Helen Buehrle

Treasurer

Helen grew up in the Pacific Northwest.  While in college, she worked for a retail sales firm in Seattle at their corporate offices while studying business administration and accounting.  Helen moved to Colorado in 1972 and went to work for a real estate development, construction company specializing in multi-family housing.  She worked for the company for 44 years before retiring as Vice President of Finance and Investor Relations in 2016.  Helen moved to Castle Rock with her husband, Willis, in 2008.

After 40 years of marriage to my Lutheran husband, Willis, finally convinced me to become a “reformed Catholic” when we became members of Faith Lutheran almost three years ago.  Helen and Willis enjoy volunteering as needed.  Leisure time is spent enjoying foreign and domestic travel and visiting many countries around the world as well as all 50 states.

Randy is a fourth generation native Coloradan and grew up in southwest Denver. Randy was baptized and confirmed at Christ the King Lutheran Church. He graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and attended Colorado State University, where he received a bachelor of science degree in wildlife biology in 1979. That same year he joined the Denver Police Dept. He believed God called him to work with a different type of wildlife. Randy met his wife, Diane, a short time later and they were married and started a family. The family moved to the Sedalia area in 1999. Randy retired in 2017, after 38 years of service. Their son, Matt, is 30 years old and is a Captain in the US Army, currently stationed at Ft. Riley, KA. Their daughter, Cassy, is 27 years old and is currently working locally as a wildlife biology consultant. The Penn family attended Faith Lutheran Church occasionally but kept their membership at Atonement Lutheran Church in Lakewood where they were able to attend church with Randy’s mother. COVID had a big impact on Atonement, which led the family to seek membership here at Faith LC. A few weeks ago, Pastor Ebassa asked if Randy could possibly help by filling the position of president elect. After thought and prayer Randy believed this was an opportunity to help out the church and assist Darin Twete in his request.

Randy enjoys hunting, camping, and trail riding. He enjoys sports of all kinds and loves the outdoors. The Penns have 2 horses, 3 Labrador retrievers, and 1 German Shepard. Randy strongly believes that he has been blessed in many aspects of his life and tries to thank God each day for those blessings.

Nearly a Colorado native, Joe has been in Colorado since the age of 2. He grew up in Aurora and enjoyed playing all sports, reading comic books and drawing. After high school, Joe earned a degree in Economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and two master’s degrees in Operations Management and Finance, from Regis University. Although he’s worked in several fields (finance, technology, and healthcare), he knew Colorado was always the place to be.

Joe met his wife, Laura, in 1997 and began attending Faith Lutheran Church as a guest. They were married at Faith in 2002 and have grown their family to include two daughters (Kiley – 9 and Delaney – 6), who were both baptized at Faith.

Joe previously served on the Executive Council as Financial Secretary and Treasurer, respectively, and currently serves as Council Secretary. He’s also “served” on Faith’s now-defunct softball and basketball teams, as well as a few other committees and/or small groups.

When not attending one of his daughter’s numerous activities, he can be found playing with the family dog (Mikey) or watching local sports and / or bad 80s movies.  

Colleen grew up "all over" due to her dad serving in the US Army. Her family settled in Colorado Springs in the early 90's and she has called Colorado home ever since. She grew up in the Lutheran church and has been a member at Faith since 2006. Colleen attended Colorado State University, graduating with a degree in Business Administration and later earned her MBA at the University of Colorado at Denver. She's currently an underwriter for Management and Executive Liability at an insurance company. 

Colleen loves all things music and especially loves singing to God's glory at church. She is also active in the FLC Food Pantry ministry. When not working or at church, you can find her cuddled up with her kittens, Pippa and Winnie, hiking and walking around the beautiful state of Colorado, and spending time with her friends or parents and sister who live in Colorado Springs. When not in a pandemic, she loves concerts, theatre and traveling.

Brad was born in Auburn, NY and was baptized five weeks later at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Skaneateles, NY. After a couple years the Becker family found their way back to Wisconsin and their extended families. Brad grew up in Manitowoc, WI attending First Lutheran Church where he was confirmed. Brad and his mother, father and two older sisters enjoyed fishing and golfing. Indeed, Brad married his best friends little sister and golf pro’s daughter, Leanne. Brad and Leanne had two beautiful girls Anna and Lauren and then decided they’d have a third child – well God has a wonderful sense of humor and blessed them with twin boys, David and Daniel. In 2009 work brought the Becker family from Winona, MN to Castle Rock, CO where they quickly began attending Faith Lutheran church.

Back in his 20s, when working in Nashau NH, Brad joined Grace Lutheran church volunteering with the youth and then elected to the Church Council. Brad has been active in every congregation he’s been part of and is sincerely and prayerfully excited to serve Faith Lutheran as the Council’s liaison to everything regarding Worship. It is his wish that Faith offers Spirit filled worship services every week that continue to build one’s personal relationship with our Holy Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Sam Petersen has been an active member of FLC since her confirmation in 2010! Sam was heavily involved in Faith Lutheran Youth (FLY) while in high school, and has been a member of Women on the Rise Bible Study group on Monday nights for almost 4 years.

Sam was born and raised here in Colorado and graduated from Elizabeth High School in 2014. She is the only child to Dan and Julie Petersen who have been members of FLC for 20+ years. She is currently a Prior Authorization Technician for a mid-size Pharmacy Benefits manager in Centennial, CO called WellDyneRX. She is also working on getting back into school to pursue a career in Youth Ministry.

In her free time she likes to watch Netflix, go to Red Rocks shows, and explore all the adventures Colorado has to offer. Sam is a loving dog mom to a handsome pug named Duke who is such a joyful, handful and she loves dressing him in cute outfits! She is extremely excited for the learning opportunity that comes with being a council member, and she cannot wait to be a part of all the changes God has for FLC in the new decade.

Stu grew up in California, living 20 years in Southern California and 27 years in Northern California. He has a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from San Jose State University, and a master’s degree in Industrial Hygiene from Montana Tech University. He married Linda after they met in college and have two children, Adam and Lauren, son-in-law Avery, and a granddaughter, Kylie. Stu and Linda moved to Colorado in 2000 and joined Faith Lutheran shortly after.

Stu was a hospital safety officer at the VA for 10 years and industrial hygienist for Pinnacol Assurance for 18 years. He retired in March 2020.

Stu volunteers at Faith leading prayers during the grocery give away, and leads the morning zoom prayer meetings. He also volunteers at the Buddy Center caring for dogs. His role on Council is Spiritual Growth Liaison and encourages all of God’s children to pray daily as a worship offering.

Steve was in an Air Force family growing up on airbases in the south (LA, GA, & SC) as well as a
life changing 2+ years in Japan. In 1955 his father died of cancer at Lowery AFB in Denver, thus
the family moved to Boulder where some of his mother’s siblings lived. Steve did typical boy
things of that era, having a paper route, building model airplanes, playing football, having an
interest in fast cars, and devouring books at the rate of 1 per day (7 th – 10 th grade) in lieu of
doing homework. Another life changing event was signing up with the Navy Reserve at age 17
while still in high school, finally retiring 21+ years later. The old adage, “Join the Navy and see
the world”, ‘tis true. Steve graduated from the University of Colorado and fulfilled his active-
duty requirement after attending OCS in 1967. In 1973 he started his teaching career in Castle
Rock at the junior high school, retiring from Douglas County High School and Metropolitan State
College in 1999. He often says “God made me a teacher in order to pay for my sins when a
student”. Another and major life changing event was the marrying of Bev, his soulmate, best
friend, and cheer leader. Truly a match made in heaven, “Thanks be to God”.
Church was always a part of Steve’s life, attending Methodist churches while in the south,
Lutheran churches in Boulder, and then at Faith Lutheran starting 2009. Steve’s grandfather, a
Missouri Synod pastor, was a great influence on his life. One bit of advice gleaned from his
Grandpa was something he told his parishioners during the Great Depression who had very
little money but when they asked for giving advice’, just “Give ‘till it hurts,” he said. Steve has
tried to adhere to this advice.
Currently Steve volunteers driving people here-and-there for the Senior Center and he also
volunteers at the Help and Hope Center by checking out donated electrical items before they
are resold. He is an active bicyclist, still builds models, and does as much reading as time allows.
Steve’s loose definition of Stewardship is not only concerned with time, talent, and resources
that one uses in God’s service, but also touches on the care shown for all the gifts with which
God has blessed us, whether material, such as a home, car, clothing, food, and medical care, or
with Love for God, family, community, state, and nation.