Mildred Olive Christopherson

Mildred Christopherson, 95, of Fargo, ND, died Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at Bethany on University, Fargo.

Mildred Olive Christopherson, daughter of Oscar and Minnie (Stoa) Christopherson, was born May 24, 1918 at Carpio, ND. She graduated from Carpio High School, The Lutheran Bible Institute and College of Commerce, both in Minneapolis, and continued education at Northwestern University, Chicago Campus.
Her lifetime work was in Christian Ministries. She served as a Parish Worker and Youth Minister in churches in Minot, ND; Watertown, SD; Havre, MT; Chicago, IL; and Honolulu, HI.

She was an Executive Secretary in the Division of American Missions of The National Lutheran Council in Chicago when there were eight Lutheran Synods. Following World War II their Mission Board sent her to Hawaii, then a US Territory, to assist churches ministering to transient military families. She continued in that capacity under the Mission Board of the American Lutheran Church one of the two new Synods that is now a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Upon call from the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Waikiki, she left the Mission Board. Through that Church she helped develop a television ministry and was known in the Island as “The Story Lady”. She helped organize The Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy, an evangelistic ministry to residents and tourists. In cooperation with The Lutheran Bible Institute of Seattle she organized The Bible Institute of Seattle she organized The Bible Institute of Hawaii, a teaching ministry reaching all denominations in the Islands.

Retiring to Fargo, she was a volunteer teacher of English and Bible to families of Chinese students at North Dakota State University.

She is an Associate in Ministry (Retired) of the ELCA, Pacifica Synod, and is a member of First Lutheran Church in Fargo.

Mildred is survived by two nieces, Carol (Roy) Harriman, Boyes Hot Springs, CA; Betty Ann (James) Lux, Norwalk, CA; one uncle, Pastor Norris Stoa, Seattle, WA; one surrogate grandson, Robert Turnbull, Laurienceville, GA; and numerous cousins.

Preceding her in death were her parents, one sister, two brothers, and three nephews.

Her cremated remains will be returned to Hawaii, her Island Home for thirty-four years.

Memorials may be sent to Bible Institute of Hawaii, 2345 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817, or First Lutheran Church, Radio Ministry.