Meet the Staff
Pastor Melanie Martin-Dent
Pastor Melanie Martin-Dent grew up in Bellevue, Washington and attended the University of Washington and Western Washington State College. She and her husband Ron were the first couple at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary to be married when they enrolled. After graduating in 1982, she served as Assistant Pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Auburn, Washington, co-pastor with Ron at Saron Lutheran in Hoquiam, Washington, Co-ordinator of the Timber Community Outreach Project for Lutheran Social Services of Washingion, Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Pierce, Idaho and copastor with Ron at two multiple point parishes: The Greater Malta Lutheran Parish in Phillips County, Montana and the Tri-Valley Lutheran Parish in Missoula/Frenchtown/Arlee, Montana. She then served the pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Anaconda, Montana followed by interim pastor positions at Terry Community Presbyterian & Fallon American Lutheran churches, Grace UMC in Dillon, Montana, and Lonsdale & Richie UMC churches in Sidney and Richie, Montana (UMC). She retired from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson, Montana on August 31, 2023 and is pleased to be serving as the interim pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Bonner, Montana. She and Ron have two children, Janelle and Ronald, and a foster daughter Brandy, who is the mother of her grandchildren Ayana and Orion. Worship Music Leader
Aneta Panusz has served as Worship Music Leader at Our Savior’s Lutheran in Bonner since 2004. She maintains an active piano studio and has recently taught piano and music theory at the University of Montana’s School of Music. Aneta performs regularly as an accompanist for UM faculty and students, and especially enjoys performing Eastern European and early music. She has also performed on harpsichord with the String Orchestra of the Rockies since 2008. Aneta’s graduate studies include Music Theory at the Kraków Music Academy in Poland and Piano Performance at the University of Montana. She is also a doting mother to her four year-old daughter Lucy. |