Zion member since 1987

Cloquet resident since 1976

Happily Married to Terry 1973

Retired MD (1976-2019)

Hobbies:  organ student, shape note singing, hymnody, gardening, bicycling.

Zion interests:  Memorial garden, orchard, community garden, keeping the our 1928 Organ alive and well, God’s Work our hands ( diaper specialist), indoor garden, pandowdy fundraisers promotor, plant sales for fall bazaar, mentoring the next generation to carry on Zion’s  work and song.

I feel it an honor to be on council. My Christian faith is the core of who I am and being on council is one way to step out in faith to see how I can be of service to my church family.

Throughout the years at Zion I have been involved in various types of youth ministry and I also sing in the choir.

Even though I am keeping up my license I have not been working as a Registered Nurse for many years. My previous RN jobs were at the University of Minnesota Hospital and at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth.

I love spending time with family and friends. Dan and I have 3 children: Leah, who is married to William, Karl , who is married to Lauren, and Claire.

Our family joined Zion in the fall of 1989. We actually joined Zion the same day as Pastor Todd and Kris Mattson. When we first met Todd and Kris they told us that my husband Dan’s Dad helped inspire Todd to go into the ministry. Pastor Palmquist was the pastor at the church that Todd would attend while visiting relatives and he loved Pastor Palmquist’s sermons. What a fun connection that was!!

My Zion Story: My grandmother Esther Backe was one of Zion's first members which led my parents Randy & Carol Backe to Zion. My dad was baptized, confirmed and married at Zion and I followed in his footsteps. My husband Sean and I returned to Zion in 1999 after moving back to Cloquet after 10 years in the Twin Cities. Sandy Raisanen was one of my favorite Sunday School teachers and she and her husband Willy have been wonderful mentors to our children Brady (age 21), Sydney (age 20) and Keagan (age 16). 

What I can bring to Zion: I look forward to serving on council and helping with the important decisions that will help our congregation continue to grow. I will bring my organizational skills, open mind and desire to make things better to council meetings. 

Career: I am a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. I have worked at Fond du Lac Human Services Division for 20 years and coordinate the Diabetes Program. 

Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy scrapbooking our family memories, traveling, playing cards, reading  and searching for heart rocks, agates and sea shells.

Quirky facts: I clean my hotel room before checking out and have an extremely poor sense of direction. 

My Zion Story: My name is Becky Bills and I was baptized and raised at Zion.  As a youth, I was involved in youth group, New Wine and was even a youth representative on the council while in high school.  My husband Bob is a registered nurse at one of the Duluth Hospitals.  I have 3 children (7yo, 9yo and 11yo) who enjoy the youth activities at Zion and as a family we often attend SNAZ-E. I hope to bring a families perspective and needs to the council. 

Career: I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and have worked at Medica Health Plans for the last 15 years.  In my roll as a senior manager at Medica, I work with programs serving and supporting low income seniors and persons with disabilities in Minnesota which is very important to me.

Hobbies/Interests: In my free time, I like to spend time with my family, watch the kids play soccer, do crafts and find interesting shows on Netflix.

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