Ragnvald Severin Aanestad
October 24, 1910 - November 14, 2008
Obituary
Ragnvald Severin Aanestad, age 98, died peacefully on November 14, 2008 in Federal Way, WA. Born October 24, 1910 in Cottonwood, MN to Helge and Anna Dahl Aanestad. He graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN and after graduating from seminary he served congregations in Shelby, MT, McClusky and Hatton, ND. He served most of his ministry at University Lutheran in Grand Forks, ND and Rosendal Lutheran, rural Reynolds, ND. Ragnvald is survived by his daughters, Leoralyn McWilliams, Rebecca James Brislin, Raanah Aanestad; Son, Pastor D. Rolf Aanestad; seven grandchildren, John, Mark, Rachel, Jonathan, Christina, Kari and Erik; 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Sylfest Orwoll Aanestad, Alf Augustine Aanestad and sister, Solveig Lois Thorstenson. He was preceded in death by his wife Leora in 2003, daughter, Rachael, Son, Roald, great-grandson, John, his parents Helge and Anna and his brothers, Ditlif, Helge, Wilhelm and Harold. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 29th, 2008 at 2:00 pm at Christ Lutheran Church, 2501 SW 320th, Federal Way, WA. A memorial service in the North Dakota/Minnesota area will be scheduled at a later date. The family prefers memorial contributions be made to Christ Lutheran Church, 2501 SW 320th, Federal Way, WA 98023 or Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108 or ARC, Upper Valley, Inc., 2500 Demers Ave., Grand Forks, ND 58201.
Homage to Lon
Just a few weeks ago, on his 98th birthday, as I was sitting next to him, Lon was telling me how much he was looking forward to his 100th birthday. As he was talking, reminiscing some of his past, very alert, he was looking and smiling at everyone in the room.
Lon did not want to reach those 100 years just to beat a record of some sort or because he was afraid of dying. He just wanted to reach those 100 years because he really enjoyed being among us, old and young, strong and weak, sick and healthy. He just wanted to prolong the fellowship that he had with every one of us. He was one of us and all of us loved this old patriarch of our church. And while we know that he will be watching us from where he is, we and I will miss him.
We will miss his inspiring words of wisdom, his strong singing voice, his loving attention to everyone, his sparkling smiling eyes that time and age had not been able to take away. And for myself, I will be missing those few minutes spent with him after the Sunday services in the narthex of the church discussing fine points of Biblical interpretation or other topics of interest to both of us. I wish I had known Lon a long time ago, but it has been a real privilege to have known him at all.
Well, Lon will not celebrate his 100th birthday, at least not on Earth among us. Jesus saw that Lon was getting tired. A cure for his illness was not to be. So Jesus wrapped his arms around him and called him to come home.
As he was releasing his last breath, there is no question that Jesus was there to welcome him with the promise that he gave to all the disciples that he sent to love and serve: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’Matthew 25:23.
Faithful servant, Lon was definitely one, a saint as far as I am concerned. He spent his life in the Ministry of Jesus Church. But, his unconditional faith was absolutely striking. Lon was one of those people with so much faith in Jesus that you end up wondering if they know something that you don’t or if you are missing something.
I obviously don’t know Lon’s commission in his new life. I just hope that he will be charged to help those of us, like me, too rational to eradicate all doubts and bring us to that unconditional faith that was so characteristic of Lon’s life.
Lon, I love you and with all the Church’s brothers and sisters, while we know that you are watching, we will miss you.
Pierre Leroueil.
Federal Way, WA
November 25, 2008
Mike and I would like to express our sincere sympathy in the loss of Pr. Rolf’s father. Although we have never known him, he must have been quite a man…we sure think a lot of our pastor and want him to know we support him at this time.
I would like to extend my sympathy to my cousins Lonnie, Bekkie, Raanah, Rolf and their families in their loss. I give thanks for the life of my Uncle Lon who was very much like a father to me. He will be missed.
On behalf of Bethlehem Church, I would like to extend our most sincere Condolences to our Pastor and all of his family.
It is so nice to read his obituary & as a family you all are celebrating the wonderful full life he lived.
We will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers.
God’s Blessings
Pamela
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Pastor Aanestad, you will forever live in our hearts, for your love, kindness and leadership to our family.
Lon was my idol. I want to grow up just like him! A finer man I’ve never known. We will both miss his heart warming smile and his baritone voice. Lon’s love for poetry was something we Charlie shared.