Dick &
Cynthia
Borrud
our speakers May 12
This summer mark’s Dick and Cynthia’s 50th summer of camp directing. It has been an amazing journey and husband-wife partnership all the way.
This summer Cynthia and Dick ...
· Arrive at Lee Valley Ranch in the Black Hills on May 26 from Ellensburg, Washington, their winter home.
· Celebrate Dick’s birthday on June 3
· Climb Crazy Horse June 4-6
· Celebrate Cynthia’s birthday on June 26
· Host 8 weeks of summer camps and retreats
· Celebrate 50 Summers in Lutheran Outdoor Ministry, August 1-7
· Close camp in time to hit the Minnesota State Fair before heading back to Ellensburg
Dick was born in 1932 in Minot, North Dakota, graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1953, and received his Master of Divinity in 1957 from Luther Seminary in St. Paul. He’s also received his Masters in Physical Education from the University of Southern California and a Masters in Guidance and Counseling from South Dakota State. Dick’s also a level one graduate in Gerontology from the University of Washington.
Cynthia is a southern Minnesota farmer’s daughter and graduate in nursing from Fairview Hospital. She and Dick have partnered in a life-long series of Christian ministries, and they’ve raised four children.
After serving 30 years in the American Lutheran Church, Dick and Cynthia “retired” to volunteer with Lutheran Youth Encounter and the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. Their main focus in retirement, however, has been directing Lee Valley Ranch Camp in Custer, South Dakota, serving more than 30,000 in almost 40 years.
Dick was the first national camping director for the American Lutheran Church, founded several churches, was chair of the youth ministry department at Lutheran Bible Institute in Seattle, and was the primary actor in the children’s television show Thru the Porthole, which aired for five years on a quarter of all US television stations (as well as in Canada and Australia) to an audience of over 4 million kids per week.
Dick remembers being sick one day in fifty summers at camp, “so it must be a healthy lifestyle,” he says.
Along with Lee Valley, which they’ve owned and operated for 38 years, the Borrud’s have directed Camp Vermillion in Northern Minnesota, Lutheran Camp in Puerto Rico, and Camp Ne-So-Dak, Outlaw Ranch, Atlantic Mountain and Klein Grand River camps in South Dakota.
Dick’s an airplane pilot, skilled carpenter, car mechanic, photographer, avid sports fan, tuba player, singer, and, lately, a candle maker.
“What’s next” is in God’s hand, write Dick and Cynthia. “The next step will be a good one.”
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