Our Staff
Pastor Mark Paul Grunst
Presiding Pastor
Pastor Mark Paul Grunst was born May 9, 1955 in Fairmont, MN to Alvin "Bud" and Irma Grunst. On May 24, 1975 he married Sally Ziehm at Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, CO. Together they have six children: Katy, Amber, Sarah, Noel, Chelsea, and Mitchell.
Pastor Grunst attended Concordia College in Saint Paul, MN from 1973-1977. He graduated from there with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. He then attended and received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1977-1981.
Pastor Grunst began his ministry as the Assistant/Associate Pastor at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Broomfield, CO from 1981-1989. He also was the principal of the school, 1982-1989. From 1989-1991 he served the Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church of El Reno, OK. Pastor Grunst settled in at Mount Olive Lutheran Church here in Billings, MT in December of 1991 and has been the Pastor and Vicarage Supervisor ever since. In addition to his roles at Mount Olive, Pastor Grunst has been a member of the Concordia Theological Seminary Board of Regents in Fort Wayne, IN, 1995 - 2007. He has served as the Chairman of the Board of Regents, 2001-2004.
Donna Johns
Business Manager
Mrs. Johns has been working for Mount Olive Lutheran Church since 1999. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with majors in Accounting and Computer Information Systems from MSU-B. Donna and her husband, Mark, have three children and eleven granchildren. Mrs. Johns is known for her planning and orginizational skills. She loves to camp, read, do needlework and spend time with her family.
LaRae Talafuse
Secretary
Mrs. Talafuse graduated with a degree in Parish Administration and also majored in music. She and her husband lived in Texas for twenty years before they made Billings, MT their home. LaRae and her husband, Geoff have four children and nine grandchildren. Mrs. Talafuse loves spending time with her family.
Leadership
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John R. Suchan – President