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Pastor Russell Howen, named Pastor Emeritus by our congregation, serves Trinity Lutheran with preaching at our three Sunday services, teaching two Bible clases each week, providing leadership, guidance, and counseling to organizations, committees, and individuals in the parish.  Pastor Howen was ordained as a parish pastor in July 1957.  He served congregations in Nebraska and California during which time he developed and organized a mission church.  He served his church and community in a number of capacities:  Protestant chaplain at John F. Kennedy University, board member of the Lions Blind Center of Diablo Valley, member of the Martinez Recreation and Park Commission, Pastoral Advisor to the Nebraska District Walther League, Pastor Counsler to the California-Nevada-Hawaii Lutheran Women's Missionary League, Circuit Counselor and more.

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Beverly was given a Hammond home organ at the age of ten by her parents, and credits God for giving her the talent to become a church organist at the age of fourteen, when she began playing for a small country church on an electrified pump organ.  While earning her Bachelor of Arts degree at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio she studied organ with Marjorie Jackson, she gained experience as a substitute organist in Columbus churches, and regulary played for Trinity Lutheran Seminary Vespers.  She furthered her organ study st Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, and at California Lutheran University, Thousand Oakes, California.

After she married, Beverly continued her organ work in various congregations in Ohio, Connecticut and California before coming to Nevada with her husband, John, in 1999.   Beverly served as Trinity's substitute organist from 1999 to 2001 and then became Music Director in 2001. While living in Connecticut, she served as Dean of the Danbury Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, organizing a Children's Choir Festival with the noted Alec Wyton as Guest Director.  She was accompanist for the Charles Pope Choristers in Ridgefield, Connecticut.  While serving as Director of Church Relations for nine years at California Lutheran University, she became Assistant University Organist and enjoyed playing the magnificent 39-rank Steiner-Reck Tracker Organ in the Samuelson Chapel.

While she has had organist positions almost continually, she also worked at Menlo College, Atherton, California. as assistant to the President of the College before retiring to Nevada, having served in that same capacity at California Lutheran University for a few years prior a move to northern California and the position at Menlo College.

Beverly and John have five children and especially enjoy their nine grandchildren.