Leadership

Pastor Bob Ruedebusch is a recently retired pastor in the Dakotas Annual
Conference of the United Methodist Church. Pastor Bob served United Methodist
churches at Huron Riverview/Virgil, Canton, Rapid City Canyon Lake, and Sioux
Falls First. Bob twice acted as the Southwest District Superintendent. Pastor
Bob’s strength areas include worship/preaching/music, church finances, staff
leadership, and pastoral care.

Bob was born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD, graduating from Lincoln High School in
1974. He attended and graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University with a
Bachelor of Music Education in 1978. He served one year as a Youth Pastor in
Iowa Falls, Iowa. Bob graduated from Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado
in 1982. He was Ordained as a Full Elder and Full Membership in the Dakotas
Annual Conference of United Methodist Church in 1984.

Bob actively serves his community. Bob has been a part of Habitat for Humanity,
United Way, Red Cross, Carroll Institute (Mental Health), Ministerial Associations,
and the Little League Board.

Pastor Bob is honored and excited to be a part of the Rapid City First Church faith
community over the next months!

A native of Nebraska, Kotti and her husband Dennis, relocated to Rapid City 18 years ago.  Kotti has been in banking for over 25 years and hopes that this experience will add value to her roll as Business Administrator.  Kotti was previously a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sidney but feels she has found her church home here in Rapid City.  She has met many wonderful individuals and has enjoyed many studies with great women in the congregation.  Kotti and Dennis have 4 children and 8 grandchildren.  Although being a parent was a blessing being a grandmother is a blessing beyond words.  Kotti enjoys golfing, spending time with friends and family in her spare time.  Especially the time spent with Dennis.

Anne Torgerson is a graduate of South Dakota State University. A native of Watertown, SD she has made Rapid City her home with her husband Peder, three children (Hans, Gretchen and Kai) and one dog (Gracie). She enjoys helping others discover all of the surprising ways God reveals his great love for each of us.

My name is Lauren Holderfield. I am from North Carolina, we are military family. I have two girls, a husband, and two dogs. I've been a teacher in MMO for the last two years and have worked in the nursery for the past year. I am president of the local MOMS CLUB of Rapid City, an active member of the Grandview PTA, volunteer soccer coach, and a dance mom.

Hannah O'Donnell moved to Rapid City, South Dakota with her husband and airman, Matt in 2021. She brings a wide array of strengths with her background in working with children of all ages, multimedia communications, and years of volunteering at her hometown church in Jacksonville, Florida. As the director of our preschool age program MMO,  Hannah enjoys leading the teachers and getting to build a relationship with all the kids. She welcomes military families from Box Elder, as well as other families in the area. She coordinates the youth ministry, and believes the youth are a vital part of the body of Christ. Knowing from her own experience as a challenging teenager, developing a foundation with God and being surrounded by a loving church family is important. Her other role involves sharing the heart of Rapid City UMC on multiple digital media platforms. 

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Parker Knox, a now-retired former teacher and journalist, first came to Rapid City in 2004 because family members were already here.  He immediately chose First UMC because of the music program---the organ and the two choirs.  He has stayed as a choir member and as a substitute organist ever since because of the people who comprise this church.