Pastor Malcolm Unseth
September 14, 1927 - April 25, 2009
Obituary
Beloved child and servant of God, Malcolm Wulff Unseth Jr went home to meet his Savior on God’s glorious spring evening of April 25. Born 9-14-27 in Chicago, the only child of Malcolm Sr & Beatrice Flem. Moved to the Barrington countryside where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Lois Duensing. Survived by the love of his life for 61 yrs, Lois; children Catherine, Minda, Malcolm III Karen, Gretchen, & Jonathan; grandson Matthew Christena; and great-grand daughter Hailey Grace. Preceded in death by daughter Brita Ingrid & his parents.
Answering God’s call to the parish ministry, he & his young family moved to Minneapolis where he graduated from Augsburg Seminary & was ordained into the Lutheran ministry June 1956. He served parishes in Portland & Klamath Falls, OR, and Seattle.
As a life long learner, he was committed to education & left a legacy of early childhood education programs in each of the parishes he served. At Ballard First Lutheran, he found his true calling. Being part of a large Scandinavian community against protocol, he invited King Olaf of Norway to attend services @ BFL & he accepted, & in particular, ministering to the fishing community. Mal was a member of the Norwegian Commercial Club; instrumental in the development of the Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial, later serving as chairman of the Memorial Com.; & served as Chaplain to the Seattle Fire Department.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. William Woo, & Dr. Saul Rivkin, his nurses & staff @ the Swedish Tumor Institute for their personal & loving care, also Angela & Anthony whose smiles & ‘helloes’ brightened Dad’s days.
Visitation Friday, May 1, 4:00 to 8:30pm @ Wiggen & Sons Funeral Home. Celebration of Life service Saturday, May 2, 2:00 pm @ Ballard First Lutheran. Memorials may be given to Seattle Fishermen’s Memorial Scholarship Fund, Dearborn Park Elementary School 2nd Grade, or to ELCA Hunger Relief – designate ‘life-giving water’ or ‘God’s global barnyard’.
