Gary E. Clark

The Rev. Gary E. Clark passed away in his home on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, from pancreatic cancer. He was 81.

Gary was born on July 11, 1931 in Watertown, SD to Lloyd and Erma Clark. After high school he enrolled in the U.S. Navy and served for four years, followed by a Bachelor’s degree received at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD in 1959. During his sophomore year he met the love of his life, a junior named Myrtis Larson – they were married in 1957 in Aberdeen, SD. He attended Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN obtaining a Bachelor of Divinity and was ordained as a minister of The American Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD in 1963.

Gary was a lifelong server of Christ. He tried to retire many times but his passion for his work and love of people and God endured his 48 year career as a minister. His first call was in Joplin, MT where he served for approximately three years. His next call brought him to Forman, ND in 1966 where he served for four years, helping plan and build the new church. In the Spring of 1970, the District President of the Eastern ND Synod called him to help organize the building of a new mission congregation in Fargo, Atonement Lutheran. He served Atonement for six years and then moved on to First and Fillmore Lutheran Churches in Enderlin, ND where he served for 17 years.

The first retirement was in 1994 and a move back to Fargo. A month later Good News Lutheran called to bring him out of retirement where he served for five years. After Good News, The Bishop of the Eastern ND Synod, Rick Foss asked him to be the Pastor/Director of The Native American Christian Ministry in Fargo. He served the Native American church for two and a half years. Soon afterwards he served as the Assistant Chaplin at Eventide Nursing Home in Moorhead, MN for two and a half years. But his service didn’t end there…he then became the Assistant Chaplin at Innovis Hospital for eight months. His final calling was at Hope Lutheran Church, South Campus, in Fargo where he served as a part-time Visitation Pastor for six and a half years.

He is survived by his wife, Myrtis Clark of 55 years; daughters, Nancy Nixon (Terrance), Minneapolis, MN; JoEllen Clark, Washington, DC; sons, Peter Clark, Las Vegas, NV; Eric Clark, Minneapolis, MN; grandchildren: Katrina, Allison and Mallory Kumm; his brother, Dr. Carroll Galvin, Waseca, MN; along with several brothers and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Erma Galvin and Lloyd Clark and Stepfather Robert Galvin and his brother Hallie Clark.

Visitation/viewing will be held on Sunday, November 4th from 5-7pm with an informal prayer service at 7pm. The funeral will be on Monday, November 5th at 11am, lunch at noon and burial to follow. The viewing, service, funeral and lunch will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, South Campus, 3636 25th St. South, Fargo, ND. The burial will be held at Riverside Cemetery, 2102 5th Street South, Fargo, ND.

Memorials may be sent to Luther Seminary, St Paul, MN and Hospice of the Red River Valley. To view the online journal, pictures and guestbook, visit www.caringbridge.org , enter “garyeclark1” in “visit a site”.

Gary's video tribute can be viewed at http://www.philpetersonproductions.com/hr-memorials.htm