Retired Covenant pastor Jolene Bergstrom-Carlson died August 23, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois. She was 82.
Jolene Mae Bergstrom was born August 8, 1944, to Russell and Laura Bergstrom in Red Oak, Iowa. She was welcomed into a world defined by unconditional love as modeled by her parents who showed her how to care for others. Jolene’s first twelve years were spent on a farm, where she made hollyhock dolls, learned to love the land, and cared for a pet pig named Fritz. As a child, she was embraced by her extended family, including her beloved Uncle Mel who would secretly take the lutefisk off her plate at Christmas. Her best friends were her older siblings, John, Joan, and Judi, who remained her soul-companions throughout her life.
At 18, she traveled to study at Colorado State University. After receiving a master’s degree, she taught speech and drama at Kennedy-King College in Chicago and Triton College just outside Chicago.
In 1971, her sister Joan introduced her to a preacher who had volunteered with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, marched with Martin Luther King Jr., and saw Jesus’s message in the Gospels as an urgent call to action to fight racial injustice and inequity. Jolene and Richard William Carlson were married on November 7, 1971. Richard was Jolene’s soulmate; their three children, Rachel, Emily, and Andrew were her greatest joy. She loved them with the fervor of fire, and her passion for them was rivaled only by their love for her.
In the 1980s, Jolene was called to ministry. She studied at Bethany Seminary in Lombard, Illinois, and North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. She was ordained to word and sacrament in the Evangelical Covenant Church in 1996.
She became pastor of Douglas Park Covenant Church on the west side of Chicago in 1987 where she served until 1995. Serving that diverse congregation deepened her vocational purpose to learn from all and love without qualification. Jolene was a pioneer in the church, incorporating feminist theology and fierce advocacy for marginalized people into her mission.
She served as associate pastor at North Park Covenant Church in Chicago from 1995 until 2002, then went on to serve as associate superintendent for the Central Conference (2002–2013). In that role she helped plant, counsel, and support countless new ministries.
In 2013, she became executive director of Ministry Mentors, an organization that paired mentors with pastors to provide encouragement, prayer, and inspiration. Mentoring pastors and providing spiritual direction were lifelong passions and ministries in which she remained active. Most recently, she joyfully served as interim pastor at Resurrection Covenant in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago.
In May 2026, she received an honorary doctorate from North Park Theological Seminary, conferred in recognition of her extraordinary service and impact on ministers’ lives. She continued learning about God throughout her life and was always struck with awe at the miracle of creation. She saw that a tree gave glory to God by being a tree and that people give breath to the divine by being only themselves.
She loved children, her friends, animals (especially her beloved pets), in-laws, nieces, nephews, the Chicago Cubs, early morning walks, laughing with her family, and each person she met. As Grandma/Mormor, Jolene played on floors and held every story, thought, silly game, and worry with the seriousness of joy.
Jolene didn’t rush. She took the time. She held you in her eyes as long as you needed. Jolene carried the message of love with her at all times; sometimes she used her beautiful words to preach it, but she never needed to. Her presence was always enough. Jolene’s bounty of love was as boundless as the sea.
Jolene was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; sister Joan; and grandson Jake. She is survived by her children, Rachel (Clinton), Andrew (Kate), and Emily (Matthew); grandchildren, Emerson, Liam, Anders, Lucy, and Nils; and her siblings John (Pat) and Judi (Michael).
Services to celebrate her life will be held at Anderson Chapel at North Park University, 5149 N Spaulding Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625 on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 3 p.m.
Peace be to her memory.
