The Rev. Marlen W. Johnson was the first pastor of Centennial United Methodist Church (CUMC). Upon his death on March 18, 1969, in lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship fund was established to support young people preparing for the Christian ministry. Scholarships awarded were known as Marlen Johnson Scholarships. The first awards were made December 27, 1970 to four young men preparing for careers in Christian ministry. (Awardees were John Ellig, Ronald Hillstrom, Greg Iverson and Mark Johnson, Rev. Marlen Johnson's oldest son.)

The next year, December 26, 1971, three Marlen Johnson Scholarships were awarded. Funds for these scholarship awards were augmented through memorial gifts honoring Dr. Harry Kitts (the Dr. Harry Kits Memorial Scholarship Fund) whose death occurred on June 16, 1971. Harry Kitts was an educator, a civic leader and a driving force in the development of Centennial Church.

In 1972, it was decided to combine the Johnson and Kitts scholarship funds into the Johnson/Kitts Scholarship Fund. Solicitations were made to the Centennial congregation to support the funds through their donations, with scholarships to be awarded in December of each year.

At the same time as the scholarship funds were being combined, efforts were underway to establish a foundation to receive and administer all special gifts to Centennial Church. The Johnson/Kitts Scholarships would become the responsibility of the Foundation.

On March 4, 1972, the Administrative Board of Centennial United Methodist Church approved proposed By-Laws and Articles of Incorporation for the Centennial United Methodist Church Foundation (CUMCF). On April 23, 1973, the state of Minnesota Secretary of State formally recorded the incorporation of the CUMCF.

M. Harpole - December 16, 1995