A steeple that stands tall; a history that runs deep

Friends Home Lutheran Church still sports an active, vibrant congregation after 128 years, despite its secluded environs in far southern Allen County. Work to refurbish the church's steeple was completed earlier this month.
Janelle and Rhett Allee and son Daniel stand in front of Friends Home Lutheran Church west of Savonburg. The 128-year-old church’s steeple was refurbished earlier this month. Photo by Richard Luken / Iola Register
by Richard Luken
Published: October 23, 2026
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Friends Home Lutheran Church still sports an active, vibrant congregation after 128 years, despite its secluded environs in far southern Allen County. Work to refurbish the church’s steeple was completed earlier this month.

Friends Home Lutheran Church not long after it was built in 1898.

SAVONBURG — Rhett Allee remembers the first time he paid a visit to Savonburg’s iconic Friends Home Lutheran Church.

“I was expecting just a little country church,” he recalled.

At the time, Rhett — an Ohio native — had been living in Fort Scott, and had never been to this neck of Allen County until he had begun his courtship with the former Janelle Johnson, a fourth-generation church member.

Richard Luken

Richard has been a part of the Register family since 1994. Richard covers general news and, on occasion, sports. A native of Moran, Richard came to the paper while still a student at Allen Community College. With mentors former publisher Emerson Lynn Jr. and former veteran reporter Bob Johnson at the ready, Richard learned how to be a star reporter. Over the span of his 28 years his news beats have included school board meetings for Districts 257 and 258, as well as Allen Community College trustee meetings. He’s also routinely covered city council meetings for Iola, Humboldt, LaHarpe and Moran. He’s covered floods, wrecks, true crime — everything from heart-warming to heart-breaking stories. For his work, Richard has consistently won top awards in statewide competitions year after year. Outside the office, he enjoys sports, reading and keeping up with the kids and grandkids.

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