Pastor Amanda Kempthorne

    Pastor Amanda hails from Chaska, Minnesota and spent her first 25 years in the cities, attending Northwestern Bible College in Roseville and then Luther Seminary in St. Paul. That was enough! She and Jason packed their lives up and headed 3,000 miles across Canada to serve as the pastor in North Pole, Alaska. The claim to fame: Santa Claus was a member of her church. She was also honored to serve members of the Air Force and Army stationed in Fairbanks. 
 
     A dozen years and two boys later, the grandparents had begged enough and it was time to build a wider circle of family. Of many possibilities, God called her to use her gifts and learning in tandem with Salem’s ministries. 
 
     Pastor Amanda’s work is to join the Spirit of God in nurturing spiritual growth within people. Whether that’s teaching the basics of Christian faith, planning and leading worship that engages head and heart, speaking God’s grace in our troubles, building community, or just listening, it’s all possible because God is already doing that work.  
 

Aimee Watson, Finance & Office Manager

Aimee joined our staff in May of 2023 in the Finance Office and took over combined Office/Finance duties in late 2026. She and her family have lived in the Ossipee area of Merrifield for the last 15 years, and in 2023, moved to Riverton where they completed a new house build on a small mine lake.  Aimee stays busy year-round with the many activities her husband and twin sons are involved in, including C-I Trap Shooting League,  C-I Baseball, mountain biking, dirt biking, fishing, boating and snowmobiling. Her daughter graduated from C-I in 2021 and now resides in South Dakota. Aimee’s background includes the College of St. Scholastica, many years of Office Management and Small Business Accounting, and Teller experience at BN Credit Union.  She was raised in a very small ELCA church outside Backus, MN and feels very much at home at Salem.

Jason Kempthorne, Director of Outreach

Prior to joining the team at Salem Lutheran, Jason was the Executive Director for Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC) in Fairbanks Alaska for 8 years.  Has worked closely with the Board of Directors to revamp the existing programs and lead Love INC in the launch of new and exciting programs to serve vulnerable populations in the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Under his leadership the organization grew to a multi-million dollar nonprofit with a staff of over 50, and hundreds of volunteers impacting thousands of low income households each year.   

Jason takes a holistic approach; in walking alongside those in need on their journey to wholeness. Our goal is to build lasting relationships between volunteers and participants.   

Jason is passionate about his calling and the capacity of the local church to transform lives and communities. This has driven him in his ministry.  Jason also served as the chair of the Fairbanks Housing and Homeless Coalition and President of the Tanana Valley Christian Conference. Jason received his BA from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He double majored in Religion and family studies and minored in Church professions.  Jason has countless years in church ministry and nonprofit management.  

  

Email Jason

 

Kevin Edstrom, Handbell Choir Director and Choir Director

Kevin’s 30 years of handbell ringing started with the New Horizon Ringers at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, MN.  He became interested in all aspects of ringing from the low bass bells all the way to the high trebles.  While attending an American Guild of English Handbell Ringer’s festival, he was introduced to solo ringing and thought he could take on the challenge.  The opportunity arose for Kevin to start up a handbell program for Christ Lutheran and First Congregational Churches in Glencoe, MN where he directed for seven years before moving to Deerwood.  Upon arriving at Deerwood, he found handbells at Salem Lutheran Church, it was a reason to check out Salem.  Kevin now directs the Salem Ringers.  He is also the Northern Minnesota Sub-chair for the Area 7 Handbell Musicians of America.  If anyone has interest in handbell ringing, please contact Kevin via e-mail or leave a message at the church office.   Email Kevin
 
 
 
Becky Klingelhofer, Pianist/Organist and Praise Team Co-Director
 
Becky joined the Salem staff in August of 2013 as the church pianist/organist. In November of that same year, she accepted the position of co-director of the praise team which involves planning the music for the contemporary service. Along with playing for the services, she accompanies the church choir as well. Becky has played the piano since she was three years old. At age twelve, she became the official pianist at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church in Aitkin, Minnesota where her dad was the pastor. For the remainder of her life, Becky has been involved with leading music and as church pianist wherever she has lived. Becky and her husband Scott, live in Aitkin and have two grown daughters, Heather and Heidi.
 
 
 
Noreen Steinbrecher, Praise Team Co-Director
 
Noreen is presently co-director of the Salem Lutheran Church Praise Team. She has been a member of Salem Lutheran Church since 2011. Noreen grew up on a farm near Sharon, ND and was the church organist in a little country church at age 13.  When she was in high school she would play for the service in her church and then ride with the Pastor to the town church and sing in their choir.  Singing solos and performing in small groups all over the community was a passion she shared with some great friends.  After college, Noreen taught in Clinton, MN, Sand Point, AK and Seward, AK and was church organist/pianist in all 3 towns as well as choir director in 2 of them. Music is a very important part of her life and she loves sharing it.  
 
 
 
Mike Walker, Facility Custodian     
 
Mike joined Salem’s ministry in the summer of 2025 and takes great pride in sharing the hospitality of Salem through caring for its building and grounds.