Reverend Allan Berdette Sortland

The Rev. Allan B. Sortland, 96, passed away, surrounded by family, on Sunday, October 20, following a fall. He was born in Litchville, North Dakota, and grew up in Fargo, graduating from Oak Grove Lutheran High School. He attended Concordia College, served in the U.S. Army, and earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis. He later received a Doctor of Divinity Degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago. Pastor Sortland was ordained as a Lutheran minister in 1953 and served as pastor to Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Powers Lake, North Dakota from 1953 to 1957; Sharon Lutheran at Grand Forks from 1957 to 1965; as an associate pastor at First Lutheran in Albert Lea, Minnesota, from 1965 to 1972; pastor of American Lutheran in Lincoln, Nebraska, from 1972 to 1978; and as an associate pastor at Calvary Lutheran in Golden Valley from 1978 until 1994. After retirement, he and his wife, Eunice, moved to Plymouth, Minnesota. Allan enjoyed his children, grandchildren, and many friends and relatives. He and Eunice took many trips around America and Europe. He also studied in the Holy Land. He enjoyed downhill skiing, photography, and reading books. He authored a number of histories about his family which was a center of his life. A lot of the family activity focused on the annual Grace Lake reunions he started in 1961 for the extended Sortland family and which are still continuing. He was dedicated to his family and his churches. He is survived by Eunice (née Nystuen), his wife of 72 years, his children, Paul (Carolyn Anderson), John, Mary (Rod Moberg), and David (Marie), along with grandchildren Joseph (Kelsey), Martha, Nicholas (Mike Kohfeld), Benjamin, Katrina, Natasha, Brandon and Brian (Megan), Britta (Eric Ryan), Ana (fiancé Jack Dean), and Eric, and great grandchildren: Linnea, Olin, Wyatt, Haylee, and Sven, one sister (Eunice Anderson), and one brother-in-law (William Halverson), as well as sisters-in-law Beverly Carlsen (Omar Nelson), Winifred Nyhus, Miriam Gusdal, Grace Watkins, (Dennis), and Nancy Nystuen, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was predeceased on his side by his parents, John and Hulda (Teigland), brother Howard, sister Marolyn Halverson, and brothers-in law, Ivar Anderson, and Lonnie Webb, and by sisters-in law, Mary Lou, and Lynda. On his wife's side, he was predeceased by Eunice's parents, the Rev. Joseph and Selma Nystuen, by brothers-in-law Erling Carlsen, Edward Nyhus, Delmar Gusdal, and Joseph Nystuen. Visitation at 10 am, funeral at 11 am on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church, 17205 County Rd 6, Plymouth, MN 55447, reception following. Memorials preferred to St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church or to Luther Seminary, St. Paul. www.Washburn-McReavy.com Robbinsdale Chapel 763-537-2333

Tributes

Reverend Allan Berdette Sortland

January 26, 1928 - October 20, 2024

Tributes

Reverend Allan Berdette Sortland

January 26, 1928 - October 20, 2024

We are here for you 24x7

Call us and get help now

(612) 377-2203