Strangers to Sisters - Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Library: Essays

teaching English, Norse, Latin, Algebra, US history, and Religion. 133 In addition, he was
also drafted to coach basketball during his first decade at DMLC. 134
Levorson was described by former colleagues and students as being methodical in
organization, firm in discipline, but gentle in guidance. President emeritus of DMLC
Conrad Frey, one of Levorson’s early students who later became known for his command
of English prose and oratory, relayed many years later, “It was Oscar Levorson who
taught me how to write a sentence.” 135 So popular and esteemed was Levorson by his
fellow professors that he was encouraged by his fellow professors to put off retiring for
almost a decade, until health finally forced him to lay down his duties. 136
His popularity and talent are further attested to by the change in status of
Levorson’s call and compensation. The Norwegian Synod’s education committee
reported in 1923 that the Norwegian paid a percentage of his $1200.00 yearly salary in
proportion to the number of students. 137 By 1925, the Board of Education of the
Norwegian Synod reported, “At New Ulm, the brethren of the Wisconsin Synod have
called Professor Oscar Levorson as a permanent professor, and he will continue in charge
of the work in Norwegian.” 138 In short, the faculty in New Ulm did not want to lose
Levorson. In a personal letter to Levorson, the secretary of the Board of Control of
DMLC, Herbert Sitz urged Levorson to remain at DMLC as a full faculty member. 139
133 Bliefernicht, “DMLC Report”, 300.
134 Morton Schroeder, A Time to Remember (New Ulm: Dr. Martin Luther College Press, 1984), 93.
135 Ruth and Leroy Levorson interviewed by author, Lake Mills IA, August 28, 2008.
136 Ibid.
137 Oscar Levorson, “Report from Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN.” Princeton, MN, 1923
Convention of the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church.
138 Oscar Levorson, “Report from Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN.” St. Peter, MN, 1925
Convention of the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church.
139 Ruth and Leroy Levorson interviewed by author, Lake Mills IA, August 28, 2008.
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