Benter recalls 40-plus years of music at St. Matthew

     There is nothing Junelle (Lehmann) Benter can’t recall from her 40 years as the organist at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Monticello.

     “I’ve missed very few Sundays here,” she confessed. “Maybe only once a year.”

     Before becoming the church’s official organist, Benter spent many years singing in her hometown church.

     “I’ve been a member of this church for years,” she said, having been baptized, confirmed and married at St. Matthew. Two of Benter’s own children were also married in the church that carries deep family roots on the Lehmann side. Benter’s grandfather, Fred Lehmann was one of the church’s founding members.

     “My parents were also lifelong members,” she added.

     Music in general runs deep in Benter’s life.

     “I love music,” she said, plain and simple. “Music is my passion.”

     In the mid-1960s, Benter accompanied her confirmation class each week on the piano, led by then-Pastor Anton Kirkegaard.

     It wasn’t until 1968, Benter’s senior year of high school, that she lent her voice to the church with her first solo, “Great Is Jehovah (The Omnipotence)” by Franz Schubert.

     After high school, Benter attended Wartburg College where she majored in Music Education/Voice. She would return to perform at St. Matthew from time to time during the holidays.

     “I’ve been singing here since 1968 and I’m still singing here,” she said looking out at the sanctuary from the organ loft.

     The holidays were, and continue to be, a special time for Benter, who enjoys playing the classic Christmas hymns. In fact, she said she most enjoys the traditional church hymns.

     “I’ve enjoyed the ability to play my music in praise of God,” she said. “The traditional, classic hymns are my outlet of relaxation, my way to express myself.”

     Benter’s traditional holiday hymn is “O Holy Night.” She’s sung it as a solo, but also as a duet with fellow churchgoers Wally Sundet and Harland Hetzler, and her oldest daughter Shannon.

     “There’s not a Christmas carol I don’t know how to play,” she said.

     She said she is learning to adapt to the more contemporary church music.

     When Benter moved back to the Monticello area in 1977, she was asked to become the church’s full-time organist/accompanist when Irma Adix retired.

     “I was originally asked to play at Saturday night services,” she said. Now, Benter plays on Sundays only.

     Over the years at St. Matthew, Benter has held many musical roles aside from organist/pianist and vocalist: soloist, church choir director, Sunday School music director, Bible School music director, and liturgist (as needed). Her role has extended beyond the Sunday services to weddings, funerals, and special events. Benter has even sung with her husband, Jim, on occasion.

     “I’ve played for almost every church family’s wedding and funeral here,” said Benter of the long line of generations at St. Matthew. She and Jim even sang at their daughter Sheralyn’s wedding.

     She recalled the history of pastors of St. Matthew she’s worked with in preparation for Saturday and Sunday services: Harold Naig, Bob Slade, Robert Hanneman, Charles Johnson, Darryl Larson, and now David Raemisch; in addition to many interim ministers and substitute clergy.

     “Each had his own way of serving our congregation and involving music,” recalled Benter. “As organist, this has certainly been an interesting journey for the past 40 years!”

     Aside from changes in leadership of the church, Benter has also seen changes in her role and the organ. In 1999-2000, major repairs and updates were made to the organ. The Carillon Organ Chimes were donated and added to the instrument.

     “We now have a beautiful, easy to play, computerized pipe organ,” boasted Benter.

     Over the years through childhood into adulthood, Benter has mastered numerous instruments: accordion, organ, piano, trumpet, and French horn. She still owns her mother’s organ.

     “I still play it at home,” she said.

     Benter said, today, not many young people are interested in learning to play the organ.

     “It’s not popular to play anymore,” she said. “Hopefully the younger generation will continue to grow in this field and keep our pipe organ playing for years to come.”

     Aside from playing music, over the years Benter has also taught and led music in many area schools, K-12. She also directed the Monticello Community Choir for the Monticello Sesquicentennial in 1986.

     Another community highlight of Benter’s was directing a 53-member community choir in Handel’s “Messiah” at St. Matthew in December of 1986.

     After teaching for 33 ½ years, Benter retired from Cascade High School in 2012. Since then, she has taken on substitute teaching jobs in the area, including Sacred Heart School in Monticello.

     “Music will always be a part of my life,” smiled Benter. She said her love of music stems from her parents, Earl and Celena Lehmann, and even continues into the third generation of the Benter family.

     “I will continue playing here until I can’t do it anymore,” she said.