School, graduating in 1970. She was a member of choir, nurse’s club and participated in speech. She was a member of the Decorah Debs 4-H Club. Debra attended Area I Vocational Technical School in Calmar, IA, graduating in 1971 with a degree in interior decorating. She has pursued an interesting career: Lang’s Shoe Store; Drs. Juffer and Meehan, optometrists; home day care; John Cline Elementary School; Keystone Area Education Agency; Nisse Nursery School; and East Side Grade School. She has also taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.

Debra was married to Roy Prestsater 2 Nov 1973 by Pastor Alden Hovda at Decorah Lutheran. Roy is the son of Arne and Edna Prestsater of Glenwood Twp. He was born at Waukon, IA and was baptized at Glenwood Lutheran Church 15 Dec 1949 by Pastor Norman Dversdal. Roy was confirmed 16 May 1965 by Pastor Olaf Brandt. He attended rural schools, namely Lee, Rocksvold, Baker and Sheggrude. From 6th grade on he attended school in Decorah, graduating in 1968 from Decorah High School. During his sophomore and junior years he worked part time at the Weigle Tree Farm at Freeport. He was a member of outstanding track and cross country teams in high school. He enrolled in the Building Construction course at Area I Vocational Technical School, graduating in 1970. Roy was drafted into the army in Jun 1970 and served 14 months in Germany. He was discharged Jan 1972. He worked for the lowa D.O.T from 1972 to 1979. He and Debra operated a rock analysis business 1979-85 and Roy also worked for the Milwaukee Railroad 1981-82. In 1986 he began working as a Quality Control Rock Technician for Roverud Construction Co., headquartered in Spring Grove, MN, and is still employed there.

Roy and Debra have 2 daughters: Elly and Kara, both born at the LaCrosse Lutheran Hospital. Ellv Sue was baptized by Pastor Hovda 24 Dec 1975. Elly was a member of Girl Scouts and played violin in the school orchestra and also plays the piano. She was confirmed at Glenwood Lutheran 5 May 1991 by Interim Pastor Norene Smith. Elly graduated from Decorah High School in 1994. She is in her sophomore year at Concordia College, Morehead, MN, majoring in English. Kara Ann was baptized at Glenwood Lutheran 24 Dec 1981 by Pastor James Jensen. She is a Girl Scout and plays violin in the school orchestra. She also plays the piano.

After living in various places and building two new homes, living in them for a while and then selling them, Roy and Debra bought an old house on Decorah Avenue and remodeled it into a beautiful home, doing much of the work themselves.

Preus, Christian and Louise (Hjort)

(Paul G. Preus)

Rev. Christian Keyser Preus, President of Luther College from 1902 until his death in 1921, was born 13 Oct 1852 in Spring Prairie, Wl. He was the oldest of 6 children of Rev. Herman Amberg and Carolina Dorothea Margrethe (Linka) Keyser Preus who emigrated from Norway in 1851 and settled in Spring Prairie. At the time of the founding of Luther College in 1861 Rev. H. A. Preus was the President of the Norwegian Synod in Wl where the college was voted into existence and first located.

Christian Keyser Preus, President of Luther College,
1902-1921. ca. 1912

C. K. Preus, known affectionately by the students as “Nick” (a nickname derived from the mysteries then current in which Nick Carter was the sleuth) left Spring Prairie where he was the Pastor (as well as in Norway Grove, Lodi, Decorah (sic), Bonnet Prairie, Rio, and from time to time in Chicago) and moved to Decorah where he and his wife Louise Augusta Hjort “Lulla" lived in the house subsequently known as “Sunnyside" near the college campus. He began teaching in the preparatory division of the college until President Laur Larson retired in 1902 at which point C. K. Preus was elected President. Active in community affairs C. K. Preus was much in demand as a public speaker.

During the 19 year tenure of President Preus, much progress was made in the building of Luther College. (Only the main building existed.) The dormitory, Larson Hall, was added at first to house the students who had been living in homes and the St. Cloud Hotel. Then came the dining hall, Loyalty Hall, the gymnasium enlarged, Koren Library well on its way to completion and the Martin Luther statue installed. The English language became the classroom medium instead of Norwegian and the rigid classical curriculum was in the process of being modified.

World War I caused problems for the growth of the college. Although a Student Army Training Corps (S.A.TC.) was established on the campus for Luther students, enrollments were difficult to maintain and raising money for salaries and operating expenses was well nigh impossible. President Preus drove himself to raise the funds necessary to keep the college in operation and to expand its facilities. It was said of him “he traveled early and late, never complaining of hardships. He could sleep