NSWO Officers
President Deb Miller has been a member of Christ’s Lutheran Church in Davenport since 1978. She is an active member of Miriam Circle, has served on church council and Women of the ELCA, serving as treasurer since 2007. She has been a Nebraska Synod Assembly voting member several times. She has been the Southern Prairie Conference Board Member for the past four years. She was a member of the planning committee for the 2023 NSWO Biennial Convention and co-chair for the 2025 NSWO Biennial Convention. She attended the Triennial Gathering in Phoenix in 2023 and plans to be in Des Moines next July for Triennial.
Deb has been married to Duane for 47 years and they are retired partners in the family grain and livestock operation. Deb worked as a consultant dietitian for 25 years while raising their family. In 2005 she started working at the local bank and retired in October 2020 after 15 years at Cornerstone Bank. Deb has always been active in her community, and since retirement she has served on the Thayer County Health Services Patient Family Advisory Council.
She enjoys gardening, canning, traveling, scrapbooking, sewing, reading, and most of all, spending time with family. Duane & Deb are proud of their four adult children and their spouses, and they are blessed with fifteen grandchildren ranging in age from 6 to 16. Deb sees herself as organized and loyal.
Vice President Carol Stark is a happy and proud mom and nana. She has three children, one daughter-in-law and seven grandchildren. Carol has worked for Nebraska Plastics for thirty-one-and-a-half years.
She is currently helping with pulpit supply for the Sonrise Parish. In the past Carol has been on the church council and was an assisting worship leader. She has taught Sunday school and organized their Autumn Fall Salad Luncheon.
Carol likes to read and color. She also likes to help with whatever is needed at her church.
Secretary Pastor Sarah Ruch serves as the Associate Pastor for Local Outreach and Mission at Sheridan Lutheran Church in Lincoln. She lives in Lincoln with her husband, Pastor Miles; and children, Hannah (20), Caleb (16), and Aaron (12). She has previously served in Swedehome, Rising City, Aurora, Concord, and Allen, Nebraska.
When not attending activities for her children or work, she enjoys crocheting, Zentangling, and reading.
Treasurer Julie Reiser is a lifetime member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Spencer, NE, where she is the treasurer for both the church and the WELCA group. Julie is married to Marvin, stepmother to Chris (Jaime) and Nancy, mom to Marla (Eric) and Peter. And she is called grandma by Kenly, 10, and Harper, 7.
Julie is a personal banker for Butte State Bank and the secretary for Butte Community Club. Her happy place is in the kitchen kneading bread or stirring up cookies to share with friends.
Julie's second term as treasurer begins February 1, 2026.