David Alan Aaker

Rev. David Aaker



David Alan Aaker died Oct. 12, 2021 surrounded by family and loved ones. David was born June 3, 1946 in Watertown S.D. to Arthur and Hermoine Aaker. Rev. Aaker was called to ministry, graduating from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. and ordained at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Redfield S.D. in 1973.



Rev. Aaker's first call was at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cass Lake, Minn. He then served at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston, Minn., followed by Grace Lutheran in Ada, Minn., and Elim Lutheran Church in Fargo, N.D. He retired after 44 years, with his final congregation in St. Paul Lutheran Church in Le Center, Minn. in 2015.



During his ministry he served as a Coordinator for Bereavement and Spiritual Care for Hospice of the Red River Valley, including co-authoring the book "The Bereavement Ministry Program".



He also served for five years as an interim minister where he viewed his role as a "bridge", noting that "my job is to help people and congregations from the transition from pastor to pastor. It's completed when the call is completed". As he left a calling, someone wrote we all have been "students at his knee" and "that the work we do with our hands" was important; this led David and his congregation to remodel homes for those in need throughout the Fargo area.



David once said, "Part of ministry is helping people through the losses of life. You have to lose Sunday to gain Monday."





"If you are in trouble, I will spend time with you" was a mantra that David took to heart. One member of his congregation in Le Center said Rev. Aaker "walks the streets and you don't have to be a Lutheran to get help from him." Rev. Aaker was a chaplain for the Le Sueur County Sheriff's Office, sometimes leaping out of bed before dawn to minister to those affected by an accident and the first responders who were impacted.



Besides a nice glass of wine, David enjoyed creating stained glass pieces for his parishes. "Everyone has broken pieces and putting them together is what God and Jesus do us, similar to piecing together glass to put them back together into something beautiful".



David is survived by his wife Faye, his two sons John and Joshua, his three stepdaughters Sarah, Ingrid and Rebecca, and seven grandchildren (Grant, Ellia, Lillian, Ingrid, Saffron, Ana, Esther Joy), his brother Lynn, his sisters Barb and Corinne (Jim), and his adopted family from Haiti. Pastor Dave leaves us with these words - "remember that you are remembered". The family asks in lieu of memorials, please send donations to http://www.TeacHaiti.org/.





Services will be at 1pm Oct. 19th at Mt. Olivet Church, Victoria, Minn. with a viewing at noon. Masks are required. Arrangements by Washburn-McReavy.com, 612-377-2203.



Please click this link to view David's service: https://player.vimeo.com/video/632281286?h=f5d260d4e2