Rev. W Gordon Smedsrud

SMEDSRUD, HUFFMAN, PRESTEMON, EBNER

Posted By: Diana Henry Diedrich (email)
Date: 5/20/2007 at 15:31:40

MASON CITY — The Rev. W. Gordon Smedsrud, 83, of Mason City, died Tuesday (Jan. 20, 2004) at his home following a brief illness.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Center for Faith and Life at Luther College in Decorah, with the Rev. Jim Magelssen of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, and the Rev. Mike Blair, Campus Minister, Luther College, officiating. Interment will be at a later date at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery in Waukon, Iowa.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. prior to the service at the Center for Faith and Life.

Gordon was born Dec. 13, 1920, in Waukon, to Carl and Pearl (Huffman) Smedsrud. He was baptized at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church, both in Waukon.

He graduated from Waukon Senior High School, and obtained his undergraduate degree at Luther College in Decorah. He then attended Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary) in St. Paul, Minn., graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 1945.

On Aug. 9, 1945, he was united in marriage with (Helena) Marie Prestemon at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church.

Gordon was ordained as a Lutheran minister on Oct. 7, 1945, at St. John’s Lutheran Church.

He served at First Lutheran and Little Sioux Lutheran churches in Milford, Iowa; First Lutheran Church in Clarion, Iowa; St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Ames, Iowa; and Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

While in Spirit Lake, he also initiated the first drive-in worship service at Lakeland drive-in theatre in Okoboji, Iowa.

He served as International Luther League president from 1955 to 1958 and as director of the ALC Youth Office in Minneapolis, Minn., from 1959 to 1962.

He accepted the call from Luther College as campus pastor and served at Luther from 1962 to 1983, having been named as Dean of Campus Ministries during his tenure.

After retiring from Luther, he served yet another parish, Waterloo Ridge, in Dorchester, Iowa, from 1985 to 1996.

Gordon was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City, where he enjoyed participating in men’s Bible study.

He enjoyed golfing, trout fishing and camping. He was also an avid reader.

He spent many happy hours at auctions and operated The Emporium, a retail antique business in Decorah, from 1977 to 1987.

He took great pleasure in spending time with his loving wife of 58 years, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his love for them exceeded only by his love of and service to his Lord.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, (Helena) Marie Smedsrud of Mason City; son, Rick Smedsrud and his wife, Gini, of Mason City; daughter, Rachel Busch and her husband, Kevin, of Garden City, Minn.; grandchildren, Chris Smedsrud and his wife, Tricia, of Roseville, Minn., Karin Smedsrud of Northfield, Minn., Ashley Smedsrud of Mason City, Molly Smedsrud of Edina, Minn., and Sarah Busch of Garden City, Minn.; great-grandchildren, Kirstyn Schmidt of Le Center, Minn., Jacob Schmidt of Le Center, Marisa Smedsrud of Roseville, Minn., and Taylor Smedsrud of Northfield, Minn.; sister, Clarice Ebner and her husband, Chuck, of Preston, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Gwen (Prestemon) Haugen of Wanamingo, Minn., and Marian Smedsrud of Waukon, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Milton Haugen; his brother, Arden; a sister, Alice; and a granddaughter, Emily.

Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Mason City, is in charge of arrangements.
Mason City Gazette 23 Jan 2004