We are excited to welcome Pastor David Zellmer as our short-term Interim Pastor here at Lutheran Memorial Church!

After graduating from Luther Seminary in 1981, Pastor Zellmer has gathered nearly 45 years of pastoral experience. He has served congregations throughout South Dakota and eventually found his way to Pierre in 1993, where he served as Senior Pastor at Lutheran Memorial Church for 14½ years. In 2007, Pastor Zellmer was elected Bishop of the South Dakota ELCA Synod, serving two terms and overseeing pastors and congregations across the state.

Following his time as Bishop, “retirement” became a very loose term in Pastor Dave’s vocabulary. The Holy Spirit led him into many opportunities for continued leadership and growth, including serving as Interim Bishop of the Western North Dakota Synod beginning in 2020, where he served for one year. Since returning to South Dakota, Pastor Zellmer has faithfully stepped into numerous Interim Pastor roles within the SD Synod, guiding congregations through seasons of transition and discernment. Most recently, he served as Interim Executive Director of Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota from August 2024 through June 2025.

Pastor Dave comes to us from Sioux Falls, where he lives with his wife LaDonna and their black lab Koda. They are grateful to live near their four children and thirteen grandchildren, who reside between Sioux Falls and the Mitchell area. When he’s not busy with grandparent duties, Dave can often be found enjoying the outdoors with friends and loved ones.

An avid hunter, outdoorsman, and activist, Pastor Zellmer is passionate about caring for all of God’s creation. This passion has led him to serve in many leadership roles, including long-time involvement with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, where he was appointed to the National Board of Directors in 2024. He was also appointed to serve on the Global Health Ministry Board out of Fridley, Minnesota in 2024, in which he still currently holds the position. Pr. Zellmer has also led multiple mission trips to Cameroon, Africa where he not only supported the ordination of women in the Lutheran Church, but led the charge for women’s health advocacy and improved healthcare access in remote villages.

Fun fact: Pastor Zellmer has obtained AND maintained his pilot’s license since 1999, and is well known for using small aircrafts to travel for ministry across South Dakota!