Marvin Roland Schoenfish

Rev. Marvin R. Schoenfish, son of Emil and Huldina Schoenfish was born on October 12, 1926 on a farm near Lesterville, South Dakota.

Marvin graduated from high school at Menno, SD in 1944; from Augustana College of Sioux Falls, SD in 1948 and from Wartburg Theological Seminary of Dubuque, IA in 1951. He was ordained as a Lutheran Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Menno, SD on June 10, 1951.

He married Justine Krueger on May 12, 1953 at Drake, ND. To this union were born Emil, married Darlene Nelson of Glenburn, ND. They have three children, Jennifer, Emily and Evan Reed. They live in Devils Lake, ND. Evan, married Karyn Sundre of Petersburg, ND. They have four children, Marissa, Andrea, Krista, and Sara. They live in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Eldon who lives in a group home in Fargo, ND. Erich, married Cara Berg of Elbow Lake, MN. They have a son, Carlin. They live in West Fargo, ND. Errol, married Cheri Whelan of Dickinson, ND. They have three children, Miranda, Tucker and Colter. They live in Fargo, ND. Marvin also has 13 great grandchildren, Hannah, Mariam, Leni, Jade, Charlotte, Penelope, Walter, Leila, Evalyn, Alexander, Trevis, Kyleigh and Ashley.

Pastor Marvin Schoenfish served Parishes of Peace, St. Paul and Hope Lutheran of Max, Makoti and Sawyer, ND from 1951 to 1955; St. Peter and St. John Lutheran of Leonard and Embden, ND from 1955 to 1965; Petersburg, Lom and Dahlen Lutheran of Petersburg and Dahlen, ND from 1965 to 1980; Wyndmere and Grace Lutheran both of Wyndmere, ND from 1980 to 1991. He served as Visitation Pastor at Peace Lutheran of Fargo, ND from 1992 to 2006.

Highlights of his ministry were the building of an entry and educational unit to the church and a new parsonage while at Petersburg. He served on the Eastern ND District Youth Committee and the District Stewardship Committee of the ALC. He was the Grand Forks Conference Leader of the United Mission Appeal and the Lutheran Ingathering for Education Appeal for the ALC. He also served as chairman of the Grand Forks Conference and as such was the Conference Representative on the District Council of the Eastern North Dakota District of the ALC. In June 2016, Pastor Schoenfish was honored for his 65 year anniversary of ordination at the Eastern North Dakota District convention.

Pastor Schoenfish’s wife Justine passed away on July 2nd, 1990 after 37 years of marriage. On June 23, 1991, Marvin married Joyce Johnson of Wyndmere, ND. He then retired, and they moved to Fargo, ND. They both served as a Visitation Team for Peace Lutheran Church of Fargo. Marvin and Joyce celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary this past June. In 2015, Marvin and Joyce moved to Edgewood Vista. In 2016, Marvin moved to Manor Care until his passing.

SURVIVORS are his wife Joyce, 5 sons; Emil & Darlene; Evan & Karyn; Eldon; Erich & Cara; Errol & Cheri; 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; 1 sister; Ardina & Melvin Huether; 3 brothers; Glenn & Kay; Allen & Marcine; Delmar & Veronica; and sister-in-law Bernice. Also surviving are step children; Vicki & Tom Gardner, Betsy, Katie, & Rachel; Deborah & Walter Kaufmann, Amalie & Max; Dawn & Nelson Rochester; Diane Peterson & Kendra; Rebecca Johnson; & Miles Johnson and Great Grand-daughters, Mackensie, Sydney, Olivia and Ava.

Preceding him in death were his parents Emil and Huldina Schoenfish, his wife Justine, brothers Elton and Arthur Schoenfish and sister Angeline Schoenfish.