Retired Covenant pastor John Norland passed away on April 22, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. He was 77.
John Martin Norland was born on March 7, 1948, to parents Thor and Myrtle (Rendahl) Norland in Madison, Wisconsin. He grew up on a farm just west of Madison, the youngest of four children. John went to Camp Badger Country School through eighth grade when his parents moved to Libertyville, Illinois. John graduated from Libertyville High School.
He enrolled at Trinity College in Deerfield, Illinois, where he was active in both glee club and band. John also sang and played guitar, piano, and accordion at church. In the fall of 1969, during his time at Trinity, John met Linda Wester. He graduated in the spring of 1970 with double majors in music and history. Later that fall, John and Linda married in Bethel, Minnesota, on October 10, 1970.
John attended Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, and served as youth pastor for several churches in the Twin Cities. John and Linda moved into a parsonage in Siren, Wisconsin, where John was pastor while he completed his senior year of seminary. Kristin Joy, their “May Basket,” was born during that season. A month later, John graduated from Bethel with a master’s of divinity degree. The following year, in 1975, John was ordained into ministry with the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Following his ordination, John and Linda served together in pastoral ministry at churches in LaBolt and Stockholm, South Dakota. During that season, Peter Mark, their “Groundhog,” was born.
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 those congregations with care.
In 1983 the family moved to Elgin, Illinois, 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. Then in the summer of 1992, the family responded to a call for pastoral care at Dawson Covenant Church in Dawson, Minnesota. During his time there, the church built a new building, and the Dawson community became accustomed to seeing the bearded pastor everywhere.
After John’s retirement, they moved to Granite Falls, Minnesota, 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 2025 John was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. After three rounds of chemotherapy and months at Methodist hospital, John’s battle with leukemia ended peacefully.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brothers in-law, John Ellestad and Don Gorsline; and five unborn grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda; daughter Kristin Somsky (John); 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.
A celebration of life service will be held at Dawson Covenant Church on June 12, 2025. Memorials may be sent to the church of your choice or to Portage Lake United Church, where Linda and John are members and Peter serves as pastor.
Peace be to his memory.
