Anders O. Aasen was born in Lyngdal, Norway, January 16, 1874. His father was "husmann" or cottager, which means that he belonged to the hardest working and poorest paid farmers in Norway. When Anders was a year and one half old, his father was killed in the woods. Ander's mother was left with a brood of five children, the oldest eight years and the youngest just three weeks old. From the age of six to eleven, Anders knew no real home. He stayed with neighbors, a little while at each place, as was the custom for the poor people of the parish.
In 1885, he emigrated to America with his family, and with the help of an uncle. They took residence at East Koshkonong, Wisconsin where two years later he prepared for confirmation with the Rev. Jacob Otteson. This was the turning point in Ander's life. Pastor Otteson took a great interest in the bright but poor newcomer and later directed his steps toward Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and thence to the Seminary.
Pastor Aasen was ordained to the holy ministry in 1899 in the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. Pastor Aasen's field of labor through fifty years ministry in the Church stretch from Redwood and adjoins counties in Minnesota to the interior of Alaska in the north and to Sountern California in the South. He has especially been successful, under God, in establishing new missions and in reviving old defunct churches and guiding them until they became self-supporting. All of his ministry may be summed up in three words... Pastor Aasen's words: "HOME MISSION ZEAL"! Loyalty is an outstanding trait in Pastor Aasen's character. He is loyal to God, to the Word of God and to the Lutheran Church.
To trace rather sketchily his ministry we commence at Belview, Minnesota in 1899 to 1910. From there he moved to Minneapolis where he served 24 years. During his ministry at Minneapolis he started the Lutheran Rescue Home for girls, and was president of its Board of Directors for eighteen years.
After leaving Minneapolis he was constantly on the move. He stayed in one place only long enough to get a new mission established, or in case of older neglected congregations, until they had become numerically and financially able to carry on the work without aid from the Board of Home Missions. To follow his activities on the Pacific Coast, He was Pastor at First Lutheran Church in Vancouver and while there established a congregation [?] Dunbar Lutheran Church in Vancouver. He served at Port Madison and Seattle Washington for five years, at Santa Monica, California for three years and the Matanuska Colongy and Sitka, Alaska for one year...his ministry in Alaska was supported the the Government.
In 1957, in his retirement, he was called to Bethany Home and Hospital in Camrose, Alberta to be the Chaplain. He served for three years, and was later relieved by a younger man. However, he continued active as an assistant in taking services and Bible studies for a number of years following...even to the present day. During his stay at Bethany which became his home, he has taught Bible classes at Camrose Lutheran College for eight years and is presently a guest lecturer in Bible and religious studies at the College.
He travels widely through the U.S. and Canada, filling invitations to speak at churches he has founded or served. Last November he travelled to Vancouver to be guest speaker at First Lutheran Church, while they celebrated their anniversary. He has been asked to address the Seminary students in Saskatoon this winter and will be going to Prince Rupert early this Spring to be present at a Church anniversary. If he has time, amidst his busy activities, he will celebrate his actual 100th Birthday on January 16 in Camrose. The festivities today are just a couple of days before his actual birthday...and we thank you for honoring him by your attendance today.
There is no need to describe this outstanding pastor any more, as you can draw your own conclusions as he appears before you and as he makes his imprint upon your life.
Pastor Aasen is a widower; his wife, Marit, accompanied him to Bethany where she passed away in 1968. They were blessed with seven children, six daughters and a son. One daughter passed away in early childhood, and a second daughter more recently; the son was killed in a railroad crossing accident in Chicago about 45 years ago. All the daughters are in good health, three living in Minneapolis and one in Venice, Florida. Pastor Anders O. Aasen has eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PASTOR AASEN!