Karen Heinemann
Office Administrator / Finance ManagerKaren K. Heinemann joined First Presbyterian Church staff on July 14, 2014. Before coming to First Presbyterian Karen was the Traffic Manager at KCAU-TV for nine years. She also brings with her years of accounting experience as well. Karen received her Associate’s Degree from Western Iowa Tech. She is married and her husband Rick is retired from Sara Lee and they currently own and operate Honest Rick Trucking. They have four adult children and five grandchildren.
Anne Cowley
Handbell DirectorA lifelong member of First Presbyterian, Anne grew up in Sioux City, graduated from Central High School, and earned both her BME and MME from Drake University. She taught vocal music and strings in the public schools for 36 years, retiring in 2008. At that time, she became the hand bell director here at church. Anne continues to play cello in the Symphony and in two string quartets which play for weddings and receptions. She has one son, Jason, who works for the Journal in the sports department. Anne is also an active participant as a member of the Friends of the Library Board, the Sioux City Chamber Music Board and the Sioux City Retired Educators. She is busy every fall officiating volleyball games. Anne enjoys traveling as much as she can with her busy schedule here at church and in the community.
Mary Kay Benton
Director of Music MinistryMary Kay Benton is in her 30+ years as the middle school band director at Le Mars Community. Her duties include 7th Band, 8th Band, Jazz Band and Marching Band, along with lessons and HS Drumline. She was named the Teacher of the Year in 2014 at Le Mars Community, and in 2015 received the Wicker Distinguished Service Award from the NWIBA. Ms. Benton is a member of the Iowa Bandmasters Association and Northwest Iowa Bandmasters. She plays percussion with the Sioux City Municipal Band in the summers. Ms. Benton is in her 30+ years as Organist, Choir Accompanist and Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church. Mary graduated from Morningside College with an undergraduate degree in music education and finished her graduate work at the University of South Dakota, with an emphasis on percussion performance and music education. Mary resides in LeMars. She two children – Sarah at Creighton in the Occupational Therapy School and Luke at Iowa State University in the business/finance area. 2 cats (Mittens and Kai) and a German Shepherd (Beck) keep her busy. Mary enjoys hiking, traveling, reading and baking.
Rev. Mark Bedford
PastorRev. Mark Bedford was born in Texas and grew up in Arkansas. He received his B.A. degree from Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville, Arkansas. He earned his M.Div. Degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. McCormick is also where he met his wife, Rev. Beth Hamilton. They have two daughters; Christina, who lives with her husband Everick in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Sloane, who lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Mark’s parents and his sister live near Dallas, Texas. Mark and Beth have a cat and a cocker spaniel who are not spoiled at all. Mark was a lay minister in the Chicago area and was director of the Youth Empowerment Skills Program at Trinity Presbyterian Church of Milwaukee. He was ordained to his first ministry at the Presbyterian Church of New Windsor, Illinois. He was a performing member of the Chicago Storytelling Guild. He has taught his class, “Movie Heroes and Villains and Biblical Ethics” at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies’ “Synod School” several times. He has also volunteered for public radio. Mark became the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Sioux City in June 2021. You can contact him at 712-255-8919 or at pastor@1stpresby.com.