Client Stories

LEGACY GIFTS ARE USUALLY THE LARGEST GIFT A PERSON MAKES.

During your lifetime, why not celebrate it and make sure it’s used as intended?

Living in a rural community in the 1980’s, August and Lela Ebert were ranchers. They had no children of their own. However, they were Oma and Opa to many young people who visited their ranch during the summers for “ranch camp”. They loved the sights and sounds of children enjoying the great outdoors. For many, the ranch with its cows and horses was a new experience coming from the big cities. The Eberts along with friendly conversation always handed out fresh baked cookies. They called these visitors their “special children."

After visiting with various Lutheran leaders in the community, the Eberts decided to make a legacy gift through a revocable living trust with the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest. There would be provisions in the trust to take care of them during their lifetimes and upon the passing of the survivor, their ranch would be given to the camping program in the Southwestern Texas Synod to insure that for generations to come there would be a ranch camp to foster the outdoor experience with all its beauty and spirituality.

In addition to this generous gift, they established an endowment that would provide funds annually to support the operations of the camp.

 

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IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN THIS WAY.

Overcoming Obstacles.

Ben and Voleta Trotter were so happy to have a beautiful son who gave them great pride. He never got into trouble and made good grades. He even went to college, getting his bachelor’s degree, then his master’s degree and finally his PhD. He was gainfully employed and just married. The Trotters looked forward to someday being grandparents.

Then the unthinkable happened. They lost their beautiful son from a sudden heart attack. They were devastated and alone. They would comment years later that they had wished the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest had been a part of their lives during those dark days.

After attending a seminar, they knew they would need someone to look after them in their later years. They decided to become clients of LFSW.

This time, when Voleta passed away, Ben was not alone. He had the support and encouragement of the Foundation to help him through those next dark days. They were not the only ones there for him. Ben is now living at the Lutheran Sunset Ministries in Clifton, Texas, where he is happy and content.

In his plans he will leave generous legacy gifts for the Sunset Home to support their caring ministry in serving the elderly through his trust with the Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest.