Rev. Peter J. Dahlberg

October 14, 1925 - January 9, 2013

The Rev. Peter J. Dahlberg of Rapid City and formerly of the Hot Springs area, passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at Ft. Meade VA Medical Center. He was 87 years old.
Peter James Dahlberg was born October 14, 1925, in Teien Township, Minn., the son of Peter and Carrie Dahlberg. He was raised on a farm near Drayton, N.D., and graduated from Drayton High School in 1943. He attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis for a short time before entering the military.
He served in the U.S. Army during WWII from Jan. 26, 1944, to April 26, 1946. During the war, he served as a combat infantryman in the 78th Infantry Division in battle situations in Germany. Peter concluded his service after the war as Chaplain's assistant. He wrote about many of his experiences during the war, these experiences would be his "boot-camp" in preparation for ministry to other veterans. He loved going to rummage sales in Rapid City and would leave copies of the WWII memoirs he had written and strike up conversations about the war and his God. He also orally and visually shared stories and memories of WWII with students and other interested groups during the last ten years of his life.
Peter was a member of both the VFW and the American Legion.
Following his discharge from the army, he reentered North Central Bible College where he received training for the ministry. He married Mary Ellen Haas on Jan. 12, 1949, in Rapid City, between two of the worst blizzards ever recorded in this area. They traveled in the evangelistic field from Oregon to Ohio. He pastored in the Wisconsin towns of Viroqua, Newton, and Tomah before moving to Hot Springs, where he pastored for 32 years.
He served as Youth Director (D-CAP) for the South Dakota District of the Assembly of God Church for 4 1/2 years from 1959-1963. He served as Chaplain at the S.D. State Veterans Home and the Hot Springs V.A. Medical Center for 30 years and also served as Chaplain at the Youth Forestry Camp and the Children's Hospital near Custer. He conducted a Sunday morning radio broadcast over KOBH in Hot Springs for 25 years called "Message of Life", and a daily broadcast, "Brighten Your Day", for 7 years. In 1994 he was honored as Citizen of the Year in Hot Springs.
For the past 18 years, he provided Pastoral Care and served as the Seniors' Pastor at Bethel Assembly of God. He especially enjoyed teaching the seniors' Sunday school group. He organized and was the chairmen for the South Dakota Seniors' Ministry for the Assembly of God churches in 1991 for 15 years. Hospital, nursing home, and jail visitations were also ways Peter shared his enthusiasm for God and people throughout his ministries in Hot Springs and Rapid City.
Peter loved music and played several musical instruments, including guitar, piano, mandolin, banjo, and auto-harp. He could play almost any instrument and most songs by ear. He enjoyed traveling and working on various missions projects in several countries overseas, including Argentina, Spain, Austria, Belgium, and Mexico.
Proud of his Swedish heritage, he traveled to Sweden four times to visit his cousins and their families. Because his father immigrated to the USA in 1911 and his mother's parents also immigrated from Sweden, all of his many cousins live there. His own children and grandchildren are very special to him. He expressed special appreciation for his wife, Mary Ellen, who supported and assisted him through the years, and stuck with him through thick and thin. For the many friends who have shared his life, he is eternally grateful.
Peter is survived by his wife of 64 years Mary Ellen, two sons; Jim (Andrea Powers) Dahlberg of Hot Springs and Pete (Michelle) Dahlberg of Buffalo, Wyo., and one daughter Angie (William) Schilling of Rapid City, 6 grandchildren, Shala (Chad) Cullum of Bridger, Mont., William, Denae, and Christopher Schilling of Rapid City, Tana and Tyce Dahlberg of Buffalo, Wyo., and three great-grandchildren; Cip, Caedra, and Cashlea Cullum of Bridger, Mont.
Peter is preceded in death by both of his parents, two of his sons Dave and Paul, and all three of his siblings Raymond, Henry, and Olive Thornton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to South Dakota Seniors Ministry and Discipleship for Young Adults, both in care of Bethel Assembly of God, 1202 N. Maple, Rapid City, SD 57701.
Funeral services were held on Monday, January 14, 2013 at Bethel Assembly of God with Rev. Steve Schaible and Rev. Jim Sorum officiating. Interment with military honors will followed at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs.
Family and friends may sign Peter's online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com