SOTH Staff
Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers, Senior Pastor
Pastor Yolanda began her call at Shepherd of the Hills in July 2023. She hails from Saint Louis, Missouri. She has degrees from Wesleyan University (B.A.), Harvard University (M.Div.), and Luther Seminary (D.Min.). Pastor Yolanda has been ordained over twenty-five years and has served as a campus pastor, solo pastor, hospice chaplain, and now our senior pastor. She is a gifted orator and writer who nonetheless affirms, “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words only when necessary [Assisi].” Her favorite part about being a pastor is the privilege of being in relationship with - and hearing stories from - church and community members.
Pastor Yolanda is married to her phenomenal wife, Tasha. They currently have five children ranging from a toddler to a young adult. They have a dog named Pax. In her “free time,” she enjoys writing, reading, hiking, hanging out by salt water oceans, and visiting with friends.
Rev. Sherri Otto, Associate Pastor
Pastor Sherri started her first call as the Associate Pastor at Shepherd of the Hills in March of 2020. She is currently working with students in Shepherds of Light and Confirmation, leading Adult Bible Studies, Worship Planning, Pastoral Care and Preaching. Pastor Sherri retired from the Hennepin County Jail in 2018 as a detention deputy and is fully enjoying her 2nd career and working with the staff at Shepherd.
Pastor Sherri lives in Shakopee with her husband Troy and their 2 dogs, Bella and Brutus. She enjoys the outdoors, working in their yard, campfires, golfing and going on walks. Her favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:38-39.
Patti Arntz, Interim Music Director
Patti Arntz has been a music educator and church musician in the Twin Cities area for over 40 years. She has degrees in music from Hamline University, St. Paul, MN and Drake University, Des Moines, IA and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN
She recently retired from teaching elementary music with the Robbinsdale Area Schools. During her 30 years of instructing young children to sing and make music, she also directed the Robbinsdale All-District Elementary Honors Choir for 15 years. Throughout her teaching career, she served as an organist and director of youth/adult choirs in local churches.
Keeping in touch with her elementary music roots, she serves as an online adjunct professor at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN, instructing elementary education majors on teaching and integrating music into their future classrooms.
Patti lives in the Twin Cities area with her husband, Rolland, where she enjoys outdoor activities, traveling and studying the Czech language. She sings with Singers in Accord and is a charter member of the choir. Her adult children, Kyle and Melani are both very involved in music in the Twin Cities area.
Blair Prax, Building Manager
Blair Prax is the new building manager for SOTH. He has been a member of the church, along with his wife Siri and his daughter Avalon, for the last 15 years.
Blair has degrees in Theatrical Arts and Nonprofit Business Administration from St. Mary's University, Winona and Minneapolis.
The last 20 years Blair has worked for a small local production company on numerous films and television commercials.
Blair is excited for the opportunity to work for an organization like SOTH. He looks forward to getting to know the rest of the SOTH community.
Shawn Wacholz, Church Administrator
Shawn joined the staff at Shepherd of the Hills in 1999. As administrative assistant, she enjoys the variety of tasks involved in the position, including publishing the monthly newsletter and weekly bulletins, maintaining the membership records for the church (baptisms, confirmation, weddings, new member records, funerals, etc.), recording pledges and donations, and bookkeeping. Her favorite part of the job is sharing hospitality with people who call the church home or visit the office. If you have questions or need further information about something, Shawn is happy to assist you.
Shawn grew up in Alexandria, Minnesota, and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with a degree in business education. After graduation, she worked at Carlson Companies (now Carlson), and later at United Healthcare. She and her husband, Wade, live in Eden Prairie and have three adult daughters, Maren, Anna, and Abby. They joined Shepherd in 1985 and have been happy to call it their church home ever since.
Church Council
President: Chris Polston
Vice President: Steven Hanneman
Treasurer: Jean Wicks
Financial Secretary: Fred Jensen
Recording Secretary: Kim Kelly
Building & Facilities: Peter Barott
Care: Brittany Roeser
Communications: Open
Evaluation: Open
Lay Ministry Call Committee: Open
Learn: Lyn Kopperud
Serve: Nancy Shaeffer
Worship & Music: Karen Hofstad-Parkhill