Title: Lutheran Pastor, Advisor, Historian, Educator, Richard Solberg, Dies ELCA NEWS SERVICE
November 20, 2006
Lutheran Pastor, Advisor, Historian, Educator, Richard Solberg, Dies 06-184-FI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Rev. Richard W. Solberg, an advisor, educator and retired pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), died Nov. 15 of a cerebral hemorrhage in Grass Valley, Calif. He was 89.
"He was the most remarkable man I have ever known -- incredibly accomplished, well-known and respected in church circles around the world, and yet humble and gentle in spirit. His love for his family was absolutely unconditional, but his heart was big enough to embrace the whole world," said Solberg's son-in-law, the Rev. Richard O. Johnson, Peace Lutheran Church, Grass Valley.
Born May 25, 1917, in Minneapolis, Solberg graduated from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. He earned a master of arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a bachelor of theology degree from Luther Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary), St. Paul, Minn., and a doctorate from the University of Chicago. St. Olaf is one of 28 colleges and universities of the ELCA; Luther is one of the ELCA's eight seminaries.
Solberg was an instructor in history and political science at St. Olaf College and served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ingleside, Ill., during World War II. After the war he was assistant and then associate professor of history at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. He also served as religious affairs advisor for the U.S. Military Government in Germany and for the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany.
From 1953 to 1956 Solberg was a senior representative in Berlin and Stuttgart for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service, a relief agency helping resettle displaced refugees during Germany's reconstruction. In 1957 the Federal Republic of Germany awarded him the Officer's Cross, Order of Merit, for his work.
Returning to Augustana College as a professor of history, Solberg chaired the Department of History and the Division of Social Sciences. He was visiting professor of U.S. diplomatic history for the Organization of American States at the Institute for International Studies, El Colegio de Mexico, Mexico City.
Solberg was vice president for academic affairs and professor of history at Thiel College, Greenville, Pa., from 1964 to 1973. Augustana and Thiel are also ELCA colleges.
Solberg served as director of the Department for Higher Education in the former Lutheran Church in America's Division for Mission in North America from 1973 to 1982 and as a consultant to the division until his retirement in 1985. He served on a many boards and committees of Lutheran higher education and campus ministry organizations.
Solberg was the author of several books, including "As Between Brothers: The Story of Lutheran Response to World Need," 1957; "God and Caesar in East Germany," 1961; "Lutheran Higher Education in North America," 1985; "Miracle in Ethiopia: A Partnership Response to Famine," 1991; "Open Doors: The Story of Lutherans Resettling Refugees," 1992; and "My First Eighty Years: A Personal Memoir," 1999.
Solberg is survived by his wife of 64 years, June Nelson Solberg; his daughters Lois Johnson, Grass Valley, and Mary Solberg, St. Peter, Minn.; his sons David Soul, London, John Solberg, Rochester, N.Y., and the Rev. Daniel N. Solberg, St. Paulus Lutheran Church, San Francisco; 17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Nov. 20 at Peace Lutheran Church, Grass Valley, where Solberg was a member. He was also a member of the Lutheran Historical Conference and the Norwegian American Historical Association.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog