Rev. Dr. Larry A. Gedde

Reverend Dr. Larry A. Gedde, 75, of Richfield, MN, formerly of Fergus Falls, died, Thursday, June 27, 2019, at his home.

Born March 8, 1944, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena, MN, Pr. Gedde was one of two sons born to Alice and Arthur Gedde, Wadena, MN. Larry was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church, grew up in Wadena, and graduated from WHS 1962.

Larry started college at Concordia College (Moorhead), but enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966 before finishing college. After basic training, he sang in the Army Field Band Chorus. Upon discharge, Larry returned to Concordia, graduating in 1970. While there, Larry met his wife Evelyn on a blind date. They married at Messiah Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND, on June 12, 1970, and moved to Columbus, OH, where Larry attended and graduated from the Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity Degree in May 1973. In the 1980’s, Larry earned his Doctor of Ministries degree from the Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

Ordained into the ministry on November 18, 1973, Larry served the following parishes: Watson (MN) Lutheran Parish; Richland Lutheran Church (WA); Immanuel Lutheran Church (Clara City, MN); Bethlehem Lutheran Church (Fergus Falls, MN); interim ministries in Battle Lake, Ashby, and Montevideo, MN; St. Paul Lutheran Church (Lodi, CA); HLS Rural Lutheran Ministries (Hawley, MN); Abiding Savior Lutheran Church (Mounds View, MN); and Christ Lutheran Church (Marine on St. Croix, MN).

Larry also served his Lord through positions outside of parish ministry. He was a military chaplain in the Minnesota Army National Guard and Air Forces Reserves. From 1958- 87, he served on the national staff of the American Lutheran Church as Regional Major Gifts Director for the stewardship program Commitment to Mission. While in Lodi, CA, he was a police chaplain. Larry served as chaplain and development director for Hospice of the Red River Valley. His passion for music, preaching, TV & radio production led him to begin a local radio ministry in Clara City, Bethlehem radio ministry in Fergus Falls, and Good News Media Ministry Richland cooperatively with his brother Palmer. His lifelong dream fulfilled in 1993, was as Speaker and Director of the national ELCA radio ministry, then known as Lutheran Vespers.

Larry retired prematurely when he suffered a fall at home and became quadriplegic on June 22, 2008. His survival depended on several artificial “organs”, including a trach and ventilator added in 2014. His last two years were especially hard, suffering many illnesses until his death.

Rev. Dr. Larry Gedde is survived by his wife of 49 years, Evelyn (Guttromson) Gedde; children, Erika Lundberg (Patrick), Adam Gedde (Sundee Kuechle) and Sonja Hollingsworth (Ben); ten grandchildren, Peder, Maren and Solveig Lundberg; Nitzana Flores, James, Samuel, Josephine and Emilia Gedde and Noah and Chloe Hollingsworth; sisters-in-law, Beverly (Palmer) Gedde, Ilene Iverson-Olson, Claudine (Lynn) Hanson, Bobbie (Orlen) Guttromson; brother-in-law, Roger Guttromson; and beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; older brother, Rev. Palmer Gedde and brother-in-law, Orlen Guttromson, Jr.

Memorials are preferred to Bethlehem Church Radio Broadcast Ministry or KBRF Morning Watch.

Visitation: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, with a public prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.
Service: 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, 2019, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls.
Clergy: Reverend Tom Peterson, Reverend Dr. Hans Wiersma and Reverend Eric Walbolt
Interment: Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN

Arrangements are with the Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls, MN
Condolences may be sent online at www.OlsonFuneralHome.com