Already 50 Years Old 1990's

Then and Now

  • In Summer of 1943 the Camp served:

    • 247 campers during the one and only week of camp.

  • In 1993 the Camp served:

    • 1,412 summer campers.
    • 335 day campers in churches across Montana. 
    • 2,861 retreaters in the non-summer months.
Brad Abbott, Summer Program directed the summer staff as they sang to guests in celebration of the Camp's 50th anniversary. This moment highlighted the dedication and talents of the staff while honoring the Camp's long-standing tradition of fostering community through faith, music, and shared experiences. It was a heartfelt tribute to five decades of ministry and to all the people who created and sustained the Camp with their financial gifts and volunteered time.
Brad Abbott, Summer Program directed the summer staff as they sang to guests in celebration of the Camp's 50th anniversary. This moment highlighted the dedication and talents of the staff while honoring the Camp's long-standing tradition of fostering community through faith, music, and shared experiences. It was a heartfelt tribute to five decades of ministry and to all the people who created and sustained the Camp with their financial gifts and volunteered time.

The 50th Anniversary of the Camp ministry was celebrated June 19, 1993.

Guests from across Montana came to celebrate and Speakers from across the decades shared stories of their experiences at Flathead Lutheran Camp: Rev. Ocee Johnson, 1940s; Rev. Olaf Borge, 1950s; Sharon Engh, 1960s; Rev. Paul Pfankuch, 1970s; Rev. Gary Cockrell, 1980s; Ralph Baldani, camp corporation treasurer shared the solid financial footing of the camp and Merv Eriksson, Chairman of the Partners shared the financial vision for the future ministry of the camp.

  • Rev. Ocee Johnson, was on the first Camp Board and shared stories about working to prepare for that first week in 1943.
    Rev. Ocee Johnson, was on the first Camp Board and shared stories about working to prepare for that first week in 1943.
  • Rev. Olaf Borge explained how the Camp was organized through the 50s and his experiences as a Camp leader and teacher in the summers.
    Rev. Olaf Borge explained how the Camp was organized through the 50s and his experiences as a Camp leader and teacher in the summers.
  • Ralph Baldani, long time Camp corporation treasurer, shared stories of the Camp's financial strengths and successes over the years.
    Ralph Baldani, long time Camp corporation treasurer, shared stories of the Camp's financial strengths and successes over the years.
  • 50th Anniversary speaker, Sharon Engh, shared the meaningful experiences she had a camper in the 50s as well as how important the camp ministry had been to her family through the years. Her father, Dr. Reidar Daehlin, was a speaker at the first camp week in 1943.
    50th Anniversary speaker, Sharon Engh, shared the meaningful experiences she had a camper in the 50s as well as how important the camp ministry had been to her family through the years. Her father, Dr. Reidar Daehlin, was a speaker at the first camp week in 1943.
  • Rev. Paul Pfankuch, Director from 1973-1979, recalled the exciting challenges and rewards of being the first full-time year around Camp Director.
    Rev. Paul Pfankuch, Director from 1973-1979, recalled the exciting challenges and rewards of being the first full-time year around Camp Director.
  • Merv Eriksson, Missoula, MT, is Chairman of the Partners, a group of individuals who financially support the camp. He thanked the guests for their gracious gifts to the camp and encouraged them to continue to support this important ministry.
    Merv Eriksson, Missoula, MT, is Chairman of the Partners, a group of individuals who financially support the camp. He thanked the guests for their gracious gifts to the camp and encouraged them to continue to support this important ministry.
  • 50th Anniversary celebration registration
    50th Anniversary celebration registration
  • Guests at the 50th Anniversary celebration enjoy the music and the stories of how the camp ministry grew from a vision in 1942 to the reality of land and to the vibrancy of serving 4,608 children and adults in 1993.
    Guests at the 50th Anniversary celebration enjoy the music and the stories of how the camp ministry grew from a vision in 1942 to the reality of land and to the vibrancy of serving 4,608 children and adults in 1993.
  • Guests enjoy cake and Ice cream at the close of the 50th celebration.
    Guests enjoy cake and Ice cream at the close of the 50th celebration.
  • Brad Abbott, Program Director
    Brad Abbott, Program Director

    Brad Abbott, a music educator, began his ministry at FLBC as the summer Program Director and later became the full-time camp director. 

  • Les and Shirley McKean camp managers
    Les and Shirley McKean camp managers

    Les and Shirley McKean of Libby, MT. became the Camp Managers bringing skills of banking, logging and hospitality

  • Jim Kittilsby, Director of Development
    Jim Kittilsby, Director of Development

    Jim Kittilsby of Pacific Lutheran University and a baseball fan, joined the staff as the first Director of Development.  With Jim’s vision of ministry well into the future he organized the trust committee and focused on growing the endowment funds.

Dinah Helgeson, right, Director of the North West Camp
Dinah Helgeson, right, Director of the North West Camp

The North West Choir Camp was launched in 1994, by Dinah Helgeson as Director and continued for 27 years, attracting choir directors and campers from Alaska to Minnesota.

Dr. Marva Dawn
Dr. Marva Dawn

Throughout the 90s Dr. Marva Dawn, theologian, author, and teacher led the summer staff in Bible study giving them a scriptural grounding and spiritual direction for what they would teach children in the summer. 

Ocee Johnson House
Ocee Johnson House

With a major gift from the John and Marilyn (Johnson) Olson family, the Ocee Johnson house was built at the entrance of camp, providing a residence for year around camp staff.

With the guidance Mosaic Architecture of Helena, MT, a new master plan for the Camp was developed to upgrade old buildings and build new ones.

The “The Half Century Campaign” was launched under the direction of Dick Sayther of Gronlund, Sayther, and Brunkow Associates to raise funds for the buildings.

High ropes is a favorite activity of middle school and high school campers to challenge themselves.
High ropes is a favorite activity of middle school and high school campers to challenge themselves.

With the exception of cutting trees in the big field for lumber to build the dining hall and cabins in the 1940s and horse logging in the 1980s, the Camp’s land had remained largely untouched by logging. In the 1990s, however, a forest thinning project was initiated to reduce fire risk, alleviate overcrowding, and create space for new trees to thrive.

  • A canoe paddle before campfire
    A canoe paddle before campfire
  • Rock climbing is a favorite high school camp.
    Rock climbing is a favorite high school camp.
  • Backpacking smiles on an all girls trip
    Backpacking smiles on an all girls trip
  • The ropes course teaches safety and encourages challenges.
    The ropes course teaches safety and encourages challenges.
  • Executive Director, Rev. Gary Cockrell speaks at an Annual Camp Corporation meeting.
    Executive Director, Rev. Gary Cockrell speaks at an Annual Camp Corporation meeting.
  • Sunrise worship service on the waterfront
    Sunrise worship service on the waterfront

In 1999:

Brad Abbott produced Flathead Lutheran Camp’s first music CD, Prayer of the Children, featuring the camp staff as vocalists and instrumentalists. This was followed by three more albums:

Holiness– The Sounds of the Summer - 2000

Light in the Darkness– An Advent and Christmas Albumin 2004

Shine– Endless Summer - 2008 featuring camp music over several years.

New camps and Retreats in the 90s included: 

The Northwest Choir Camp, Mountain bike trips, Sea kayaking trips, Mission Mountain canoe and backpack trips, a Canoe trip in the Bowren Lake Provincial Park in BC, Canada, A service trip to Seattle to help cook in a homeless shelter, Libby, MT Quilters Retreat,  Northridge Lutheran Church men’s work retreat.

At the end of each week at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, camp staff gather in the Amphitheater to sing a heartfelt blessing to the campers and their parents during the closing worship service. This tradition creates a meaningful and emotional conclusion to the camp experience, celebrating the connections formed, the spiritual growth achieved, and the community built during the week. It underscores the camp’s mission of sharing the Gospel, fostering faith and creating lasting memories in this place for grace.