Rev. John Norland

Reverend John Norland died Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, TX at the age of 77.

Inurnment will be on June 12, 2025, in Minnesota at the Dawson Covenant Cemetery at 1 p.m. with a Celebration of Life following at 2 p.m. at the Dawson Covenant Church.

John Martin Norland was born in Madison, WI on March 7, 1948, to Thor and Myrtle (Rendahl). He grew up on a farm just west of Madison, the youngest of four children. John went to Camp Badger Country School through 8th grade when his parents moved to Libertyville, IL. John attended and graduated from Libertyville High School. He then enrolled at Trinity College in Deerfield, IL where he was active in both Glee Club and Band. He graduated with double majors in music and history. John often sang and played guitar, piano, and accordion at church. In the fall of ‘69, he met Linda Wester, and they were married October 10th, a year later in Buffalo, MN.

John next attended Bethel Seminary in St Paul and served as youth pastor for several churches in the Twin Cities. John and Linda moved into a parsonage in Siren, WI, where John was pastor while he completed his senior year of seminary. Kristin Joy, their “May Basket,” was born on May 1,1974, and John graduated a month later. He was ordained into the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1976 and began serving churches in LaBolt and Stockholm, SD. Peter Mark, their “Groundhog,” was born on February 2, 1977. The family enjoyed living in and serving the rural communities. John helped lead the LaBolt Dam Renewal Project, played softball, and even served as fire chief. John often jumped on a combine to visit with a farmer as he made a round or drove a tractor to plow or haul hay. He was a daily regular at the coffee shops and cheered on the high school teams. John shepherded his congregations with care.

In 1983, the family moved to Elgin, IL, where John served as pastor of Country Covenant Church. Again, he became part of the coffee shop family and helped coach their kids’ basketball teams. Dawson Covenant Church called John back to Minnesota in the summer of 1992. A new church building was built during his time there and the Dawson community became accustomed to seeing the bearded pastor everywhere. After John’s retirement, they moved to Granite Falls for several years. A few years later, they became Winter Texans (Mission) and Summer Minnesotans (Kerrick). John renewed his interest in guitar and loved to sing and jam with others.

In January of this year, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. After three rounds of chemotherapy and months at Methodist hospital, John’s battle with leukemia ended peacefully on April 22. In heaven he was greeted by his parents, his brothers in-law, John Ellestad and Don Gorsline, and five unborn grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda, his daughter, Kristin Somsky (John), his son, Peter (Christina) and grandchildren Magdalen, John Paul, and Amos. He is also survived by his sisters Pat Ellestad and Myra Gorsline, his brother Bernie (Donna), nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Memorials may be sent to the church of your choice or to Portage Lake United Church, where Linda and John are members and Peter is Pastor. (1400 E Houghton Ave, Houghton MI, 49931)