Mount Olive Lutheran Church

Siri Strommen Campbell: Associate Pastor

Runner, Writer, Thespian & Pastoral DIVA

Born to travel, Siri was born in South Dakota and at 2½ moved to Tanzania with her family. Accompanying her was her Mom, 4½ year old sister, dad who is a pastor, and later her brother who was born in Tanzania. They lived in Tanzania as a missionary family for five years. After that it was on to Waukegan, Illinois and then finally to Anoka where she graduated high school.

Siri went to Luther College in Decorah Iowa, graduating with a teaching and music degree. Teaching for a time she then went on to get her Master of Divinity at Luther seminary. When asked the question, Are you the person that you thought you would be when you grew up? Her response was, "I wanted to be a writer, actress, singer, and a pastor. I guess I am all of those, in my own way and am blessed to have a job where I can be so creative. I always wanted a family and hoped that I would become a more compassionate and wise person"... still on the journey she says that, "I am still figuring myself out, trying to decipher the difference between what is just me and my God-given personality."

As a child she enjoyed family vacations in Colorado at her grandparent's chalet. The family would "hike swim, read, and build forts in the expansive yard." Siri's present hobbies include reading and exercising- specifically lifting weights and running. In relaxation times she enjoys listening to Tori Amos, but when she runs she likes listening to Brittany Spears. Her reading list includes "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. She just finished "The Hunger Games" trilogy. One thing that you may not know about Siri is that in 2003 at the age of 26, she ran a marathon (which is 26.2 miles).

Siri is married to Jon Strommen Campbell, and Theodore 6 and Lucy 4 are her children. Siri hopes that her future holds many opportunities to write curriculum for church as well as dramas and plays. When they are in their finished form she would like "to get them published and hopefully offer something unique to the church world." One day, she hopes to continue her travels and lead trips for the church to Germany, Assisi, Norwich, and Tanzania. She also dreams of going to Istanbul, Jerusalem and Hawaii with Jon. She hopes to become a more skilled pastor and, one day, be a senior pastor and all the while keep writing and recording her music.

Without a doubt, Siri is gifted with many gifts and talents that she selflessly shares with all of us. We are blessed as a congregation to have had Siri for six years at Mount Olive. Her passion for teaching, preaching and music has enriched our hearts and encouraged our faith along with a lot of fun and faith provoking questions.