Services for Rev. Dr. Gerald Curtis John White
Mon, 01/10/2022 - 8:31am
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With sorrow, relief, thankfulness and love entwined, the family of Rev. Dr. Gerald Curtis John White of rural Winger, MN announce his passing on January 4, 2022 at the age of 95. He died in the home where he was born September 18, 1926, his grandfather’s homestead farm in Sletten township. After a short time in Minneapolis, he and his mother, Jeane White, returned to the farm where “Curtis” (as he was known by the oldtimers) grew up, attending a one-room school a couple miles from the farm, until boarding with his aunt Hannah Bjerk in McIntosh, to attend the “town” school. After a brief time working on the ore boats on the Great Lakes, he returned and graduated from McIntosh High School in 1944.
The day after graduation, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps as an Aviation Cadet and while waiting for flight training was sent to radio mechanic school at Truax Airfield in Madison, WI. When the war ended, he entered Concordia College in Moorhead, graduating in 1949 with a degree in Chemistry. After a year of graduate study at Kansas State University, he sensed the call to attend Luther Seminary in St. Paul, earning a Bachelor of Theology degree and being ordained at Bethel Lutheran Church in Sletten township on May 24, 1953.
He married Inez Hagen of Kindred, ND on May 23, 1953. While serving his first 4-point parish in the White Earth, ND area, her health failed so they moved to Fargo, ND where he began working on a MS in Chemistry at NDSU. She died in January, 1956. Despite several enticements to teach at NDSU, he discerned a strong call back to the parish and moved to Kalispell, MT to serve at Bethlehem Lutheran Church as associate pastor. It was there he met Joyce Alton, president of the Luther League and later, office secretary for the church. Before she left for Pacific Lutheran College in Tacoma, WA, Gerald asked her to marry him. He was persistent and in early 1958 she agreed to share her life with him, transferring to Macalester College in St. Paul, since he was again at Luther Seminary where he earned his Master of Theology degree. They were married June 21, 1959 at Bethlehem in Kalispell, MT.
“A Ministry of Two” began with an interim assignment in Fairview, MT the summer before moving to Alberta, Canada where he taught religion and chemistry at Camrose Lutheran Junior College and High School, while also providing pulpit supply for local parishes. Their oldest daughter, Stephanie Jeane, was born in May, 1960. After a few years, they moved to St. Louis, MO so he could begin work on his Doctorate of Theology in Old Testament and Semitic Languages at Concordia Seminary. Christine Marie joined the family in January of 1962.
The end of the term they moved back north to Portland, ND to serve Bruflat Lutheran Church and its rural sister congregation of Trinity. Here daughters Rebecca Joyce (’63), JoAnn Maureen (’65), and Katherine Elizabeth (’72) joined the growing family. During this time, he also taught at Mayville State College as Associate Professor of Chemistry and instructor in world religions. In 1971, the family reconnected with relatives in Norway where his grandmother came from. A rich connection of family, culture and travel in both directions ensued. This connection has brought so much joy and many opportunities. He was invited on several occasions to preach and speak in Norway. He was fluent in Norwegian and Swedish and often mistaken as a native when over there visiting. He also conducted Norwegian language services in churches around the upper Midwest. The family also began singing throughout the area at worship services, fairs, and civic celebrations.
In 1972, he accepted the call to be Education Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, MN and from there was called to Rugby, ND. After four years there, the economic woes of the time and the death of his mother, prompted a move back to the farm to put things in order. Work began on a new family home and restoration of buildings from his youth. He borrowed a bulldozer from Marls Kaupang and carved out a basement in a hillside, then set blocks to form the walls of the first floor. Ernest Johnson of McIntosh picked up the homestead cabin ( cut in two pieces with a chainsaw) with a backhoe and lifted them atop the new foundation, creating a second and third floor. Next, Melford and Orvin Grundyson helped set the rafters and roofboards in place and set up the plumbing, and it was ready to move in. Later improvements were made with the help of Lonny Gieseke and his crew.
With only a limited source of income at the time, Gerald taught the family how to live from the gifts of the land, raising chickens, pigs, goats, llamas, alpacas and growing food in the garden. Two foster sons joined the family through the LSS Unaccompanied Minors Program, Cuong and Truc Le. As the daughters grew and married, the family expanded again, broadening the understanding of what family is and how vast our God’s love.
His love of building flourished on the farm, as he finished the main home and expanded the “Chicken Coop” to become a woodworking and stained glass fabricating shop and guest house, complete with pool table, hot tub, laundry, bedrooms and full kitchen! In his 80s, he refurbished the granary and built a Community Chapel using the siding and interior furniture of Sand Hill Lutheran Church which was being demolished. This labor of love was done, in his words, “to honor the early settlers who brought us the faith and gave us so much.” His love of history, education, teaching, building and restoring found its perfect balance on the farm.
He provided an interim ministry in Zion Lutheran Church in Duluth MN, commuting back to the family on the farm for a season until the 3-point parish at Rindal, MN with Faaberg, Ness, and Norman congregations opened. The parish later expanded to 4 and then 7-points as Gerald mentored Intern pastors in rural ministry. After 10 years at Rindal, he retired – or tried to – when he turned 62. The next day, he moved out west to teach Chemistry and Religion at Dickinson State University and serve as interim and pulpit supply in several area churches. Upon return to the farm in 1995, he served eleven years as Visitation Pastor at Hope Lutheran in Fosston, MN with Pastor Paul Magelssen. He also provided supply preaching at Calvary Lutheran in Winger and Immanuel Lutheran in Bejou until his 90s.
Gerald loved to tell stories of how life changes – AND how God’s love sustains and carries us through whatever changes come – God is faithful. He died peacefully on the farm where his life began. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jeane White, uncles Oscar and Carl Carlson, aunts Hannah Bjerk and Mary Hanson, first wife, Inez Hagen, and his grandparents, John and Caroline Carlson and several cousins here and in Norway who all had a place in his generous loving heart.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joyce; Daughters Rev. Stephanie White of Shelby, MT; Christine (Dale) Lennon of Bismarck, ND; Rev. Rebecca (Todd) Worner of Starbuck, MN; Dr. JoAnn (Ehsan) Khaleel of San Diego, CA; Katherine White (Hiten Doshi) of Anaheim, CA; Cuong (Hang) Le of Andover, MN; Truc (Vy) Le of Kent, WA; Grandchildren Joshua, Joel (Becky), Jenna, John, Jared (Leah), Trevor (Melissa), Cody, Kevin (Kari), Teresa (Jeremy), Grace, Jordan, Varun, Sonia, Brandon, Robin, Jonathan, and Jennifer; and Great Grandchildren Danielle, Nathan, Charlotte, Annabelle, Olivia, Ella, Heather, and Rosemary.
A celebration of Life in Christ will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Winger, MN with Pastor Stephanie White and Pastor Rebecca Worner officiating. Out of respect for the family and other vulnerable guests, masks will be required. Memorials to churches and charities of your own choice are suggested. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Fosston and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.