Sister Joan Hentges, OSB papers

Sister Joan (M. Theodore) Hentges was born in Mitchell, South Dakota to Theodore and Gertrude Henteges; she had a sister, Jean. In Cañon City, Colorado, she attended Saint Scholastica Academy, transferring to St. Scholastica High School in Chicago to do her postulant year with the Benedictine Sisters. She made final vows in 1953 as Sister M. Theodore. She earned a Bachelor of Philosphy degree at DePaul University and a Master of Ministry at Seattle University as well as studying at the Mexican American Cultural Center in San Antonio, Texas, Mount St. Scholastica College, and Seattle University. She taught elementary school in Illinois, Arizona, and Colorado for about 20 years before making the switch to parish work in the San Luis Valley of Colorado and later, Christ the King Parish in Pueblo. In addition to parish ministry, she was actively involved in political advocacy, and she initiated a Colorado section of Oblates shortly before her retirement to the monastery in Chicago. Sister Joan died of cancer.