M. Swendseid

Swendseid, M. Douglas Douglas Swendseid died on January 24 at home and in peace, with his beloved wife, Solveig, by his side. He spent his life sharing the good news of the Gospel with people throughout the world through his work with the Lutheran Church. Doug was born January 21, 1926 in Sidney, Montana to Melvin and Edith Swendseid. He was baptized on July 2, 1926 and confirmed at First Lutheran in Lambert, Montana on September 18, 1938. He grew up on a wheat and cattle farm, nine miles northwest of Lambert, where he graduated from High School on May 22, 1941. Doug earned his bachelors of arts in 1949 from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, where he met Solveig Mavis Stenerson. The couple married on September 2, 1950 at First Lutheran, Parshall, North Dakota, near the bride's home. Doug completed his bachelors of divinity in 1952 at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota; was ordained at First Lutheran in Lambert that June; and accepted a call to missionary service in Japan. Doug and Solveig served in Japan for 13 years, where he was Executive Secretary of the Japan Lutheran Literature Society and Treasurer of the Japan Mission. Doug earned his masters of theology in 1966 from Princeton Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey; then accepted a call as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Pacifica, California for the next four years. In November 1970, Doug became Area Secretary for East Asia in Global Missions of the American Lutheran Church, moving his family to Edina, Minnesota. When the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America was formed in 1988, he held a similar position at the national offices in Chicago until his retirement in 1991. Doug served on the boards of numerous organizations that focused on Christian education and outreach in Asia including Foundation for Theological Education in Southeast Asia, Japan International Christian University Foundation, Midwest China Study Resource Center, and United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. During his retirement, Doug helped form the Hospitality Center for Chinese in St. Paul, and presided as president of the board of directors from 1994 to 2002. Doug lived in retirement with his wife, Solveig, in Edina, Minnesota; they were members of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Bloomington. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Solveig; his sister, Dorothy LeRoy (husband, Harry); four children: Rachel Overton (husband, Bill); Claudia Swendseid (husband, Clark Thurn); Greta Soleim (husband, Jim); and Kristin Gomez (husband, David); and ten grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to: Global Mission Institute, 2481 Como Avenue, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN 55108; or Global Missions, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 30 at 11:00 AM, followed by a luncheon at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 8600 Fremont, Bloomington, MN. Private interment Hillside Cemetery. Washburn-McReavy Edina Chapel 952-920-3996

Tributes

M. Swendseid

January 28, 2008

Tributes

M. Swendseid

January 28, 2008

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