Mitchell, South Dakota – For the entirety of her life, Donna “Muffy” Christen read her Bible every morning. And she didn’t just read it, she wrote all over it. Her personal Bible grew in size each time she read another page because she would stuff it with Post-it notes to mark the passages of which she was especially fond.
She studied the Word of God enthusiastically and religiously. But, throughout her many years of reading the text, one passage marked her heart more than the rest: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” (Luke 12:48) This is the verse that Muffy lived by. As does her husband, Paul Christen.
Muffy and Paul are an intrepid pair. Together, the two have built several enterprises, including Ruby Ann Bakery, First Western Bank, and several insurance agencies. Their community and philanthropy efforts are exceptionally charitable, warranting their inclusion in The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s list of America’s Most Generous Donors of 2011.
“We want to leave something for future generations,” said Paul. “We give to people we’ll never see – people we’ll never know.”
Paul and Muffy Christen both attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, as undergraduates. Their love story turned eternal when they married shortly after graduation. Born and raised in South Dakota, the pair remained loyal and loving to their home state, just as they had to each other. They showed their love by leading many organizations and causes to uplift South Dakotans, through generous financial support, and by fostering a friendly, community-oriented place to work as the founders and owners of First Western Bank from 1972 to 2008. In the words of their daughter, Kathryn Ramstad, “Mom was truly a daughter of South Dakota.”
“My parents always, always, always gave back to the community,” said Ramstad. “They have always felt strongly about doing that. Even when they didn’t have the means, they would give their time and talent. That was ingrained in us kids from when we were little.”
In 2019, Muffy Christen passed away peacefully from Alzheimer’s. Before her passing, she told her family not to worry about her. She was at peace with where she would go next. Since her passing, her adoring family has been looking for ways to honor her memory. Making a gift to Dakota Wesleyan University, a pillar of South Dakota and a significant place for both Christens, was top of mind. But what gift would honor her in the way she wanted to be remembered?
“I said to my dad, ‘Mom loved the Bible. She knew the Bible,’” said Ramstad. “I think it would be amazing if we gifted a Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible in her honor.”
Ramstad and her father began considering what it would mean for the University to use a work of art and Scripture such as this. They had many conversations with the Heritage Program staff, as well as folks from Dakota Wesleyan University to ideate. “What really pushed me over the edge,” said Ramstad. “Was when Dr. Kittle, President of the University shared with me his ideas of how the University would use the Bible.”
President Kittle and the University Board, on which Paul Christen sits, ran through a long list of ideas for using the Heritage Edition on campus. The list included everything from creating a slideshow of illuminations from The Saint John’s Bible with musical accompaniment to showcase to the larger community, using the Bible in classroom study, using it in worship, and more. Because the Heritage Edition was created and bound to last centuries, this Bible will continue to be used in many ways for many generations.
“It’s too beautiful to sit in a museum or library,” said Ramstad. “The excitement I saw about it and the University’s willingness and enthusiasm to use it was what I wanted. I wanted the students and the surrounding community to interact with it.”
“Our intent is to actively share the volumes — to make them accessible to visitors and partners throughout our community,” said President Kittle. “In doing so, we aim to extend the impact of these gifts far beyond our campus, fulfilling our mission to inspire and serve people and communities we have yet to meet.”
Blessing the Volumes
In an immensely personal and gracious gesture, the Christens gifted the matriarch’s personal Bible alongside the Heritage Edition. The two Bibles sat by one another during a blessing of the Bible ceremony on October 9th, 2024.
Local clergy, the University Board, community members, and, of course, Paul Christen and Kathryn Ramstad attended the ceremony, which also included docent training, a public worship service, a reception with page-turning, and a celebration dinner.
“As we accept this gift, I am reminded that receiving a Bible is always a meaningful moment, often tied to a significant milestone in one’s faith journey,” said President Kittle. “For our university to receive such an extraordinary gift, marks a profound milestone that will undoubtedly enrich our mission. I believe that even 100 years from now, the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible will continue inspiring people of faith to gather and reflect on the transformative power of scripture.”
The Saint John’s Bible: A Gift to Last Several Lifetimes
To read more stories similar to this one, visit the blog and subscribe to the Heritage Program e-newsletter, Sharing the Word.
To find out how you can gift an edition of The Saint John’s Bible to your community, contact us here.