

Hope Lutheran Educational Scholarship

Hope Lutheran Education Scholarship, which included funds from other smaller donations, was expanded with proceeds from a $40,000 irrevocable trust established by Elmer M. Weltz (1898-1981) in December of 1966. Elmer was a retired farmer living on his 160-acre farm in near poverty conditions. His very humble surroundings were a matter of choice, while public and private agencies collected money each year. It was Elmer's desire that he use his life savings to help others, including the following four agencies: Hope Lutheran Church for two scholarships, State of Minnesota for wetlands acquisition and improvements, New Tomorrow Home, a home for the mentally-handicapped in Marshall, and Southwest Minnesota State College. Elmer also gave his land to St. Olaf College, who used part of the profits to provide for his living expenses. At the time of his death in 1981, Hope Lutheran Church was one of the benefactors of what was then a $48,000 trust. Once per year, a board would meet to decide how proceeds of the investment were distributed. The pastor of Hope Lutheran was a member of the committee for the trust. After years of mismanagement of the funds by various financial institutions, the fund was depleted. In a settlement in 2007, each of the benefactors received approximately $8,000.

Norman and Lillian Larson Scholarship

Norman (1919-2008) and Lillian (1920-2003) Larson were lifelong members of Hope Lutheran Church and involved in many aspects of church life, helping as much as they were physically able to do. The Norman and Lillian Larson Scholarship was established in 2009 by Roberta and Scott Josephson in memory of their parents and is to be used by a student to further his or her education in a graduate level, post-secondary program.

Donald and Susan Rye Scholarship

The Donald (1920-1999) and Susan (1921-2003) Rye Scholarship was established in 1999. Don was a captain the U.S. Air Force in World War II. He was a farmer who was active in the Minneota community and Hope Lutheran Church, and served many years on the Minneota Board of Education. Susie was a nurse at the hospital in Marshall and they had six children. According to scholarship criteria, interest from the fund is given to a college sophomore desiring to further their education in a post-secondary institution in a business-related field, including business education and agriculture.

The Elmer Welz and Pastor John Thorstensen Hope Education Fund

The Elmer Welz and Pastor John Thorstensen Hope Education Fund began in 1966. It was a collection of small donations over the years but was expanded with the proceeds from a $40,000 irrevocable trust established by Elmer M. Welz (1898-1981) with the help of Pastor John Thorstensen in December of 1966. Elmer was a retired farmer living on his 160-acre farm, living in near poverty conditions. His very humble surroundings were a matter of choice. It was Elmer's desire that he use his life savings to help others in some way. He chose four agencies to share this gift. Hope Lutheran

Church would award two scholarships, the State of Minnesota would get funds for wetlands acquisitions and improvements, the New Tomorrow Home for the mentally challenged would receive funding and Southwest State College in Marshall would receive funding. Elmer also left much of his land to St. Olaf

College in exchange for providing his living expenses. A committee to provide oversight for distribution of these funds was established. Due to lack of oversight from the 1990s and into 2006, the fund was depleted. A settlement was reached in 2007, with each of the benefactors receiving $8,000.This money was added placed in the Hope Education Fund. The fund was renamed in 2023 to reflect the historic start of the scholarship program.