Rev. Arlyn Anfinrud
February 11, 1926 ~ March 31, 2019
Reverend Arlyn Morris Anfinrud, Fargo ND died peacefully March 31, 2019 in the presence of family and the loving care of Hospice of the RRV. He was 93.
Arlyn was born February 11, 1926 to Selvin and Betsy (Moen) Anfinrud in their farm home near Belgrade, MN. He learned Norwegian in the home, then English when he entered first grade in 1931. He was baptized and confirmed at Big Grove Lutheran Church. He graduated from Belgrade High School in 1942 and began college at St. Olaf. An only child, Arlyn suspended his college education during the war to help his father on the farm. It was during this time that he was elected president of the Family Luther League, and while studying the scriptures, grew in an awareness of the Lord’s call for him to become a Pastor. Arlyn graduated from St. Olaf in 1949 and enrolled in Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul. He interned in Scobey, Montana and served 5 churches in that area. He graduated from seminary, was ordained at Big Grove on June 14, 1953, and began a pastoral ministry in North Dakota that spanned 6 decades.
On July 16, 1953, Pastor Anfinrud was installed at Dunseith Lutheran church, a three-point parish that included Little Prairie and Rendahl Lutheran rural churches. On August 31, 1954, he married Verna Danielson, a parishioner who was working as a nurse at San Haven. While in Dunseith, their son David Arlyn was born. In 1956, the family moved to St. Thomas where he served St. John’s Lutheran and Landstad Lutheran in Auburn. While there, sons Mark Norman and Philip Arnold were born. In 1965, the family moved to Aneta to serve Sundahl and Logan Lutheran churches. John Richard was added to the family in 1967. After 17 years in Aneta, Arlyn’s last call was in 1982 to serve First Lutheran in Fessenden. Though he formally retired in 1990, he continued his ministry for 22 years as interim Pastor in numerous parishes including Bottineau, Metigoshe, Barton, Willow City, Rolla, Perth, Cando, Bisbee, Egeland, Rolette, Overly and various other pulpit supply opportunities to share the gospel.
Arlyn will be remembered by his parishioners as a caring, humble and faithful servant, always pointing the light toward Jesus.
Arlyn served on the Indian Mission board as well as various community organizations over his years. He enjoyed many hobbies and spent his spare time with photography, lapidary, stained glass, jewelry, woodworking, researching his ancestry, and an occasional round of golf. His favorite place to visit was Glacier National Park. Arlyn and Verna took many trips with confirmation classes to Glacier to share the beauty and the experience. Long hikes, Big Horn sheep, and close calls with Grizzly bears provided confirmands with memories sure to last a lifetime.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Verna; and children David (Nelma) Anfinrud of Renton, WA; Mark (Lois) Anfinrud of Fargo, ND; Philip (Annette) Anfinrud of Rockville, MD; John (Jodi) Anfinrud of Chanhassen, MN; along with 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Preceded in death were his parents Selvin and Betsy (Moen) Anfinrud.
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His acceptance of my desire to go with Trans World Radio was a huge boost to me. Thank you, Rev. Anfinrud!
Joe Miller
Sympathy to Mark and the entire Anfinrud family – along with many other’s we will be lifting you and yours in prayer. Mark thank you for being a great example for all of us and for letting us share your dad with us. Peace..
So sorry for your loss!! Your Dad was a great pastor and person. Did great things for so many. Hang o to all your great memories. Thoughts and prayers to all of you.
Blessing to you Verna and family. I remember he was one.of the first to visit me when I moved to Aneta. Eugene has many memories if him also. Barb and Eugene Locken
Dear Verna and Anfinrud family:
So sorry to hear of Arlyn’s passing, but at the same time so happy for him to finally be home with the Lord. I just think of all the people he has touched and influenced in his lifetime. I can’t help but use him as my standard for pastoral love and care which he so richly provided. He walked the talk and I can hear Jesus say, “Well done good and faithful servant”. My heart goes out to all of you, and know that you are in our prayers as you say your last good-byes to this wonderful child of God. Peace and joy to you all.
Love,
Beck and Kevin Roller
Pastor Anfinrud was such a huge part of my faith journey. He confirmed me and certainly taught me about God’s Grace. He married Richard and I. He baptized our Carmen Beth as we headed to Fargo to see specialists. This was done at my sister’s dinning room table. He confirmed our youngest daughter, Natalie. What a spiritual leader he was to our family. Rest in Peace Dear Pastor. Love to Verna and boys.
Dear Verna, David, Mark, Philip, John and your families:
Diane and I hold you in our prayers in these days of your loss; and we celebrate with Arlyn at his homecoming with Jesus. His great faith served him and all the rest of us so very well. We especially appreciate his strong support as we decided that ordained ministry would be our track in life. Arlyn’s presiding at my ordination is a great memory for us. Thanks so much to all of you for friendship and faith. God’s forever grace holds us all!
Dear Verna & family,
I am so sorry to hear about Pastor’s passing. Such a good pastor whose sermons touched everyone’s heart. Keeping you in my prayers.
To the Anfinrud family,
You have entrusted Arlyn to his Heavenly Father’s care and love. Arlyn has gone home, where his faithfulness to his Lord and Savior will be rewarded. His strong faith led many to Christ and and his loving concern for all made him a strong community servant. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”.
You will be in our prayers and thoughts in the coming days.
God’s blessings,
Paul & Karen Retzlaff
He and Verna were so important in my young life. They were next door neighbors and friends. I loved them both. I’m hoping Verna is ok. My very best to all of you.
Verna and John and your family. Prayers to all of you. I so loved Pastor Anfinrud. He was a great man and wonderful Pastor. Hugs and prayers.
My condolences to the entire family.
Very nice person to visit with.Enjoyed having The family
In Fessenden.
We often hear it said the greatest thing one can do is to positively influence a child. Paster Anfinrud so positively and deeply influenced myself and many others. The world is a better place because of all he did for so many.
Dear Mark & Phil, sympathies to you as you remember your dad. A life well lived in service to his Lord. I am sharing a similar journey today as well.
Anfinrud Family,
We morn the loss Arlyn. We celebrate a dedicated life in service to our Lord and rejoice that he is now Home.
God’s blessing.
Mike and Marg Janke
My sympathies to all! Pastor Arlyn was a very good colleague in parish ministry shaping the nature of care we all seek to provide. Reading over his obituary, I realized even more some of the things we had in common. There is a sadness on his passing from this life, into eternal glory, that we share because of his vacancy now, but many secondary losses also come to mind.
Pastor Anfinrud taught me to share his passion for photography. He showed me how to develop and print my black and white photos in the basement of the St. Thomas parsonage when I was in high school. Later, he talked me into being a Bible Camp Counselor. As a college senior he gave me some personal counseling and advice that I thankfully took. My sympathies to Verna and family.
Sorry for you and your family’s loss..What a great life he led and such faith..The Lord be with you.
What a wonderful Christian man Arlyn was and his love and concern for his congregation was demonstrated in his actions. When we first moved to Fessenden and as soon as he heard we were Lutheran he was at the doorstep with pie and an invitation to worship. We were blessed to have Arlyn and Verna as part of our church family those years in Fessenden.
So sorry to hear of Arlyn’s passing. I have a lot of great memories of the Anfinrud family. Aneta was very blessed to have Arlyn and family as a part of the community for so many years. With love and prayers for the entire family.
My Dear Verna & Family, You & your beautiful family are in my thoughts at this time. I so enjoyed visiting with you & Arlyn in Fargo as it had been so many years since I had seen you & Arlyn. Our visit was very special & very memorable for me. Lovingly, Carol Lunde Olson, Portland OR
Dear Verna and family,
I was so sorry to hear of Arlyn’s passing. My heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.
Edna Steffen and family
Dear Verna, Davis, Mark, Phillip, and John, I am so sorry for your loss, but happy for Arlynn that he is now healthy and happy with his Lord and Savior. I have such good memories of my wonderful godfather!! I always looked forward to he and Verna coming to visit. I loved playing with you three little boys!! (you weren’t on the scene yet John!!) I so remember our trip to Glacier National Park which was one of the highlights of my life!! I am sorry that I will not be able to make it to the funeral or to Big Grove for the burial. I checked into flights, but nothing was really possible. I will definitely be thinking of you on both days. Love, Avis
Dear Verna and Family,
Avis Moen Herrick told me of Arlyn’s Passing. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
The video keepsake was wonderful to see. What a great family legacy! And there are so many people you have touched in your ministry. The world and North Dakota are better because of your work. My husband Allen Moen, also a farm boy from Belgrade, followed Arlyn to St. Olaf and that’s where we met in 1963. I grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota. Al and I saw the Anfinrud’s at Big Grove Lutheran, at Games Lake, in Belgrade through the years and kept in touch with Christmas letters and pictures.
With sympathy and love,
Sally (Van Heuvelen) Moen
Medina, Minnesota
Dear Verna. I was saddened to read of Arlyn’s death in the Minot Daily. It came at a time when our family was arriving from out of state to celebrate Rolly’s 90th birthday. Thus the lateness of this acknowledgement. You are well aware of the blessings of family in good times and sad times. This prompted me to get out your Christmas letter and reread and enjoy it in a quiet time. I changed your address in my book when it arrived and trust our letter arrived at your latest home since I did not get it back. Really enjoyed those pictures and good for you – still making lefse.
I assume you will be able to continue to live at New Perspectives and nice to have one of your sons close by. We had an opportunity to place Rolly at the Souris Valley Care Center here in Velva but I declined at this time, feeling I was able to still care for him here and knowing that was his wish, to be at home.
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you “Journey Onward”. I did email Lavona about Arlyn’s passing. Had intended to call Joyce but time seems to slip by,
Easter blessings to you and yours, Love, Iona