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REV. VERN L. KLINGMAN, D.T. PASTOR AT GOLDEN'S METHODIST CHURCH, 1952 - 1954. WESLEY MINISTER, 1949 - 1952 |
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Vern's Career after Golden | Bibliography
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Early Years...
Vern L. Klingman grew up on a farm 6 miles south of Chappell, Nebraska.
Following graduation from Chappell High School, Vern was drafted into
World War II (WWII), and survived the war in the Pacific.
Vern felt the call to preach in July, 1946. It was at the
University of Denver that Vern met Patricia Weller. They married
August 19, 1948 at the University Park Methodist Church.
For the next nine months Pat and Vern were Youth Workers at the
Grand Avenue Methodist Church. Both graduated from the
University of Denver in 1949. 1
Campus Ministries |
 Rev. Vern Klingman, D.T. |
| In 1949, Rev. L. Gerald Burris, pastor of the Golden Methodist Church, asked Rev. Rufus Baker, Golden's District Superintendent, to appoint Vern to Golden for Campus Ministry. Pat and Vern lived in the Fellowship House (the former parsonage) from which they also janitored the church. The Klingmans were honored to be living in the same house where Pat's grandparents and father Hans had once lived! Patricia's grandfather was the Rev. W.D. Waller, who had pastored the Golden Methodist Church from 1914 - 1916! Pat and Vern were alotted one room for use as a bedroom and were allowed use of the kitchen and other rooms when not in use by the church! Vern comments? | ||
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It was with the help of School of Mines students that Vern and Pat
launched a program for the Boys Industrial School. This program
was similar to what would later become known as the Big Brothers
movement. The Klingman's enlisted the help of nearly 75 Mines students --
each of whom 'sponsored' a boy. Vern would tell the Mines students,
"Don't worry if they run. Just take one shopping, hiking, to a ball game, or whatever you happen to be doing."It generally worked. Some boys did escape -- but there were vast benefits for the others. One boy that Vern sponsored borrowed Vern's beat-up car, without permission, and drove it to Leadville to see his Dad -- where he also left the car! To retrive his car, two School of Mines students drove Vern to Leadville on a bitter winter Saturday. Vern quickly came to realize that the car heater wasn't working. Vern nearly froze in a blizzard on the return trip across South Park. Vern noted that in 1950 there were no places to stop and warmup. 1 |
| Pastoring the Golden Methodist Church... The Korean War erupted in September 1951. Rev. Gerry Burris' annual salary of $2600 would increase to $8000 if he resumed his World War II (WWII) Chaplain's Commission -- which he did. Rev. Klingman handled the pulpit in November and December of 1951, and was appointed Senior Pastor by Bishop Phillips in January, 1952. Bishop Phillips saved $600 in the process as Vern's annual salary was only $2000! Portions of Golden's 1952 church facility dated back to 1859, and Golden was a growing church. By autumn, 1952, Golden Methodists had launched a funding effort for a new education building. By November, 1952, $39,000 had been pledged over three years, of which $10,000 was cash. |
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On December 12, 1952, Vern and Patricia's first child, Valorie, was born.
Three days later she died of congenital problems. Rev. Alex
Bryans, a friend of the Klingmans, helped Vern and Pat scatter
Valorie's ashes on Lookout Mountain. Immediately afterwards they
applied for adoption.
The Klingmans recall that Golden's Sunday School program was wonderful.
Vern remembered Mrs. Florence McCoy who led the childern's section.
Florence's hearing was impaired -- but not her love!
The Youth Fellowship groups and summer camps were also great.
Golden's Methodist Church kept growing as many new families joined.
In June, 1953, Vern was offered the church appointment in Loveland,
Colorado. The $4000 salary at Loveland was very appealing, but it
seemed unfair to Vern to leave Golden so soon after having started
a building program. In addition, Vern was finishing his Doctor of
Theology requirements at the Iliff School of Theology.
"We declined, and Bishop Phillips accepted, saying, 'It won't be held against you.' And it wasn't"Vern recalled other aspects of the Golden Methodist Church in 1953: "Vic Bauman was our choir director and the choir sang so well for services and special events. We also had such wonderful organists. How I recall one Sunday when a heckler stood and shouted just after I finished preaching. I just announced a hymn and Professor Ivan Hebel, without hesitation, blared the organ and the heckler left amid our singing!"Golden's Campus Ministry continued with seminarians leading it, including Royal and Ruth Marty, Donald and Margaret Morris, Dwight and Joan Townsen, and Gordon and Larue Benesh. Vern called these seminary students outstanding leaders. Each went on to distinguished careers in Dakota, Louisiana, Oregon, and Colorado. In January, 1954 the Klingman's adopted son Paul Bryan. Vern noted "...Golden members helped us through the grief of losing Valorie, and they cheered us as we chose Paul for our family!"By May, 1954, membership in Golden's Methodist Church had doubled. In addition, the congregation had broken ground for the new education building, which later would become part of the Holland House. Bishop Rev. Glenn Phillips had other plans for Vern Klingman, however - and in June, 1954, Vern and Patricia were appointed Denver's Emmanuel Methodist Church. It fell to Rev. Delbert Paulson to continue in leading Golden's growing church. |
| Vern's Career after Golden... Emmanuel needed building and the Klingman's immediately began a fund-raising effort. That finished in 1956. Vern earned his PhD from Iliif in August, 1957. And God was blessing a growing Klingman family. Daughter Nancy was born on April 23, 1955, and son Stephen on October 5, 1957. |
 Above: Rev. Vern and Patricia Klingman |
| In June, 1959, with Emmanuel's building almost paid off, Vern and Patricia were appointed to the First Methodist Church in Billings, Montana. It was at Billings First Methodist -- now Billings First United Methodist Church -- that Vern finished his career, serving as Senior Pastor for 26 years. During that time the congregation built facilities that would have cost over four-million dollars by 1999! The Klingman family also grew while at Billings. Daughter Candy was born on there on June 11, 1961. Rev. Vern Klingman retired in 1985 following 40 years of ordained ministry. They continue to reside in Billings. 1 | |
| Bibliography | ||
| 1 | Patricia and Rev. Vern L. Klingman, D.T. | |
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Materials provided to the Golden First United Methodist Church prior to the 140th Anniversary Celebration of Golden Methodism. Spring, 1999. |
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Last Revised: March 30, 2005.