Obituary: David Egeland

David Lee Egeland was born on January 12, 1936 in Reeder, North Dakota to William and Esther (Hansing) Egeland. The youngest son of two.

He graduated from Taylor High School and moved to Decorah, Iowa and began attending Luther College. It was there he would be with a young Education Major from Fairfax, MN named Janet Nordby. They would marry in 1959.

David graduated from Luther in 1957 and moved to St. Paul where he attended Luther Seminary. He graduated from the seminary in 1961 and chose to be ordained in his home town church in Taylor. Dave received his first Ministry Call to the parish in Zahl, ND. In 1963 he would serve as pastor in Minot, ND, then three rural churches outside Williston, ND.

While in North Dakota, the Egeland family grew. First with the adoption of their first child Kevin in 1963 and then blessed again with the adoption of their second child Julie in 1965.

Though remaining on the clergy roster, Dave hung up his clerical gowns and entered the specialized ministry and began his clinical training as a Chemical Dependency Counselor and Marriage and Family therapist. He attended training in Mandan, ND and in Rochester, MN. Eventually he would find work as a Therapist and Chaplain at the Southwestern Mental Health Center in Worthington, MN.

While in Worthington his life was full. He enjoyed singing in the church choir at American Lutheran Church and playing softball for the church team. He was active in the Lion’s Club. Dave also relished his bike rides around Lake Okabena and long walks around the neighborhood.

Dave enjoyed travel and led the family on many great vacation adventures. And when the children were grown and off to college, he and Jan began traveling with family and friends, enjoying several fun trips abroad. They sailed the Rhine, explored the fjords of Norway, tossed down a pint in Ireland, and Dave pestered the Guards at Buckingham Palace, just to name a few.

Dave’s life was rich and full and the lives of those he touched were richer for it. He had many friends and helped many people along the way.

Dave’s adventures were slowed by his development of Parkinson’s Disease around 2006. He was diagnosed with Cholangiocarcinoma in January of 2012 and succumbed to the disease in the early morning hours of May 18. He died peacefully at home in his sleep next to his loving wife, Jan.

He is survived by his wife, Janet, of Worthington; brother, Bernole, of Boulder, CO; son, Kevin, of Los Angeles, Calif.; daughter, Julie Toomey, and her husband David, of St. Louis MO; and grandchildren, Kathryn and Nicolas.

Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 11:00am at American Lutheran Church in Worthington, MN with the Rev. Ryan Radtke officiating. A time of fellowship will be held prior to the service starting at 10:00am. A light lunch will follow.

Memorials may be sent to: The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, 5526 West 13400 South, #510 , Salt Lake City, Utah 84096 (www.cholangiocarcinoma.org) or Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, 400 Mercer St., #504, Seattle, WA 98109 (www.nwpf.org).

Benson Funeral Home, Worthington, is in charge of arrangements.

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