Pastor Robert Onkka became a part of the pastoral staff at Bethel when he
retired in 1987 and moved to Zumbrota.  Asked to "help out" for a few months
after two pastors had left the staff he has been here ever since.  Working
part-time his principle ministry is calling on the home- bound and nursing
homes,  some teaching, and "filling in the cracks".  He grew up in Windom,
MN. and graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, and Luther Seminary, St.
Paul. His wife Dolores died in 1989.  He has three children, ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren (at present). In the years of his active ministry he served parishes at rural Rice Lake, WI; Truman, MN; Valders, WI; and Baldwin, WI. He now lives in Rochester.