DANA DONOR PROFILE

Clayton and Lila Nietfeld have learned throughout their lives that the Lord will provide and He will lead you where you need to go.

With eight grades of formal education, Clayton chose to work as a farm laborer, thus taking an indirect route to Dana College and likewise to the ministry. While he was experiencing discouraging times as a Colorado wheat farmer, area ministers pushed Clayton toward serving the church. Dr. Erwin Fritschel, president of the Central District of the American Lutheran Church, asked Clayton to serve as parish worker for the Central District, a precursor for his ministry to follow. While serving in this capacity, helping start new mission churches and also serving as a licensed lay assistant for Pastor Harold Brokering in Denver, Clayton was encouraged to set his sights on the ordained ministry.

In 1961, at age 34, the future Lutheran pastor resigned his lay assistant position, took his wife and three young children and enrolled at Dana College. He met with Dana College President Dr. Clifford Madsen, who agreed to enroll Clayton on probation.

“My spirit just said Dana was the place for me,” Clayton said. “The Lord led us there.

“We were graciously accepted and enriched by the warmth of the people of the community, First Lutheran Church, Dana College persons and events, and by many neighbors and friends who took us in,” he said.

The young family set up housekeeping within walking distance to Dana, First Lutheran Church and the grocery store. Forced to live very frugally while raising three children and paying for college, the family used less than a tank of gas in their car during that first semester at Dana.

The Nietfelds were blessed with good neighbors who had special concerns for them. In the summer and fall, they shared fruits and vegetables from their gardens that the Nietfelds were able to can and eat year-round.

Lila babysat neighborhood children while Clayton attended college and served as chaplain for Good Shepherd Home, served a little country church at Malmo, Neb., and during the summer months worked at DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge.

Even though Clayton was enrolled as a nontraditional student when it was not as customary as it is today, he was accepted by the other students, most of whom were 15 years his junior. “I think I was older than some of the professors,” he quipped. He participated in the Dana College Choir and spent many hours at the library.

“Dana helped me take a very important step from the lay ministry to seminary and then to the ministry,” Clayton said. He credits the kindness and concern of his professors and staff in helping him succeed.

Following his graduation from Dana, he completed his studies at Wartburg Seminary in 1968. He served parishes in Dodge City, Kan., Englewood, Colo., a short stint with the missions in the Seward Peninsula of Alaska, and Pickrell, Neb., until he retired in 1996.
“Having been blessed in numerous ways, we feel it is our special privilege to serve the Lord with gifts, talents and opportunities with that which the Lord has placed in our trust,” Clayton said. Especially meaningful to the Nietfelds is the scripture: “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase.” (Prov. 3:9) NKJV

The Nietfelds give annually to Dana College and are also Dana Builders, having included the college in their will. They have also established a Charitable Remainder Unitrust with the ELCA Foundation, naming Dana as one of several charities to be an ultimate beneficiary.

“Clayton and Lila are ‘giving people,’” said Dana College President Dr. Myrvin Christopherson. “Out of their deep Christian faith, they have given their lives unselfishly in service to their church, their family and all who are their neighbors. They are the consummate ‘cheerful giver’ couple. We are most grateful that their giving plans include Dana College.”

“We are thankful for the Christian guidance given to us by our parents, the many pastors with whom Clayton has worked, the many witnessing friends throughout the years and again, the influence our entire family received while at Dana College,” the Nietfelds said.