Photo courtesy of Patricia Kachel Storyteller Pati Kachel to give two presentations on Nov. 1

MARSHALL — Anyone who treasures good family stories is likely to enjoy Patricia Kachel’s combination of entertainment and education.

Kachel will speak Nov. 1 in Marshall, starting with a 10 a.m. program at the Lyon County Museum. She’ll follow that up with a different presentation at 6:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church.

She has a total of 48 different programs that she delivers to audiences throughout the Upper Midwest. Her venues include churches, senior centers, schools, libraries, conference centers, youth groups, coffeehouses, and community clubs.

Her visit to Marshall, which will be the first time she’s spoken locally, came about after a presentation last December at the Lake Shetek Lutheran Ministries retreat center in Murray County.

“I’m looking forward to coming to Marshall,” Kachel said. “My friend Bonny Doyle brought a group of people to the Lake Shetek program. They liked it and wanted to bring me back to the region.”

Her morning program at the museum will be the same one she delivered at Lake Shetek.Titled “Ya Sure, I’m a Norvegian Luteran,” it reflects Kachel’s family heritage. She uses songs, humor and historical information to tell about her family’s pioneer era settlement near Paynesville in central Minnesota.

She has performed the program for many Sons of Norway chapters and Lutheran churches. She is a charter member of the Pauline Fjelde Daughters of Norway Lodge #51 of Minneapolis.

“I enjoy sharing my family’s experiences,” she said. “They came here for a better life. They did the hard work so we could have the kind of lives we lead today.”

At First Lutheran Church she’ll deliver a first ever performance called “Cookin vit de Norskies.” It includes a collection of vintage aprons and information found in old Norwegian cookbooks. It will also include family memories.

“I created it as a tribute to everyone who sets a table for a family,” Kachel said. “They spend hours in the kitchen in order to serve their best food to loved ones. In many ways they’re unsung heroes. They help to keep families together.”

Kachel’s 48 programs encompass many topics such as love stories, Irish tales, gardening, parenting, Christmas, and caregiving.

In some of her other programs she gives first person portrayals of Christian women who include Mother Teresa, Florence Nightingale, Helen Keller, Ruth Bell Graham, Katharina von Bora Luther and others. She has several literary programs that feature Anne of Green Gables, Jane Austen and Beatrix Potter.

With any topic, Kachel aims to present her audience with memorable personal stories, the kind that many people keep alive as they preserve family history.

“I do my best to be heartwarming,” she said. “I specialize in family oriented stories and culture that’s intended to make people happy. Hopefully it makes them think about their own stories, ones they can pass on to younger generations.”

Corlys Knudson of First Lutheran Church said Kachel’s blend of humor, storytelling and cultural heritage is expected to be popular next week with Marshall audiences.

“Pati gives great presentations,” Knudson said. “She’s has great material and a really seasoned speaking style. I think everyone who attends will enjoy meeting her.”