Retired Covenant pastor Reynold Samundsen passed away in Batavia, Illinois, on October 26, 2025. He was 88.
Reynold Carl Samundsen was born on October 29, 1936, to parents Peter and Violet (Gustafson) Samundsen in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. He grew up on the prairies of Alberta, riding his pony to a one-room schoolhouse and helping out on the farm afterward. He was proud of both his Canadian roots and his Scandinavian heritage.
Reynold felt called by God to be a pastor while he still lived in Alberta. After attending Covenant Bible College for one year, he transferred to North Park College, then eventually attended North Park Theological Seminary, earning bachelor of arts and divinity degrees in 1962 and 1966, respectively. He was ordained in 1967 by the Evangelical Covenant Church at the Annual Meeting in Pasadena, California.
In 1964 Reynold married Betty Jean Campbell. They had two children, Ruth and Paul. Reynold and Betty served together in pastoral ministry at churches in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Family was always important to Reynold, who spent many vacations camping at Glacier National Park en route to Wetaskiwin, Alberta, or attending family reunions in Galesburg, Illinois. He was a loving father and
grandfather, and during visits with his grandchildren, he would be the first to get on the floor and play with them.
Following his retirement from full-time ministry, Reynold worked as a chaplain on the campus of Covenant Living at the Holmstad. He loved being able to share the grace, peace, and love of Jesus with the people around him. Ministering to others was always a passion, and it was a blessing to be able to serve the Lord even well into his retirement years. From the time Reynold and Betty moved onto the Holmstad campus, he loved participating in as many activities and events as possible, proudly giving his grandchildren and other relatives pictures he painted during art sessions and items created in the woodshop.
He was preceded in death by his nephew Leon Bartier. He is survived by his loving wife, Betty; his children, Ruth Michael (Eric) and Paul Samundsen; grandchildren Adam Michael, Emily Aleksandrovich (George), Aaron Michael, Patrick, Andrew, and Michael Samundsen; sister Doris Pester (John); nephew Lyle Bartier, and many other extended family.
A visitation was held on Monday, November 10, at the Moss Family Funeral Home in Batavia, and a memorial service followed afterward at the Holmstad.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be sent to Covenant Living at the Holmstad.
Peace be to his memory.
