Dee Spitler thought at a young age that she wanted to be a pastor’s wife. It came to her mind as a third-grade student, and even though the idea ebbed and flowed it always remained in her heart.
Dee, Pastor Corky Spitler’s wife, traveled north to Britton this spring to stay with her husband for a few months and last week addressed a group of ladies from the Lutheran Church. Dee discussed her role as a pastor’s wife and sees herself as a member of the congregation. “I feel that I only want to step in and help in a situation with the congregation if I feel the Lord calling me to do so,” stated Dee. She also shared her and Corky’s story of how they met, and of their well traveled life.
After teaching school in Florida for a time, she traveled to Georgia, and that’s where she met Corky Spitler. Corky has been the interim Pastor at the First Lutheran Church in Britton since August 2024 after Pastor Terrill Sorenson retired.
“When we first met I asked him if he would ever be interested in being a pastor, to which he replied ‘no’, which I was fine with,” stated Dee. However, after some time, Corky felt the Lord leading him to be a Pastor. So, after seminary school, the family set out to preach the Word of God.
Dee has lived in 16 states and 1 foreign country and the couple has been married 42 years. “After our many travels and different churches, we settled in Dodge City, Kansas, and I remember telling Corky, I’m done moving, this is where we live now,” confirmed Dee. Consequently, when Corky came with the idea of traveling and being an interim pastor, Dee said see you later!
“I knew that God put that on his heart to travel and help churches in need, but I was so tired of moving, I told him to go, and I would come and visit,” stated Dee.
For nearly two years now, Dee and Pastor Corky have lived apart, only visiting each other a few times a year. His first Interim call was to Georgia, and now he is finishing out a year here in Britton. Dee has a love for quilting and crafting. She’s sewn clothes for dolls, quilted many quilts and sews purses that get shipped overseas to girls in need to carry their personal items to school.
The couple doesn’t know where life will lead them next, but Dee is hoping to settle somewhere in the south again.
