A. Ambrose Netzer

A. Ambrose Netzer, 87, Bismarck, died Aug. 29, 2014, at a Bismarck hospital. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Steve Sathre officiating.

Aaron Ambrose Netzer was born on a farm near Hazen, and his faith was forged after a bible camp experience in South Dakota as a child. He earned a psychology degree in 1950 and a master's in divinity in 1954. After being ordained and as an intern, curiosity and a sense of adventure took him to the east coast and he found himself serving a church in the Bronx for 12 years. Ambrose stated in an interview, "it was a big step, but he wasn't conscious of it at the time." He witnessed a Harlem street preacher testifying on a corner and being the only white face in the crowd. Years later, he recalled "shaking in my boots. But I learned to be a leader." His time serving Portuguese and African Americans at Bethlehem Lutheran Parish in the Bronx affected him profoundly, leading him to actively pursue educational opportunities and transportation for minority children, part of the agenda for the March on Washington.

Ambrose would later serve a congregation in Dallas, Texas and in 1980 returned to Bismarck. His first marriage was brief and ended in divorce. His healing led him in a new direction, as a family counselor and a published author. After studies in psychotherapy and counseling in California, Dallas and Oklahoma with the American Family Therapy Group, he set up practice in Bismarck. His own pain became a motivation for his processional success. "Part of my growth process was to accept and learn from it. I became a better person because of the experience I'd had to face." One of his books in entitled "The Healing Power of Forgiveness". In an application to the American Lutheran Church, he described part of his pastoral mission "To help people forgive themselves, to forgive others, as well as to receive forgiveness, to help people change and grow (repent), to help people accept accountability (stewardship) for their life and relationships is at the heart of my healing ministry." Ambrose also served as the director of the Great Plains Institute of Theology, facilitated many gatherings of clergy for the purpose of education and fellowship and in his retirement led many bible study groups.

He and his second wife, Gail, enjoyed many years of marriage and service to the community through Trinity Lutheran Church. After she became ill, he served as her caretaker until she became a resident of Missouri Slope, where she passed away. The Rev. A. Ambrose Netzer was honored for his 60 years of ordination by the Western North Dakota Synod of the ELCA.

Reflecting on his life, Ambrose shared, "I grew up slowly, but I was blessed by people." As he has blessed countless others.

Ambrose is survived by his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Go to www.bismarckfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book or to send a message of condolence. (Bismarck Funeral Home)