Rev. Alden Erlandson

The Rev. Dr. L. Alden Erlandson, son of E. Alric Erlandson and Walborg M. Erlandson, was born August 28, 1925 in Kennedy, Minnesota. He grew up on the family farm near Kennedy, and graduated from Lake Bronson High School. He was united in marriage with Amy C. Bernstrom, daughter of August and Sophie Bernstrom, in Lancaster, MN on September 19, 1947. He graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota in 1954, and from Augustana Theological Seminary, Rock Island IL in 1958. He earned the degree of Master of Sacred Theology from the New York Theological Seminary in 1974, and the degree of Doctor of Ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in 1981. He served as pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Brooklyn, NY, Trinity Lutheran Church in Milford, CT and Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Southfield, MI. He retired in 1991 and moved to Orlando, FL and served as pulpit supply to congregations in Florida and Minnesota. During his years of ministry he provided leadership to various synodical committees including Evangelism, Worship, Stewardship, Social Action, Campus Ministry and Global Ministry in the Metro New York, New England and Southeastern Michigan Lutheran LCA and ELCA synods. He was president of the Brooklyn NY Lutheran Council of 100 congregations for two years, and directed a Brooklyn Lutheran City-Wide Evangelism Mission. He served as a Board Member of the New York Protestant Council and of the Connecticut State Council of Churches' Department of Church Planning. His hobbies included photography, reading, Swedish culture and language, ancient history and automobiles. As a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Orlando, he organized and taught a Bible Study Group there for six years. He and Amy moved to Orlando Lutheran Towers in 2005 and became members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa national honor society, and the Alban Institute for church research and planning. He served as chaplain to the Milford CT Fire Department, the Southfield MI Emergency Management Team, and the Civil Air Patrol, Auxiliary of the United States Air Force. Grateful for having shared his life with his wife, Amy Erlandson, Orlando, FL, daughter Mary Carr and her husband Dirk, Maitland, FL; daughter Marcia Witmer and her husband Benjamin, Orlando, FL; granddaughter Caitlin Carr, Maitland, FL; one brother, Rev. Leroy A Erlandson and his wife Charlotte, Fridley MN; one sister Eleanor Stenoien and her husband Dan, Edina MN; sisters-in-law Judy Erlandson, Sioux Falls SD, and Annette Erlandson, Zimmerman MN. He was preceded in death by his parents; and by two brothers, Rev. Paul Erlandson and Erland D.W. Erlandson. Arrangements by: Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Homes Lake Ivanhoe Chapel 301 NE Ivanhoe Blvd. Orlando, FL 32804 407-898-8111