Dr. John Barth Salveson

Dr. John Barth Salveson was born December 26, 1963 to Rev. Jerry and Joan (Stenberg) Salveson on their 10th wedding anniversary. He was born in Polson, Montana while his father served English Lutheran Church in Ronan, Montana. John began his elementary education in Kindred, North Dakota. After a move to Fargo, North Dakota, he attended Grace Lutheran School and completed high school at Oak Grove Lutheran. John received his Bachelors degree in music from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. During his high school years he served as the organist at St. John Lutheran and St. Marks Lutheran churches in the Fargo area. After college John moved to the Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area to pursue his passion for a career in music ministry. He began his service at Mount Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Minneapolis. From there he had a full time opportunity at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waverly, MN. This was his first chance to blossom and demonstrate his full talents. The Bishop came for a service and was astounded at the music and how well the congregation sang. His priest Father Bill was not surprised. He had told John I want you to give me a Lutheran choir! From here John pursued his Masters of Music and Worship at Luther Seminary in St. Paul in a joint program with St. Olaf College. Here his professors were impressed with his knowledge of theology, which he had gained from his father. From there John moved to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia Heights, MN, St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Inver Grove, MN. Then an opportunity for a full time Lutheran position presented itself in Lawrence, KS just west of Kansas City. But the call of Minnesota was too great and John later returned to the Twin Cities area to serve at St. Josephs Catholic Church in Hopkins, MN. After a brief stint at Christ the River of Life in Minneapolis John took a position at Mount Carmel Lutheran in Minneapolis while he pursued his doctorate. He graduated with a Doctorate in Organ Performance and Choral Conducting from the University of Minnesota in 2012. He was then able to really blossom at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN. His final position was as Minister of Music/Organist at First Presbyterian of Greensburg, Pennsylvania. When the cancer diagnosis came in August of 2021 and the outlook was grim, John said, "Well, I got to do my dream job for three and a half years". John met his future husband, Robert Moen, on June 20, 1990 at a Lutheran's Concerned (for LGBT people) worship meeting. His original thought was that Bob was a "kook". He often said this was later verified. When marriage became legal, John and Bob were married at their home congregation, Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis on June 7, 2014. This year they celebrated 32 years of their life together!

Tributes

Dr. John Barth Salveson

December 26, 1963 - September 21, 2022

Tributes

Dr. John Barth Salveson

December 26, 1963 - September 21, 2022

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