Gloria Faye Truman (left) and Ruby VanScharrel were honored by Howard Beach UMC for their decades of faithful service as finance secretary and treasurer for the church. Photo courtesy of Beach UMC.

The congregation Beach United Methodist Church in Howard, South Dakota was blessed with the opportunity on Sunday, January 7, 2018 to honor two of their faithful members and service providers. 

Gloria Faye Truman served the church as finance secretary for a period of more than 40 years. Ruby VanScharrel served as treasurer for 36 years.

“Gloria is known for wanting to do things right and also for talking loudly and confidently. For years, maybe even to this day, she would be the first to arrive at the church to open it up and prepare for visitors,” said Jeff Pospisil, Dakotas Conference executive director of finance and administration.

Gloria Faye Truman also represented the church at the annual conferences for many years beginning in 1960. Gloria also served as a member of the Conference Board of Pensions for several years.

Pospisil noted, “I remember visiting with Ruby about the about the new apportionment method. She told me that she feared after 34 years, she wouldn’t be able to adjust to the new method. She found out that the new method was simple so Ruby stayed on board for two more years.”

The ladies were thanked for their loyal service. Their duties are now assumed by Cindy Kaufmann as Finance Secretary and Teresa Poppen as Treasurer. The grateful congregation joined in fellowship after worship with a cake prepared in honor of the faithful servants.