Retired Covenant pastor and former executive secretary of Christian Education David Noreen died in Westminster, Colorado, on December 27, 2023. He was 93. 
David Shelton Noreen was born in Gresham, Oregon, to parents Floella and Oscar Noreen on March 31, 1930, and grew up in Powell Valley Covenant Church. After graduating Gresham Union High School in 1948, David attended North Park College in Chicago from 1949 to 1951. While at North Park he met Marilyn Larson, and they married on August 23, 1952. Their union eventually produced three children: Jerry, Ken, and Julie.
In 1953, David earned a bachelor of science in education from Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana. He returned to North Park Theological Seminary, earning a master of divinity in 1955. In 1958, David was ordained by the Evangelical Covenant Church at the Annual Meeting in Miami, Florida.
David lived a lifetime of service to others, and he and Marilyn served a number of churches over the years. He held pastoral roles at First Covenant Church of Duluth, Minnesota, and Mission Covenant Church in Lafayette, Indiana, then helped to plant Northwest Covenant Church in Mount Prospect, Illinois. He also served churches in South Bend, Indiana, and St. Paul, Minnesota. During his time at South Bend, he earned a master of science in education from Indiana University.
In 1970, David was elected to serve as executive secretary of Christian education for the Evangelical Covenant Church, a position he held for 16 years. He was deeply committed to Sunday school education and youth ministry. While he served in that role, significant resources were created
for Covenant ministry, including a new confirmation curriculum, God’s Friends: Called to Believe and Belong, as well as expanding the triennial youth event, CHIC (now Unite), and Covenant Heartsong. “Dave brought creative leaders around him and worked with them in development and implementation,” says Bruce Lawson, who worked with him on the Christian education staff. “He was always thinking into the future. As we were preparing God’s Friends for publication [in 1985], he posed that the next edition would need to include interactive computer resources.”
David also worked with other leaders and the Board of Ordered Ministry to develop the denomination’s commissioning program so that commissioned ministers could apply for ministerial license.
Upon his departure from Covenant Offices, then president Milton B. Engebretson wrote in The Covenant Companion that David had given distinguished leadership to the department, adding, “He will be greatly missed in the denomination as well as by the member denominations of the International Federation of Free Evangelical Churches. He is a well-known and much-appreciated leader in those countries….The Covenant Church salutes David and Marilyn for outstanding service and for strengthening the base for Christian education to build upon for generations to come.”
David transitioned into a season of serving as minister of congregational life at Farmington Hills Covenant Church in Michigan until his retirement from full-time work in 1996.
Even into retirement, David had a passion for pastoral work, and he served in a variety of part-time roles at Covenant Living of Colorado, including a stint as chaplain. He fully retired from service in 2017, at the age of 87.
When he wasn’t working, David enjoyed spending time with family and traveling the world with Marilyn, with whom he organized several travel groups and visited more than 60 countries. Together, they viewed travel as an opportunity for continued ministry, discovery, and fulfillment of purpose. Touring countries across the globe, David and Marilyn built and nurtured many lasting friendships.
David was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn. He is survived by children Jerry (Karen), Ken (Lorena), and Julie Abrahamson (Kurt), siblings Phyllis Troyer and Bob Noreen, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A memorial service was held at Covenant Living of Colorado on January 13. Memorial gifts can be sent to the Covenant Living of Colorado Benevolent Care Fund.
Peace to his memory.
