MITCHELL, SD, March 4, 2026--St. John Paul II School and the Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota recently announced a transformational $1.15 million endowed gift, which will perpetually benefit teachers and school families.
The Bruce Pody Charitable Trust gifted $1.15 million to the Foundation, creating the Bruce Pody Educational Fund Endowment, specifically meant to support teacher salaries at St. John Paul II School. This will equate to an annual endowment distribution of $46,000 to St. John Paul II School in the first year alone. This gift also marks the largest estate gift in the history of the Mitchell Catholic Foundation and school.
The Bruce Pody Charitable Trust was created following the death of Bruce Pody in May 2025. Pody, a resident of Artesian, SD, farmed in the area for over 70 years.
Close family friends, Kenny and Katrina Hostler, shared that while Pody wasn’t a man of religion, he was a man of virtue.
Pody was a first-generation farmer, having bought his first acre for $40 with money he sent home to his mother while deployed in the Korean War. Pody served as a mechanic for two years in the United States Army, strategically saving money by selling his ration of cigarettes.
Pody lived conservatively–driving an old Ford Taurus with the trunk strapped down. As a mechanic, he could make anything run. In the trunk, he kept all his important documents in a briefcase and a storage of canned fruit or soup for meals. He rotated the same few pairs of jeans and shirts each day, and even if someone dished him a bit too much food, he’d eat it and waste nothing. While Pody owned a farmhouse, he preferred the quaint living quarters in his shed.
Being a child of the 30s, his frugal life allowed him to grow his farming operation and consistently overcome obstacles–losing his home to the derecho in 2022, the many farming challenges especially in the 1980s, poverty in childhood which led to being bullied, and an abusive father. After an altercation one evening with his father while defending his mother, Pody was taken to jail. He spent the evening in jail, and when he explained his situation to the judge the next morning, the judge shook his finger at him and said, “Looks like I put the wrong man in jail.” Pody thought very highly of his mother, and her impact allowed him to do the morally right thing, even if it came with consequences.
In addition to his love for farming and great work ethic, Pody had a great appreciation for education. Pody graduated from Fedora High School and was the only child in his family to complete high school. Pody’s first wife, Louise, was a devoted Catholic of Holy Family Church and a school teacher. He always felt teachers were undercompensated for the work they did. One son, Bruce A. Pody, was born to his union with Louise, and Pody married again in 1995 to Opal Stockwell.
Pody’s relationship with the Hostler family started through business. He watched their operation for a while, frequently showing up just to say “hello,” and admired their work ethic. Then in 2021, Pody invited them to rent some of his ground.
“One day, I was at the sale barn. We were selling cattle and I was leaving. And here comes Bruce around the corner,” said Kenny. “I’m sure he was looking for me because he knew we were selling cattle that day.” Pody casually asked if they’d be interested in renting ground, and Kenny said they’d be open to talking. Then early one morning (earlier than anyone should ever visit), Pody was there at the farm ready to talk.
Through Pody’s working relationship and eventual friendship with the Hostler family, Pody came to know St. John Paul II School. He would tag along to school events, including Vacation Bible School (VBS) Program, the Fall Festival, and preschool graduation. Both families, Travis and Sarah, and Kenny and Katrina, send their children to St. John Paul II School, and Katrina teaches sixth grade at the school. As the Hostlers became close to Pody, the school became important to Pody as well.
As a very frugal man, Pody did question the Hostler family at one point if paying tuition to send the children to a private school was the best financial strategy, especially since the family lives just miles from their public school district.
“Once he started coming with us to events, his mind changed,” shared Kenny.
He attended a VBS program where the children sang one summer, and that made an impact on Pody.
“He was so joyful that night,” shared Katrina. “He was so proud of the kids. He was proud of what was going on, and he left and was just beaming. He kept saying, ‘I just love what I see here.’”
While Pody was not Catholic or even religious, the Hostler family witnessed the faith to him through their daily activities–including meal prayer, taking him to church and school events, and simply involving him in their daily activity. It wasn’t always quick or easy to take an elderly man along for farm work, but they welcomed him along.
“As moms, we take our children with us everywhere, even when it’s hard or slows us down. Travis and Kenny took Bruce along,” shared Katrina. “He slowed them down, but they never ever pushed him away.”
Even at the age of 90, Pody was always in the field farming before sunrise to way after sunset. He may have been tired but never complained. He stood by for all the breakdowns, through planting, harvest, and everything in between.
“It was a purposeful season of Bruce’s life that we didn’t want to take away from him,” shared Linda Hostler. “We were family to him. And with joyous hearts, we felt the same.”
After Pody’s house blew down in the 2022 derecho, Larry and Linda (Hostler) welcomed him into their home and cared for him in his final years. Pody’s family and friends laid him to rest on May 30, 2025, his 92nd birthday, in a simple ceremony.
“He’d tell us to go get the farming done,” said Kenny.
Hostlers believe that Pody’s intention with his gift was to take care of teachers.
“He wanted good education for the kids, and he knew that to do that, you needed to take care of the people,” said Kenny.
Katrina, also a teacher, added, “When I’d go out to the field or drop something off, and we’d have a short conversation, he’d thank me for being a teacher. ‘You’re doing important work here, and thank you for being a teacher.’”
In addition to supporting teacher salaries, Principal Sarah Timmer shares that this and other generous gifts will allow the school to cap tuition through its overall impact to the school budget. There will be no increase to tuition prices for the 2026-2027 school year.
The endowment will continue to grow, as additional funds will be gifted from the trust into the endowment in subsequent years, and in turn, increase the annual distributions as well.
At the conclusion of the event, the Catholic Community Foundation served cookies and Sunkist soda--Pody's favorite drink.
St. John Paul II School is the parochial school of Mitchell Catholic Parishes and offers preschool-6th grade classes. The school is currently in a three-year transition to a classical model, and enrollment is open for the 2026-2027 school year. For more information on St. John Paul II School, visit johnpaul2.org.
The Catholic Community Foundation for Eastern South Dakota is an independent Catholic community foundation that raises, manages, and distributes God’s gifts to donor-directed ministries. To learn more about the Catholic Community Foundation and its services, visit ccfesd.org
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Article by Courtney J. Deinert, Communications Director for Mitchell Catholic Parishes
Photos by Ayrn Hollaren, Marketing & Communications Specialist for Catholic Communication Foundation for Eastern South Dakota
Semper Youth Hosts Second “Late Night Show” on Catholic Dating
MITCHELL, S.D. — Semper Youth hosted its second “Late Night Show” on Wednesday, January 28, welcoming engaging guests and tackling a topic relevant to many young people: Catholic dating.
Semper invited Hector and Nikayla Bautista, along with host Tim Goldammer, to discuss intentional, faith-centered relationships. The Bautistas shared their “non-negotiables” in dating, the importance of not settling, and the value of evangelizing within a relationship. They also encouraged youth to pursue relationships with fellow Catholics rather than adopting a “flirt to convert” mentality, emphasizing the central role of the Eucharist and the sacraments in building a strong foundation.
“The youth really liked the Q&A,” said Hector Bautista. “Several came up to us afterward to share how it impacted them, and some asked what we would do in their situations.”
In addition to the talk show segment, participants enjoyed food, fellowship, and games. All Semper events are planned, organized, and led by the Semper Youth Leadership Team, fostering peer-to-peer ministry and authentic engagement.
“You have something special happening there,” Bautista added. “The relational ministry, the real topics youth are thinking about, the fun atmosphere, the food, and the presence of your religious and clergy were powerful. I’m excited to see what happens in the next two years.”
Hector and Nikayla Bautista have been married for seven years and are parents of three young children (plus one dog and four chickens). Hector serves as Director of Mission Engagement for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and Nikayla leads a Catholic wedding photography business serving nearly 70 weddings annually.
For more information about Semper and upcoming events, follow @semper_highschool_ministry and @semper_college_ministry on Instagram or email
Registration for the 2026 Summer Academy is now open!
Summer Academy offers summer childcare to families alongside educational activities, outdoor field trips, and faith-based formation. Your child will have an exciting summer while also growing in wonder and knowledge.
Eligibility: The academy is open to all students in grades PreK-6th grade for the 2026-2027 school year. The minimum age is 3 by May 1, 2026, and students must be potty-trained.
Sessions: Join us all summer or for half of it! The academy is split into two 6-week sessions with options for mornings, afternoons, or both: Session 1: May 26-July 3, 2026 and Session 2: July 6-August 14, 2026 from 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM.
Cost: Reduced from last year! General cost will be $800 per session for half days and $1,600 per session for whole days. St. John Paul II students who register by April 1 and pay the $250 deposit will receive a further discounted price of $500 per session for half days and $1,000 per session for whole days.
For more information and registration, visit St. John Paul II's Summer Academy page.
February 12, 2026
Dear St. John Paul II Families and Parishioners,
I am writing to share that Mrs. Sarah Timmer, Principal of St. John Paul II School, will be concluding her service at the end of this school year, as she has accepted the position of Endowed Instruction and Engagement Coordinator with the Mitchell School District.
We are grateful that Mrs. Timmer will continue to lead our school through the remainder of the academic year. She remains fully committed to her responsibilities and to ensuring a smooth and positive transition for our students, families, and staff. She has also generously offered her assistance as we prepare to welcome new leadership.
At this time, we are diligenting exploring the needs of the school, staff, faculty and students as we prepare to seek a new principal. This effort will include collaboration with the Education Advisory Committee, Pastorate Leadership Team, Diocesan Director of School Services and Bishop Donald DeGrood. I invite you to keep our school and this upcoming transition in your prayers as we look ahead with trust and confidence.
Please join me in expressing sincere gratitude to Mrs. Timmer for her dedicated service to St. John Paul II School, particularly her leadership during our transition to Catholic classical education and ongoing renewal. We are thankful for the concrete, positive changes she has brought to our school, our students and our community.
In Christ,
Fr. Yamato Icochea, PES
Pastor and Superintendent
Pastorate Transparency Week 4: Facilities
What is the valuation of our properties?
What is the role of the Facilities Manager?
What major projects have been recently completed?
What future projects are being considered?
- Holy Family: Maintain the initial restoration including repairing scratches on the marble pillars; acoustic friendly flooring in the choir loft; LED lighting upgrade. The roof is 17-18 years old and currently in good condition.
- Holy Spirit: LED lighting upgrade, Parking lot
- St. John Paul II: Construction of rosary walk and garden or grotto to further immerse our students in the Catholic faith; beautification of the interior to support our Catholic values
- Tree Removal: All campuses have nearly 50 ash trees total that may need to be treated or removed, and potentially replaced, in the near future due to the emerald ash borer.
- Safety: We recently conducted a safety audit for all facilities with the Dept. of Homeland Security, and suggestions from that report are being considered. Details of any safety plan will not be shared publicly. However, please know that we are actively monitoring and improving the safety of our parishes and school building.
What is the status of the Holy Spirit parking lot?
How do we plan to fund long-term maintenance?
- Annual Budget Item through Offertory: For foreseen repairs and maintenance, we can include this in our annual budget and fund through regular giving and church support. This is a primary reason for our recent campaign calling for increased giving.
- Capital Improvement Savings Accounts: Each parish has capital improvement accounts where all building support contributions are deposited (this account does offer growth potential). These funds have been depleted with major projects and need to be built up.
- Endowment Support: Specific endowments through the Mitchell Catholic Foundation are designated for the care and maintenance of our facilities, or for the greatest needs of the parishes.
- Special campaign/request: While this is our last choice for funding, there are times where an emergency need arises, and we will ask for extra support from our parishioners to help cover the need.