We are a BIBLE-CARING church. We believe that the Bible is fully the inspired Word of God and to be used for our inspiration.
We are a CHRIST-CARING church. We believe and teach that Jesus is God’s Son who came into the world to be the Savior of all people. Through His sufferings, death and resurrection, we are offered forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
We are a PEOPLE-CARING church. We want to share with everyone the message of God’s love and forgiveness in Jesus. We would be happy to tell you more about our Savior.
“Where two or three are gathered in My name,
there am I in the midst of them,” Matthew 18:20
We are all in God’s Grace – and
His Grace is Amazing.
(turn on your sound - click and enjoy AMAZING GRACE
4:00 pm worship service, followed by pot-luck supper and Bible Class. Guests are welcome to join us – there’s always more-than-enough food to share as well as a bounty of Grace to be found in God’s word.
Other Sundays –
9:30 am Bible Class & Sunday School,
10:00 am worship service.
TheLord’s Supperis celebrated every other Sunday during the worship service.If you have not communed with us before, we ask that you first speak with our pastor to learn how you can establish a communing fellowship with us.We are eager to help anyone to take this step.
WELS families in the Custer area began meeting for worship in members' homes in 1985. The name 'Shepherd of the Hills' was chosen and worship was conducted in a rented room in the community center.
The prayers to have a facility of our own were fulfilled when the current site, a former submarine shop, was purchased. The Lord blessed the efforts of His people and this building was made into the chapel we enjoy today. The dedication took place in November 1988.
We recently remodeled the exterior and interior through the blessing of many hours of donated labor from members.
Our prayer is to have a friendly place of worship for praising God in a building that is energy and maintenance efficient.
A celebration of anniversary and re-dedication took place November, 2008.
Our families are served by Pastor Lloyd Lemke of Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis; retired Pastor and seminary professor, Leroy Dobberstein from Rapid City; and retired Pastor Verlyn Dobberstein of Hot Springs.
Congregational evangelist, Mike Delaney assists with Bible study. Bernie Nolte and Mike Delaney are our organists, and Patti Hauschildt teaches Sunday School.
Introducing Pastor Lemke and his family
Pastor Lloyd Lemke grew up south of Milwaukee, WI. He was a member of the 1971 centennial graduating class from Northwestern College and received his Bachelor of Arts degree.
Pastor received his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI in 1975
Besides serving Trinity in Sturgis, Pastor also began working with Shepherd of the Hills in Custer in 1997. Prior to moving to the Hills, Pastor served in the Tampa Bay area north of Port Richey, FL, and then at St. James Lutheran in the Thumb area of Michigan north of Detroit.
Pastor and Janeen met while he served in Michigan. Janeen is a 1976 graduate of Michigan State University. They were married in 1979 and their three sons were born in Michigan's Thumb; Martin is a 2005 graduate of BHSU in Spearfish and after serving as the Meade County 4-H and Youth Development Coordinator for two years, is now employed at Daktronics in Brookings; Peter is a senior at BHSU and engaged to be married this coming summer; and Aaron is a freshman at BHSU.
Janeen and Pastor are "mule" people keeping mules, horses and goats on their ranchette east of Sturgis. The whole family is active in Meade County 4-H as well as with anything outdoors.
Introducing Pastor L. Dobberstein and his family
Pastor Leroy Dobberstein was born in New London, WI.He graduated from Northwestern College with his BA degree, attended the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and graduated in 1959.Pastor and Betz were also married in 1959.Betz attended Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN and taught Christian day school for four years.
After 40 years of ministry in WI, MN, and SD, with the last 16 years serving as a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI, their love for the Black Hills and its people brought them to Rapid City in retirement in 1999.
Along with ministering to our family at Shepherd of the Hills in Custer, much of their time is spent doing volunteer work at St. Paul's Lutheran in Rapid City where Pastor serves on the Board of Elders and the Outreach Committee. Betz visits shut-ins and conducts Jesus Cares Ministry for the special needs citizens.Their favorite place in the hills is Sylvan Lake for fishing and hiking with gardening and nutrition among their other interests.
They have three children: Leah in Rapid City; David in Cadott, WI; and Donn, Pastor to our sister congregation in Port Orange, FL; and 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Introducing Pastor V. Dobberstein and his family
Pastor Verlyn Dobberstein grew up in Wisconsin and received his BA degree from Northwestern College in Watertown, WI in 1967; and graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI with a Master of Divinity degree in 1971.
Pastor served at St. Peter in Brodhead, WI for four years, at Calvary in Sheboygan, WI for ten years, and at First in Lake Geneva, WI for 23 years. After 37 years in the ministry he retired on October 19, 2008 and moved to Hot Springs, SD.
Pastor and his wife Ena fell in love with the Black Hills while on vacation in 1999 and purchased 10 acres on a high ridge overlooking the Hot Brook Canyon. A guest house was built in 2001 and their timber frame home was built in 2006 – now called “Dobber’s Ridge”. The peace and quiet, and the beautiful scenery they experience on the ridge will be enjoyed by their six children and five grandchildren who all live back in Wisconsin.
Ena continues to work from their home as a health consultant for RelayHealth, a division of McKesson Corporation, and her territory in the company covers all the Midwestern states. While she is traveling on business trips, Pastor works on the landscaping and taking care of their two Arabian horses on the ranch.
First Sunday of the month – 
Pastor Lloyd Lemke grew up south of Milwaukee, WI. He was a member of the 1971 centennial graduating class from Northwestern College and received his Bachelor of Arts degree.
Pastor Leroy Dobberstein was born in New London, WI.
Pastor Verlyn Dobberstein grew up in Wisconsin and received his BA degree from Northwestern College in Watertown, WI in 1967; and graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI with a Master of Divinity degree in 1971.
